Former FSU star defensive back Xavier Rhodes just got a huge payday from Minnesota that will makes him a very rich man for the upcoming seasons.
In the summer of 2009, Xavier Rhodes stepped on the campus of FSU as a three star receiver from Miami’s Norland High School. Not long afterward, he made the conversion to cornerback, where all he did was be named the ACC’s top defensive rookie in 2010, first team all conference in 2012 with 140 tackles and eight interceptions for his career.
In the spring of 2013, he was picked in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings where he has been a lockdown corner for the NFC North team – including five interceptions last season while being named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.
This weekend, all that hard work paid off for Rhodes as he just got paid. We’re not talking a nice new contract – we’re talking life changing dollars. According to NFL.com and later confirmed by the team, the former FSU star signed a five year contract extension that will guarantee him big money:
"NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning the Vikings agreed to terms on a five-year contract extension worth $70 million…Rapoport adds the deal includes $41 million in guarantees along with a $12 million signing bonus."
Rhodes has been one of the more popular cornerbacks in the league based on the speed he has and being a tall defensive back at 6’1″ – which allows him to play with some of the top receivers in the league, including when he shut down Odell Beckham Jr. when the Vikings played the New York Giants last season.
Rhodes also had a little fun with the news and showed some humor with his response to the deal:
The bank account done caught the Holy Ghost!!!!💰💰💰💰
— Xavier Rhodes (@XavierRhodes29_) July 30, 2017
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Minnesota had already announced last season they were picking up the 2017 season option for Rhodes, but he still played at the top of his game and earned this pay raise. The Vikings will have a serious chance to compete in the NFC North with Rhodes dominating the secondary and former FSU running back Dalvin Cook in the race to be the team’s starter for opening day.