Vikings GM: Deal with Justin Jefferson got 'incredibly close'; no intention to trade
Put a fork in the idea of the Vikings trading Justin Jefferson? It sure seems like it after Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spoke Tuesday at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Ind.
"That is not something that's once crossed my mind," he said when asked if he's considered trading Jefferson, the 24-year-old superstar receiver who has reset the record book after four years in the NFL.
Adofo-Mensah said the Vikings and Jefferson got "incredibly close" to agreeing to terms last offseason before discussions were tabled for the duration of the 2023 season.
"We've said and we'll continue to say it, we think he's the best wide receiver in the league and should be compensated as such. We think he's one of the best non-quarterbacks in the league and we think he should be compensated as such. So we'll continue to have those dialogues and those conversations," Adofo-Mensah said.
Adofo-Mensah cautioned everyone to take what they read with a grain of salt, though he declined to get specific about false rumors he's heard.
"I've promised [Jefferson's camp] and I will continue to promise them that I will not talk about our negotiations. I think this job should be done with integrity, so a lot of this stuff that I hear is completely false but I can't get up here and tell you what's not true and not false because that's not how I promised to do this job," he said. "But I will tell you that we're excited to have him and continue those conversations because he's somebody we want around for a long time."
For Jefferson to reset the wide receiver and non-quarterback market would require the Vikings would have to pay him an annual average salary greater than the $34 million AAV 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa makes.
Adofo-Mensah's public comments align with what was reported Tuesday by Minnesota sports insider Darren Wolfson.
"The Vikings' No. 1 objective – it's not even close – is to pay Justin Jefferson. They realize they need to make him the highest paid non-quarterback," Wolfson said Tuesday morning on Minnesota Sports with Mackey & Judd.
Wolfson added that a "few Vikings people" thought Jefferson was close to signing an extension before Minnesota's season opener last September, and then he said he would bet there is a "way way way better chance" he signs an extension than there is of him being traded.
And it sounds like Jefferson's input on where the Vikings go at quarterback will carry some weight.
"We've had conversations with him, I know [head coach Kevin O'Connell] actually had a lot of good conversations with him about [the quarterback situation]. I think any great player, especially a wide receiver, should want to have a great quarterback and accurate who's going to throw him the football when he's open and he gets open better than anybody in the league. So that is something that's important," Adofo-Mensah added.
Adofo-Mensah said contract talks with Cousins are expected and they'll try to "meet in the middle." Cousins, without an extension before March 11, will be able to sign where he pleases when the new league year begins March 13.
Image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings
