Purple Rumor Mill: Vikings’ Contract Motives for Justin Jefferson, Dalton Risner, Another Addison Breakout
VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the June 2nd edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Vikings’ Contract Motives for Justin Jefferson, Dalton Risner, Another Addison Breakout
Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the Vikings, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Here’s the second batch of the week. Yesterday’s can be read here.
Rumor: The Vikings are suddenly and notably motivated to wrap up Justin Jefferson’s contract extension.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Saturday on SportsCenter, “This is going to be a market-altering deal when it does happen with Minnesota. I’m told the Vikings are pretty motivated here. They want to try to get something done, they’ve been in active discussions with Jefferson and his representation.”
Vikings fans have waited — forever — for Jefferson’s extension, and when the day arrives, folks will rejoice and breathe a sigh of relief.
“So this could not only be making him the highest-paid wide receiver, but the highest-paid non-quarterback, potentially. Nick Bosa makes $34 million a year, we’ll see if he can get to that threshold, but this should get done at some point in the coming weeks and months this summer, that’s the Vikings goal, so they’re pretty dedicated to doing it,” Fowler added.
We believe this reporting and expect the deal to get done before too long. Not paying Jefferson or trading the man has never been a serious thing.
Rumor: Dalton Risner may have to battle for his LG job this summer against Blake Brandel.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis tweeted after Risner’s arrival this week, “A couple things on the Dalton Risner signing … I don’t believe the Blake Brandel belief to be overstated; the staff does love him, but Risner’s experience is obviously notable. The full terms of the deal will be interesting, and they’ll likely indicate why the team waited.”
Others piled on, suggesting Risner as the starter isn’t necessarily a no-brainer.
We believe Risner will start at left guard, and any commotion about Brandel as a starter could be a contingency plan for Ed Ingram, who enters a pivotal Year No. 3 as a pro.
Rumor: Jordan Addison will break out even further in 2024, according to him.
Addison said this week that winning at the line of scrimmage is a personal offseason focus. “That’s been a main focus for me, and I feel like it’s been paying off. My work is showing out there. Having a plan once I get to the line, being decisive and just really making sure I’m locked into my release,” he told reporters.
The young wideout added, “Last year, I wasn’t as confident in my releases I wasn’t being decisive. I didn’t have a plan when I was coming up to the line; I was kind of just freelancing, trying to do what I could do. Make something work. But now, like I said, it’s my focus.”
We trust Addison’s gumption to improve, with the only real question mark at quarterback — can Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy deliver the rock akin to Kirk Cousins?
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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 MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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