BREAKING: Linval Joseph Signs Four-Year Contract Extension

According to defensive tackle Linval Joseph's agency, he has agreed to a contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings.

New deal in Minnesota for Linval Joseph as he agrees to the terms of a contract extension with the @Vikings. #SKOL #LegendsLiveHere pic.twitter.com/QRqBG1f6NO

— SportsTrust Advisors (@_SportsTrust) August 5, 2017

Joseph, 28, joins Everson Griffen and Xavier Rhodes, becoming the third defensive player to sign an extension since the start of training camp. The nose tackle was previously signed through 2018 and on schedule to make $6.85 million each of the next two years.

According to Ian Rapoport, Joseph will be getting over $30 million guaranteed with the new deal. He'll be locked up through 2022.

The #Vikings agreed to terms with star DT Linval Joseph to a 4-year, $50M extension, source said. He gets $31.5M guaranteed. ????????

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 5, 2017

According to Spotrac salary info, Joseph's deal ties him for the fifth-highest guaranteed-money figure in the NFL out of all defensive tackles.

Including Joseph's two existing years, his $10.6 million annual average translates to just the 13th highest percentage of cap among DTs, which is outstanding value.

[caption id=attachment_15831" align="alignnone" width="855] Furnished by Arif Hasan[/caption]

Head coach Mike Zimmer has complimented Joseph for the past several seasons, calling him a "stud" back in 2015 when Joseph emerged as a key cog on the defensive line.

Now in year four with the Vikings, Joseph's play is still earning high praise from his coach.

"He’s a great person, wants to be really good," said Zimmer early in the week. "Probably works as hard as anyone on the football team in the offseason. I think he cares an awful lot about the guys around him. ... Linval is the best [DT] I’ve ever been around."

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