‘Fansided’ Writer Claims Justin Jefferson Wants Out of Minnesota
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings season ended last Sunday with a loss to the hungry New York Giants. The day after, offseason topics took over all Vikings-themed discussions as Minnesota will likely experience significant roster change.
Justin Jefferson’s contract extension will also dominate the offseason dialogue. The phenom playmaker is eligible for a mammoth extension this offseason that will kick in after the 2024 season. The Vikings drafted Jefferson in 2020, and his rookie deal lasts five years.
‘Fansided’ Writer Claims Justin Jefferson Wants Out of Minnesota
After the Vikings postseason loss, Jefferson was asked about staying with the Vikings, and the 23-year-old responded, “I will be wherever I’m wanted. If they want me here, I’m here. That’s not something that I can really control.”
Pretty cut and dried, right? “If they want me here, I’m here.”
Well, not so fast, says Eric Treuden of Fansided. The editor of Jays Journal, an MLB-themed website, took the Jefferson quote and authored an article titled: Justin Jefferson sounds like he wants to leave the Vikings.
The publication’s first line starts with a bang, “Justin Jefferson sounds like he’s ready to leave the Minnesota Vikings.”
And then that’s about it. Treuden explains Jefferson’s biography and role with the Vikings since joining the franchise in 2020. He then quoted the Jefferson remark and concluded, “That does not sound promising.”
It is unclear what is not-promising about Jefferson’s “If they want me here, I’m here” statement.
Treuden added, “The 2020 first-round pick has done everything he can to carry this Vikings offense and signing him to a long-term extension is certainly going to be near the top of their to-do list, however, his latest comments suggest that he may not be all that interested in sticking around.”
Again, nobody knows what was uncertain, according to Treuden, about Jefferson’s declaration.
On Wednesday, the Vikings foremost leadership personalities put a bow on the 2022 season at a year-end press conference. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was asked if retaining the soon-to-be Offensive Player of the Year (Jefferson) would be a challenge. The young executive smirked and said, “I wouldn’t use the word challenge. You got a special player, a special person. Those aren’t problems. Or at least those are champagne problems.”
“So, we’ll start there. We’ve had initial dialogue with him, his agent. All those things we get back to that in the planning, but again it really starts from the player, the person, and we’ll work on solutions from there on,” Adofo-Mensah added.
Ergo, Minnesota is already embedded in contract talks with Jefferson — probably because the young wideout said, “I’m here,” which aligns with Adofo-Mensah’s comments.
Back in July, Jefferson told Chris Tomasson from the Pioneer Press, “I’ll focus on contract after the season. Our main thing is reaching to that goal, but I’m not really too fond of money. I’m really just trying to get that goal of being the best receiver.”
Generally speaking, the Vikings are not expected to hit snags amid extension talks with Jefferson. Per their words, all parties are for it.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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