The Minnesota Vikings must make a number of important personnel decisions this summer, but one matter could ultimately be more important than the others. The contract of Justin Jefferson, a talented wide receiver in his fourth year, is about to expire. He has hinted that he will demand a hefty contract on his next deal, given his three Pro Bowl appearances, one All-NBA selection, and one Offensive Player of the Year honor.
On January 13, Pioneer Press journalist Charley Walters stated, “There might be a better chance of Jefferson, 24, getting traded than anybody’s saying.” “This is due to the fact that paying the top wide receiver in the NFL the amount he demands—an estimated $150 million over five years—on a team that isn’t anticipated to be very competitive for a number of years makes no sense.” Mensah must deal with the quarterback position this offseason because Kirk Cousins is a free agent. Additionally, there isn’t a future-ready passer on the roster.
Numerous defenders, most notably star pass rusher Danielle Hunter, are joining Cousins. Additionally, according to Spotrac, Minnesota will have almost $39 million in cap room this offseason before making any personnel changes.Walters stated, referencing Adofo-Mensa’s draft history, “a full Vikings rebuild could be shaky for GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell, both of whom enter the third of four-year contracts next year.” “Even Adofo-Mensah’s predecessor, Rick Spielman, has drafted better than Adofo-Mensah, and Washington has asked him to assist in its coaching search.”
According to Walters, “The market for Jefferson would depend on where a team trading for him is picking in the April draft.” More than two first-round selections, though. The Vikings could rebuild from the ground up, just like the Lions and Bears have done the past two years, if they traded Jefferson for high draft picks. Last season, Minnesota finished 13-4 and won the division. However, they are also blatantly engaged in their own competitive rebuild. Even so, Detroit assembled a team that finished 12-5 this season and won the NFC North by selecting Matthew Stafford and T.J. Hockenson with a plethora of draft picks in prior years. Chicago turned the No. 1 pick in 2023 into a haul, including DJ Moore and the 2024 No. 1 pick. This offseason, the Bears may also trade quarterback Justin Fields to a team in exchange for draft picks. Walters added, “Don’t think Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf haven’t watched those rebuilds—they have only made the playoffs seven times in 17 seasons.”
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