Justin Jefferson sent the Minnesota Vikings front office a message following his action (or inaction) on Monday. The Vikings held their first offseason workout not long after reports surfaced the Philadelphia Eagles took care of their No. 2 wide receiver.
The Philadelphia Eagles paid DeVonta Smith
The Eagles reached a deal to extend DeVonta Smith for three years. The Eagles will pay Smith $25 million annually for the next three years. That’s not bad money for a player who is asked to be Jalen Hurts’ second option behind A.J. Brown.
Jefferson wants to get paid this offseason. The Vikings picked up Jefferson’s fifth-year option, so the star wide receiver is set to make just south of $20 million for the upcoming season. Jefferson might not take the field for that kind of money.
Justin Jefferson missed Monday’s workout
Per KSTP Sports, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said Jefferson was not at the team’s first voluntary offseason workout. O’Connell said he has been in touch with Jefferson.
“I know I’ve had a lot of great dialogue with Justin throughout even the early part of this offseason and leading up,” O’Connell said. “My hope is we can get him around the team. He’s obviously such a special player, but it goes beyond that this time of year because of just the energy and flat-out way when he’s in this building, and he goes to work.”
Today is the start of the #Vikings voluntary off-season program. WR Justin Jefferson is not at TCO Performance Center, same as this time last year. He did make the mandatory mini-camp last year. Here is coach Kevin O'Connell today on Jefferson: pic.twitter.com/tNqVD7FoV6
— KSTPSports (@KSTPSports) April 15, 2024
Jefferson was absent during voluntary OTAs last season before he returned for the mandatory portion last June. Jefferson has no obligation to be present and has no incentive to be there with his fifth-year option.
CeeDee Lamb missed the Dallas Cowboys workout also
Jefferson wasn’t the only league wide receiver to miss Monday’s voluntary workout. Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb also missed his team’s first workout. Lamb and Jefferson had to take an interest in Smith’s new deal with the Eagles. There’s no way they want to play for less than $20 million a year when Smith is asked to do less in Philadelphia for more money.
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