Vikings owner discusses unclear future of WR Justin Jefferson.
During a Monday appearance on NFL Media’s “The NFL Report” programme, Minnesota Vikings owner Mark Wilf stated unequivocally that the team will not trade Justin Jefferson, despite the All-Pro wide receiver being in the final year of his rookie deal. “We’re focused on getting that guy on our field with the purple, and he looks great in purple,” Wilf said about Jefferson, as Kevin Patra of the league’s website revealed. “We’re going to do our best to keep it that way.”
Previously, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell said Jefferson would not be traded. However, that was before quarterback Kirk Cousins left Minnesota to join with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this month, potentially sparking a reconstruction. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, O’Connell told reporters at the NFL owners meetings on Monday that Jefferson is “in the loop” about the team’s long-term plans for the sport’s most crucial position.
Many in football circles believe the Vikings will soon complete a blockbuster trade that will allow them to move up from No. 11 in the 2024 NFL Draft order and select a quarterback at No. 3 or No. 4. Minnesota presently has veteran Sam Darnold as its quarterback, and he could act as a Band-Aid alternative or start ahead of a rookie for part or all of the 2024 season. As recently as last week, NFL analyst Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated stated that “the Vikings aren’t looking to deal Jefferson.” It’s widely understood that the 24-year-old wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback for a spell before, during, or after the next season.
“We had great positive conversations last season, and we’re looking forward to more this offseason,” Wilf said of negotiations between the Vikings and Jefferson. “…Not only is he a fantastic player, he’s become a tremendous leader of our locker room, and he’s great in the community, so the excitement he gives the fans on the field and simply the way he handles himself. We’re looking forward to having some really nice chats.” One wonders if such conversations will include a guarantee to Jefferson that the Vikings will leave the 2024 draft with a high-profile quarterback prospect like North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.
