Regardless of who is under center in 2024, the Vikings plan on having Justin Jefferson as that quarterback’s top playmaker.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shot down rumors that Minnesota could be looking to trade arguably the NFL’s best receiver, should the sides fail to come to terms on a contract extension.
“That is not something that has once crossed my mind,” he said. “You got a blue(-chip) player, a blue(-chip) person, you try to keep as many of those as you can.”
Jefferson’s status has become a topic since he’s entering the last year of his deal with the Vikings without an extension and Minnesota could risk losing him in free agency next offseason.
One potential hiccup is the Vikings would have to go against their team policy of not guaranteeing money after the first year of a long-term deal should they hope to൩ retain the likely future Hall of Famer.
Adofo-Mensah said the sides nearly got to the finish line and had “great dialogue” last offseason, while noting that extensions after the third season “rarely happen.”
“We got unbelievably close. We’ve said it and we’ll continue to say it: We think he’s the best wide receiver in the league and should be compensated as such,” Adofo-Mensah said. “We think he’s one of the best non-quarterbacks in the league, and think he should be compensated as such.”
He added: “He’s somebody we want around for a long time.”
While money always talks, the Vikings certainly won’t hurt their chances of retaining Jefferson if they provide a stable quarterback situation.
Adofo-Mensah said it’s “important” to have a good quarterback for an elite receiver and they have discussed the situation with Jefferson.
The general manager made it clear the team hopes to retain free agent Kirk Cousins,💝 with whom Jefferson has developed an elite rapport.
Jefferson, 24, has tallied 392 catches for 5,889 yards and 30 touchdowns across his first four seasons, including his 2022 campaign that featured 128 catches for 1,809 yards and eight touch🥃downs that earned him Offensive Player of the Year honors.
The Vikings hav𝕴e the No. 11 pick and could look to move up in the draft, sho🔜uld Cousins sign elsewhere.
Minnesota had -200 odds at DraftKings last week to retain Cousins, with the Falcons — the betting favorites for Justin Fields — the top challenger at +300 odds.
“At the end of the day, we have our interests. (Kirk) has his. We’ll get to the table and see if we can figure out a creative solution and how to meet in the middle. That’s what every contract negotiation is and that’s what it will be with him,” Adofo-Mensah said. “What we do know is we have a really great quarterback, a great leader and somebody we think we can win the ultimate prize with.”
