The Vikings Should Let Justin Jefferson Pick His QB
This offseason is a massive turning point in the future of the Minnesota Vikings organization. With three key players looking for paydays and the quarterback position being uncertain, the franchise’s trajectory will hinge on said moves. Why not let the superstar wideout speak into the situation?
The Vikings Should Let Justin Jefferson Pick His QB
At some point this offseason, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will need to call up Justin Jefferson and make him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Jefferson has been the best player at the position for a couple of years now, and despite suffering an unfortunate injury last year, he still responded with a ridiculous amount of production. Coming to the end of his rookie deal, it’s time to get him paid and keep him here for the long term.
Part of the equation for Jefferson is to understand who his quarterback will be. Realistically, Jefferson can’t throw himself the ball, and short of having a quality signal caller, his production will take a hit. Kirk Cousins has been the quarterback that Jefferson has known throughout his career, and seeing the drop-off in working with either Joshua Dobbs or Nick Mullens had to be frustrating at best.
Going forward, Jefferson needs to know who will throw him the ball, so allowing him to weigh in on the decision makes sense. Tell him exactly how much money it will take to get Cousins done, and then let him weigh that against knowing he and Danielle Hunter need to be paid. Is the asking price from Captain Kirk worthy of bringing him back, or would Jefferson like to see the franchise go elsewhere?
If the decision is to go elsewhere, is there an openness to a bridge veteran ahead of a rookie, or does Jefferson want to see what it takes to move up in the draft? Caleb Williams is a guy who will get Jordan Addison’s stamp of approval, but Jefferson may find himself preferring either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels instead. Figuring out which of the rookie quarterbacks he sees as a fit has value, and if he’s open to working with more of a project like J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, or Michael Penix Jr., then Minnesota would be wise to understand those conversations as well.
Jefferson is not a scout or NFL talent evaluator, and the quarterback decision could certainly outlast his time on the Vikings roster. That said, the franchise must make the correct decision, and the best one will be a move that Jefferson is also on board with. The quarterback will need to develop a rapport with the top wideout, but the tandem needs each other and can only succeed as far as the other will take them.
A decision or endorsement from Jefferson doesn’t have to be the final say, but it needs to be a significant part of the process.
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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