Before the draft, the Vikings were faced with a decision regarding receiver Justin Jefferson: either pay him what he wants, or trade him to a team that will. 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.
It raises the question of 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 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.