For his entire NFL career, Minnesota Vikings’ superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson has only known Kirk Cousins as his starting quarterback. That will change in 2024 as Cousins decided to bolt in free agency and sign for the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show earlier this week, Jefferson said that he knew Cousins might not stay in Minnesota after he became a free agent.
“I always knew that Kirk was going to do whatever he needs to do for his businesses-wise and I just knew that everything just wasn’t the way he wanted it to be here, especially just with having to pay me and having to pay so many other different guys,” Jefferson shared.
According to Jefferson, he also understands Cousins’ decision and doesn’t have hard feelings about it.
“I’m not mad at him at all for that,” he added.
Jefferson explained that it doesn’t matter to him who is starting under center because he always makes sure to be at his best.
“It’s on to the next. It doesn’t really matter what quarterback it is in my eyes. I’m always going to try to make the best of the opportunity,” he said.
In some way, Jefferson is part of the reason why the Vikings were not more aggressive in attempts to retain Cousins in free agency with a big offer. The franchise needed all the money it could save because it later gave Jefferson a four-year, $140 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid WR in the NFL.
