Prominent NFL Writer Continues Trade Speculation for Vikings
Since the beginning of the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason, two very real realities have been expected to play out. They are expected to take a quarterback during the NFL Draft, and they are expected to sign Justin Jefferson over the offseason.
Prominent NFL Writer Continues Trade Speculation for Vikings
The first suggestion isn’t something anyone has wavered from at any point. Kirk Cousins got a crazy contract from the Atlanta Falcons, and the Minnesota Vikings acquired a second first-round pick. Both signs trend toward Kwesi Adofo-Mensah finding a new quarterback for Kevin O’Connell. That is, of course, unless you think Sam Darnold is the future.
The second suggestion has consistently been one the media has wavered on heavily. Justin Jefferson is going to break the bank. He shouldn’t be able to be had for anything less than one of the highest contracts in NFL history. Being paid on something of a quarterback scale is unheard of for wide receivers, but that’s where this will check-in.
Because of the significant financial commitment the Vikings would need to make for Jefferson, much has been made about the potential for him to be traded. Plenty of that is rooted in the cap situation that Minnesota has found themselves in while paying Cousins, but that’s not a reality that exists any longer. Not paying the best wide receiver in the spot, and among the best players, would be an odd way to go about trying to recoup other value.
Don’t tell that to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, though. He recently talked of the reality that has been true all offseason: The Vikings and Jefferson could hammer out a deal at any point. The sides know where each other stands, but neither has connected on a resolution to this point.
Not only does he highlight that a deal hasn’t been done, but he also talks about the NFL Draft as something of a deadline, saying, “It could be done in one day if the Vikings were truly motivated to do it. Until they do it, it’s impossible to ignore the possibility that, at some point in the next four days, he’ll be on a new team.”
Sure, the Vikings would be getting 2024 NFL Draft capital if they traded Jefferson in the next four days, but they would also be making a franchise-altering move based on a tight timeline. Thinking there is any single player capable of matching Jefferson’s value in this Draft is something of a crazy thought. It’s also hard to believe that the Vikings would be in a better spot without Jefferson just because they didn’t pay him.
When bringing in a new quarterback this offseason, nothing is more valuable for that player than the weapons around them. Jefferson is the best option, and with an offensive line in front of the quarterback, the pass catchers should have ample opportunity to develop a rapport with their new signal-caller. Everyone in the league would love to have the Griddy man, but only Minnesota is in a place to employ him.
All offseason, Jefferson’s trade talk has largely been fodder for media speculation. It’s helped to fill dead periods, and it has pushed desires for the deal to get done while no news has been made available on it. Trading Jefferson has never made sense, and it still remains unlikely that it will come to fruition, but it’s going to be a talking point until the wideout inks his new contract.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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