The Vikings and wide receiver Justin Jefferson are currently at a standstill regarding a long-term deal. The negotiations have been ongoing for some time now, with various ups and downs along the way. There are three significant external events that could serve as practical deadlines for reaching an agreement: the mandatory minicamp beginning Tuesday, the start of training camp in late June, and the kick-off of the regular season.
The sooner a deal is reached, the better prepared Jefferson will be for the upcoming season, especially with a new quarterback in the mix. Waiting will not make it any less costly, so it would make sense to finalize the deal now. The Vikings have explored their options, including trading Jefferson to multiple teams. Although there were rumors of a potential trade involving Malik Nabers at the fifth pick in the draft, the team denied such speculation once the trade fell through.
Regardless of any trade attempts, the Vikings are focusing on keeping Jefferson and understanding the financial and structural implications of his contract. The timeline for a deal could vary, but it will be crucial to secure an agreement before the start of the regular season. Only time will tell if the Vikings will reach an agreement this week, next month or just before Week 1 kickoff.
In recent weeks, negotiations between Jefferson and Minnesota have become increasingly tense. Several sources close to both sides say that progress has stalled out after weeks of talks aimed at agreeing on a long-term contract extension for Jefferson.
The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement expires in 2021, which means that players like Jefferson may face significant changes to their contracts if they fail to reach an agreement before then.
Jefferson’s agent has reportedly been pushing for more money and more job security for his client.
Despite this pressure from his agent and fans alike, Jefferson has remained focused on performing at his best this season.
As tensions continue to rise between Jefferson and Minnesota’s front office, one thing is clear: A resolution to this impasse will be critical for both parties moving forward into 2021.
The mandatory minicamp is scheduled to begin on Tuesday morning in Eden Prairie – Minnesota’s headquarters location – where players must report by noon local time.
If no agreement can be reached before then, it could mean that Jefferson misses valuable practice time leading up to training camp – which starts late June in St Paul – potentially hindering his preparation for Week 1 when he faces off against New Orleans Saints on September 13th.
As we approach these deadlines closer by day each passing day becomes more important than ever
