Justin Jefferson isn’t leaving the Minnesota Vikings anytime soon, but there was a chance he could’ve been playing for another team.
According to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Vikings were considering a trade that would have put them into the top five in the draft for LSU’s Malik Nabers, with Justin Jefferson included in this mega deal.
“Pssst,” Walters wrote at the bottom of his column. “There was buzz at draft time that the Vikings wanted to move from No. 11 to No. 5, not to pick a quarterback but to get LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers, who was picked No. 6 by the Giants. Had that trade occurred, Jefferson would have been traded, and Nabers would have been the No. 1 receiver.”
Instead, the Vikings moved up to pick Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 after the New York Giants selected Nabers at No. 6 overall. McCarthy and Sam Darnold will compete for a starting position in the following season.
If Jefferson had been moved by the Vikings, it would have been an absolute shock. With four consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards or more, the 24-year-old is probably the best receiver in football. He has already been selected for three Pro Bowls, one first-team All-Pro, and more.
Many may wonder why the Vikings would make such a drastic move as moving on from Justin Jefferson, and it has everything to do with the star wideout entering the final year of his rookie contract and set to earn $19.7 million on his fifth-year option.
He’ll then become a free agent, though the Vikings reserve the right to use the franchise tag on him, which will cost them so much more.
Justin Jefferson Wanted To Know Vikings’ Plans At QB Before Signing Contract Extension
Justin Jefferson had been an advocate for the team, keeping Kirk Cousins, but he would leave the team and sign with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.
According to NFL Network, the Minnesota Vikings star receiver reportedly wanted to know the team’s plans at quarterback before he committed to a long-term deal.
Now, it just remains to be seen how much the Vikings will shell out in an extension to keep Jefferson around.
