The Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson ended what was one of the biggest storylines of the offseason on Monday. With Jefferson entering his fifth year in the NFL and playing on his fifth-year option, Jefferson was due for a massive pay raise and a new contract extension. The belief around the NFL was that whatever deal he signed would reset the wide receiver market.
And they were right.
Jefferson and the Vikings agreed to a four-year $140 million contract with $110 million guaranteed. Part of the deal also awarded Jefferson an $88.7 million signing bonus.
Now teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, and San Francisco 49ers have a new figure on which to base their negotiations with their own star wide receivers (CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase, and Brandon Aiyuk, respectively).
Other NFL Teams Were Interested in a Justin Jefferson Trade with the Minnesota Vikings
Before signing the contract extension, there were many rumors that Jefferson could get traded should he and the Vikings fail to come to an agreement. Apparently, these rumors had a hint of truth to them in way.
While the Vikings had zero intentions of trading Jefferson, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that there were multiple NFL teams inquiring about his availability via trade:
“There were multiple teams this offseason that inquired about Jefferson, according to league sources. But the Vikings let each one of them know they had zero intention of trading Jefferson, who is off to a historic four-year start in the NFL.”
Another sources says that one of these teams was the Indianapolis Colts.
While it is unclear what the Colts might have offered for Jefferson, one must assume it was some package of draft picks. However, the Colts picked 15th in the first round while the Vikings picked 10th and 17th. It is hard to see a world in which the Colts would have come up with a package of picks that Minnesota would have accepted.
Justin Jefferson Is Imperative to the Future of the Minnesota Vikings
Ever since he was drafted, Jefferson was an important part of the Vikings’ offense. As a rookie, he posted 88 receptions for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. He came in second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, was named Second Team All-Pro, and made the Pro Bowl.
After another successful season in 2021, Jefferson led the NFL in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) in 2022. He was named First Team All-Pro, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and to the Pro Bowl. Jefferson also came in fifth in MVP voting.
Last season, Jefferson’s year was cut short by injury, but he still 68 receptions for 1,074 with five touchdowns.
Jefferson was able to put up all these numbers with Kirk Cousins, a Pro Bowl-level quarterback throwing him the ball. Now he will help acclimate rookie JJ McCarthy, whom the team drafted with the 10th overall pick.
McCarthy’s success, and that of the team as a whole, is going to be much easier to realize with Jefferson available. That is why this deal was so important to get done. Having him around for at least the next four seasons was a necessity.
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