Justin Jefferson Has QB Thoughts for 2025
After an absolutely fantastic 14-3 record in the regular season, the Minnesota Vikings 2024 campaign ended with a thud on Monday night.
Justin Jefferson Has QB Thoughts for 2025
Minnesota depressingly lost to the Los Angeles Rams in Glendale, Arizona, by a score of 27-9. The season is over.
And naturally, all eyes will turn to the team’s 2025 quarterback plan because the current QB1, Sam Darnold, played this season on a one-year contract worth $10 million. Darnold performed marvelously through 16 games but faceplanted with trips to the Divisional Round on the line — twice — against the Detroit Lions and aforementioned Rams.
Reporters asked Jefferson, the Vikings’ best player, about his quarterback preference after Monday’s loss. He was largely indifferent. “I didn’t know who my quarterback was going to be after last season, and I really didn’t care,” Jefferson said via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.
The man is correct: folks didn’t know if Kirk Cousins would re-sign in Minnesota last offseason, and Jefferson, although pals with Cousins, didn’t endorse either scenario last January and February. He let it all play out.
Jefferson added, “At the end of the day, I’ll always say that I’m confident in myself to perform the same way I’ve been performing. But it’s not my job to say who is going to be the quarterback or who do I want to be the quarterback. At the end of the day, they’re going to figure it out, and whoever they decide to go with, we can work with that.”
The phenom wide receiver, with Darnold at the helm, totaled 1,533 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Heading into the season, many wondered if Darnold would excel with the Vikings and whether Jefferson’s elite performance would continue if Darnold played like typical Darnold. Jefferson had no problems whatsoever.
The question was posed to Jefferson in the first place because of J.J. McCarthy’s presence on the roster. Minnesota selected the 21-year-old passer with the 10th pick in last year’s draft, but he injured his meniscus in August, canceling all of his rookie campaign. Darnold took over accordingly and played wonderfully for 16 games.
Now, the matter is about “Darnold or McCarthy” in 2025. Some want to hand McCarthy the QB1 baton without hesitation, and others, before Monday night, wanted Darnold back to hedge the bet or have the best of both worlds.
Left up to Jefferson, however, he’s cool with either decision — just like last year.
Jefferson is under contract in Minnesota through the end of 2028.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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