Vikings won’t move Justin Jefferson; new contract was ‘near’ last year.
Indianapolis — Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has no desire to trade standout wide receiver Justin Jefferson. “That is not something that has ever crossed my mind,” Adofo-Mensah told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday.
“You have a blue(-chip) player and a blue(-chip) person. “You try to keep as many of those as possible.” Jefferson, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year two seasons ago, had his 2023 season cut short by a hamstring injury, but he still ended with 68 receptions for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. He is beginning the fifth and final year of his rookie deal. Adofo-Mensah told reporters that the Vikings were “unbelievably close” to signing an extension agreement with Jefferson last spring.
Jefferson should be one of the highest-paid players in the league. “We’ve said it, and we continue to say, we think he’s the best receiver in the league and should be compensated as such,” he said. “We believe he’s one of the best non-quarterbacks in the league and should be compensated accordingly. So we will continue to have those debates and conversations.I promised (Jefferson and his camp) and will continue to guarantee them that I will not discuss our conversations. I believe the task should be done with integrity. So a lot of what I hear is entirely wrong, but I can’t go up here and tell you what’s not true or not false, because that’s not what I promised.
somebody we want around for a long time,” Adofo-Mensah said. Among the question marks involved in Jefferson’s decision is who will be throwing him the ball long-term. Kirk Cousins, who will turn 36 before the start of the new season, will have his contract void March 13 unless the Vikings reach an extension with him. Complicating matters, Cousins ruptured his right Achilles in late October and is in the middle of rehabbing the first major injury of his NFL career. He posted a video to social media Monday showing him backpedaling and throwing on an indoor tennis court. “You know Kirk, obviously again, another person we’ve had these dialogues the past couple of seasons, had a great conversation with him a few days ago,” Adofo-Mensah said.
“Same thing, though, with the other day. It’s, we have our interests. He has his. We’ll get to the table to see if we can figure out a creative solution and kind of meet in the middle. That’s what every contract negotiation is. And that’s what it’ll be with him.” The GM said Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has talked with Jefferson about the team’s quarterback situation. “I think any great player, especially a wide receiver should want to have a great quarterback, who’s accurate and is gonna throw him the football when he’s open,” Adofo-Mensah said. “And he gets open better than anybody else in the league. So that is something that’s important. “… I think you got to treat players like partners, you got to bring them in and have those conversations with them. And that’s something we’ll do with Justin.” –Field Level Media.
