Justin Jefferson was away from the Minnesota Vikings’ facilities on Monday due to contract talks and the commencement of voluntary offseason organized activities, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The All-Pro receiver also skipped optional offseason sessions in 2023 while looking for a new contract. He reported to obligatory minicamp in June of last year and played the season without signing an extension.
Assuming Jefferson misses the remainder of this month’s optional programs, the emphasis of his discussions will move to Minnesota’s required minicamp, which runs June 4-6. Will the two parties reach an agreement before minicamp? If not, will he report for the season without an extension in hand?
Jefferson wants a lucrative long-term extension.
Jefferson is nearing the end of his five-year rookie deal and will be paid $19.7 million in 2024 under the Vikings’ fifth-year option. He made $13.3 million throughout the previous four years of his deal.
Jefferson, a three-time All-Pro and the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has developed as probably football’s finest receiver in just four seasons. He has considerably outperformed his rookie deal after being drafted 22nd overall by the Vikings in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he is set to get one of the league’s highest non-quarterback contracts.
QB uncertainty, A.J. Brown trade raises stakes.
Adding to the excitement around his discussions is Minnesota’s fresh quarterback dilemma. Kirk Cousins departed the Vikings in the summer to join the Atlanta Falcons, after six seasons. Minnesota traded up to take Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the April draft. In the fall, he will compete with Sam Darnold for the starting quarterback position, and he is widely regarded as the future quarterback.
Darnold has been demoted to NFL backup status after underperforming as the third overall draft choice in 2018. McCarthy’s potential as an NFL starter has yet to be confirmed. Whoever wins the position this fall will greatly benefit from Jefferson’s presence in the lineup. Signing him to a long-term contract is a primary objective for Minnesota.
“We think he’s the best receiver in the league, and he should be compensated as such,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in February, dismissing suggestions that the team was considering dealing Jefferson.
In April, the Philadelphia Eagles signed A.J. Brown to a three-year, $96 million contract with $84 million in guaranteed money, establishing a new standard for wide receiver salaries that Jefferson will undoubtedly want to surpass.
