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 of Jefferson, as Kevin Patra of the league’s website reported. “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 football insiders believe the Vikings will soon accomplish a blockbuster trade that will allow them to move up from No. 11 in the 2024 NFL Draft order and select a signal-caller at No. 3 or No. 4. Minnesota presently has veteran Sam Darnold as its quarterback, and he might serve as a Band-Aid option or someone who could start ahead of a rookie for some 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 aspires to be the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback before, during, or after the 2018 season.
“We had great positive conversations last season, and we’re looking forward to more positive conversations this offseason,” Wilf said of discussions between the Vikings and Jefferson. “…Not only is he a fantastic player, but he’s also a great locker room leader and a great community member, as evidenced by the excitement he offers the spectators on the field and the way he handles himself. We are looking forward to some really nice conversations.” One wonders if such conversations will include a guarantee to Jefferson that the Vikings will exit the 2024 draft with an announced top-tier quarterback prospect like North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.