Vikings HC Weighs in on Wacky Justin Jefferson Trade Chatter

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Aug 10, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O Connell and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) during warmups prior to the game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports.

Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah used his platform at the 2024 NFL Combine to swat away rumors involving Justin Jefferson. The declaration was unsurprising for most, even as NFL-themed media has spent the last few weeks spitballing faux trades for the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year.

Vikings HC Weighs in on Wacky Justin Jefferson Trade Chatter

On the same day, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell echoed his boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s comments. Long story short, Minnesota isn’t trading its keynote playmaker.

Wacky Justin
Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell talks to the media at the 2024 NFL Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports.

O’Connell told PFT Live on Tuesday, “Let me dissect it for you. We have had zero discussions, dialogue about that, either internally, externally, on this planet or another planet.”

Websites like ESPN, Bleacher Report, NBC Sports, FanSided, and several others have gone berserk in the last few weeks with the what-if of a Jefferson trade, plunking the Vikings playmaker in every scenario imaginable.

15 Injury Report
Oct 8, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

“Anytime you’re trying to negotiate a contract to really reset the receiver market, which we know who he is, we know what Justin’s earned through his first four years in this league. Anytime you’re trying to negotiate a deal with the type of player and the confidence Justin has in himself, it was never going to be something that would just be easy to get done,” O’Connell continued.

Jefferson is expected to finalize an extension with the Vikings soon that could make him the richest non-quarterback in NFL history.

O’Connell concluded on the zany trade-Jefferson topic, “The intent is still stronger than ever to get something done with Justin, and I look forward to the time we get to do that because I don’t like the idea of looking down at a call sheet, those words and letters, they don’t look as good to me when I know that No. 18’s not attached.”

Changing Thoughts
January 10th, 2024. Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center concluding the 2023 NFL regular season. Minnesota finished 7-10 in 2023 and missed the postseason.

Before the O’Connell remarks, Adofo-Mensah said about Jefferson’s upcoming deal, “We’ve said it, and we’ll continue to say it: we think he’s the best wide receiver in the league and should be compensated as such. We think he’s one of the best non-quarterbacks in the league, think he should be compensated as such.”

“That is not something that has ever crossed my mind,” Adofo-Mensah replied when a reporter asked about trading Jefferson as a possibility.

Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) in the end zone past Carolina Panthers cornerback CJ Henderson (23) during the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.

Jefferson has one year remaining on his existing contract, his fifth-year 1st-Round option, so his large extension will kick in for 2025 and beyond. The Vikings must also decide in the next two weeks to extend quarterback Kirk Cousins and outside linebacker Danielle Hunter or let the two walk to open free agency.

But regarding Jefferson, a trade isn’t on the table, per O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah, and his long-term future in Minnesota should be sealed soon.


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,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).

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