Justin Jefferson Endorses His Preferred QB Choice for 2024 Vikings
With only two more games to go, the Vikings are still in a position to qualify for the postseason with a pair of wins, but they need some help from the Rams or the Seahawks. After the recent defeat against the Detroit Lions, the division is out of reach, and it doesn’t seem like any of the quarterbacks on the roster are capable of having a Nick Foles-type playoff run.
Justin Jefferson Endorses His Preferred QB Choice for 2024 Vikings
Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota’s head coach since 2022, has a true QB carousel, and there are three potential starters: Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall. All three have started games for the Vikings this season. The veterans are turnover machines, and the rookie might not be ready to start in the NFL, although it is fair to ask what the franchise has to lose by having him under center.
That quarterback carousel is a thing the Vikings had to go through in the past before fixing the most critical position by signing Kirk Cousins in 2018, but there is a risk that it might return in the upcoming season unless GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah either re-signs the veteran in March or drafts his successor in April.
Cousins is one-half of the most productive QB/WR duo in recent years. His connection with Justin Jefferson is outstanding, as JJ has broken many franchise records and some leaguewide achievements, with Cousins throwing him the ball.
Adofo-Mensah said earlier in 2023 that Jefferson would be included in important roster-building questions. The receiver recently spoke highly about his passer and repeated that praise on Wednesday when he claimed he would love to continue his career with Cousins throwing him the ball.
I feel like I’m always voicing my opinion on Kirk. As much as people downgrade him and not want to give him his credit, I’m always the person that always gives him his credit. I’m always blessed and just accepting of the person that he was for me, the player that he was for me and this team just by being that leader and being that captain, controlling the game, controlling where the ball goes and making great throws.
I think the rest of the world definitely realizes that at this very moment.
People don’t see what goes on in the building. They don’t see the relationships that go on, don’t see the connection that goes on. Me and Kirk have a great connection.
Justin Jefferson
Indeed, their connection is great. Jefferson would’ve put up numbers with any quarterback as he is a fantastic player, but his statistics might not look quite as good with a different quarterback.
He set the single-season franchise records for receiving yards and receptions in 2022 and led the NFL in yards while also winning Offensive Player of the Year.
Asked if he would talk to the decision-makers about a potential Cousins extension, he said that it is not necessary, but he would still do it.
I feel like I really don’t have to voice my opinion that much. You can just really look at the stats and look at the play, especially before he went down this year. But I definitely will always give that extra word or two for Kirko.
Justin Jefferson
Cousins is coming off a torn Achilles tendon, and he will turn 36 years old before the next campaign begins. However, before his injury, he may have played the best football of his career. Although the veteran quarterback has always prioritized maxing out his salary, this could be the year a team-friendly deal will be negotiated because of age and health.
Minnesota will try to extend Cousins, but if he commands a large salary, they might just pivot to finding his successor in the draft. At this point, all options are on the table, and it should be an entertaining few months before a decision is made in March.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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