Cousins' return likely 'not a breaking point' for Jefferson extension
While Justin Jefferson may push for Kirk Cousins' return to Minnesota, it might not be deal breaker in order to get the star receiver to sign an extension with the Vikings.
During Super Bowl week, Jefferson was doing the rounds on radio row and mentioned he wanted the connection with Cousins to continue but that it "really doesn't matter too much" who is throwing him the ball.
Oct 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) and quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warm up before the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium.
© Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
In comments to NFL Network last week, Jefferson pointed out he "still managed to get over 1,000 yards by playing through four different quarterbacks."
In just 10 games last season, Jefferson caught 68 passes for 1,074 yards while catching passes from Kirk Cousins, Josh Dobbs, Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens.
Minnesota is in flux at the QB position after failing to come to terms on an extension with Cousins last offseason. Now, at 36 and coming off an Achilles injury, Cousins is set to become a free agent and a highly-coveted one at that with national talking heads speculating Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Minnesota as the likeliest landing spots.
KSTP's Darren Wolfson told SKOR North's Mackey & Judd Thursday he doesn't think Cousins' not returning is "a breaking point where he won't sign an extension here."
"The money matters more than anything. I'm sure he wants some sort of vision, some sort of plan," Wolfson said. "But if the Vikings are prepared to make him darn near the highest paid non-quarterback or exceed the Nick Bosa contract to make him the highest paid non-quarterback — I promise you, he is going to sign the contract whether Kirk is here or not."
The comments made by Jefferson on Radio Row last week was the subject of debate on Thursday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show.
McAfee was skeptical of the Vikings' ability to keep both Cousins and Jefferson, given that Jefferson is likely to command, as McAfee put it, "quarterback money."
