Vikings’ Decision to Wait on Justin Jefferson Draft Day Extension Leaves Team with Uncertainty and Opportunity

The Vikings faced a decision before the draft regarding receiver Justin Jefferson. They could either pay him what he wanted or trade him to a team that would. However, the team did not make a move before the draft, according to a source. Instead, discussions about Jefferson’s contract extension happened after the draft concluded.

This raises questions about whether the Vikings waited to see what would unfold during the draft before making a decision. There were opportunities to trade Jefferson as multiple teams were reportedly willing to offer multiple first-round draft picks. Rumors also suggested that the Vikings were interested in moving up to the fifth overall pick to select LSU receiver Malik Nabers. This scenario would have involved trading Jefferson to acquire assets to also draft a quarterback.

After the draft, the Vikings became more serious about extending Jefferson’s contract. They ultimately reached a four-year deal, exceeding the previous high-water mark for non-quarterbacks by only $1 million per year. The exact details of the extension have not been disclosed, but it is clear that the Vikings may regret not completing the deal earlier while also being satisfied with the timing of the agreement.