Vikings Writer Warns of Potential Justin Jefferson Trade: ‘Better Chance’

While the Minnesota Vikings facing several critical personnel decisions this offseason, one future piece of business might loom larger than all of them

Fourth-year star wideout Justin Jefferson is entering the final year of his contract. With three trips to the Pro Bowl, one All-NBA selection, and one Offensive Player of the Year award under his belt, he will command a handsome sum on his next contract, and he has intimated as much.

That could present a problem for General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

“There could be a better chance of Jefferson, 24, getting traded than anybody’s saying,” Pioneer Press columnist Charley Walters wrote on January 13. “That’s because it doesn’t make sense to pay the NFL’s best receiver the money he wants (expected to be at least $150 million over five years) on a team that’s not expected to be seriously competitive for several more years.”

Mensah has to address quarterback with Kirk Cousins a free agent this offseason. And there is no viable passer on the future on the roster.

Joining Cousins are a slew of defenders, most notably stud pass rusher Danielle Hunter. And Minnesota is looking at roughly $39 million in cap space this offseason before making any roster moves, per Spotrac.

This could also be a critical offseason for the Vikings’ braintrust.

“A full Vikings rebuild could be shaky for GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell, both of whom next year enter the third of four-year contracts,” Walters wrote, citing Adofo-Mensa’s draft record. “Even Adofo-Mensah’s predecessor, Rick Spielman, whom Washington has solicited to help in its coaching search, drafted better than has Adofo-Mensah.”

Walters also speculated on what Jefferson’s trade market could b