The Minnesota Vikings star wideout Justin Jefferson is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is yet to sign an extension with the franchise. But despite a lack of progress in negotiations, the Vikings are not entertaining the idea of trading their best player, as some recent rumors suggested.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Vikings’ general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said that Jefferson won’t be traded.
“That is not something that has once crossed my mind,” Adofo-Mensah said while appearing at the NFL Scouting Combine. “You’ve got a blue player and a blue person. You try to keep as many of those as you can.”
Jefferson became extension-eligible last offseason, but the two sides couldn’t get on the same page. The negotiations were called off once the 2023 season started, but Jefferson and the Vikings have reportedly started talking again in recent weeks.
Adofo-Mensah confirmed that the Vikings are willing to break the bank for Jefferson, believing they have the best wide receiver in the game.
“We think he’s the best wide receiver in the league, and he should be compensated as such,” he added. “We think he’s one of the best non-quarterbacks in the league, and we think he should be compensated as such.”
Justin Jefferson, Vikings’ first-round pick in 2022, earned Pro Bowl nods in each of his first three years in the NFL. He dealt with injuries last season, which limited him to 10 games, but still managed to get 68 receptions for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. Jefferson is averaging 98.3 yards per game as a pro, which currently stands as the NFL record.
