Vikings' owner not shy about intentions to extend Justin Jefferson
EAGAN — You will never believe this: The Minnesota Vikings want to keep Justin Jefferson.
Minnesota Vikings owner Mark Wilf made his annual appearance at training camp to speak with the Twin Cities media prior to the team’s night practice at TCO Performance Center and topics about the future were at the center of the discussion.
While it was the last question of his press conference, Wilf’s comments pertaining to Justin Jefferson’s potential contract extension belong at the top of the list of most notable things he said during his 15-minute briefing that relate to the roster.
“Everyone is working together on this contract,” Wilf said. “We are certainly aware of the magnitude of this one. We are certainly aware, certainly involved. Justin Jefferson, we want him to stay as a Minnesota Viking.”
For the Vikings’ owner that’s relatively strong, committal language, though the team would get nothing out of pretending that they have any other intentions than to make Jefferson a very, very rich man at some point. When that is going to happen is unclear. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has characterized the talks as “ongoing,” though there hasn’t been any noise about a deal since Jefferson said he wouldn’t be making any contract ruckus during camp. Unsurprisingly Jefferson has been the most dominant player on the field over the first two weeks.
The Vikings do not have to sign Jefferson this offseason. He has one more year remaining on his deal and they could let things play out. It would be advantageous to get him wrapped up earlier than later so they can spread out his cap charges into this year’s salary cap but he could also elect to bet on himself and wait until next year as San Francisco’s Nick Bosa has done. Even if it’s clear that the Vikings want this deal done and that they’ll have to pay top dollar, the details like length and guaranteed money could create some haggling that delays the two sides from agreeing on a long-term contract.
There isn’t a deadline of the Vikings getting something completed before Week 1 but normally they have not signed extensions with players during the season.
Jefferson’s contract wasn’t the only one that came up. The QB situation and Kirk Cousins’s future was also discussed, though with a different air about it than Jefferson’s deal.
“We feel great about the quarterback situation,” Wilf said. “Kirk is an outstanding leader, he’s led this team incredibly the past few years and we’re looking for great things from him in 2023. I know there’s discussions on these topics all the time, especially quarterback and I know Kwesi and coach are communicating with Kirk. We are happy to have him.”
“Our focus is 100% on 2023.”
Wilf saying 2023 twice in reference to Cousins is in line with what Adofo-Mensah and Cousins have said publicly i.e. that all parties seem fine going into the year with no clear future to remain together.
As far as the overall direction, Wilf mentioned off the top that he was happy with where the team is headed and endorsed the much-discussed “competitive rebuild” strategy.
“We’re supportive of it,” Wilf said. “You have to work within all the parameters of the NFL. You have salary cap, you have great players here and players that have moved on that we really appreciate and we have also brought in new players make a big addition to our team. As ownership we have great support of coach [O’Connell] and Kwesi and how they are building this thing and the culture they are building here. That’s really important and I think the players would tell you that as well.”
