Having covered the NFL for many years, it's often easy to sense when an executive or coach is saying one thing while crossing their fingers behind their back.
Former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said he had no intention of trading Percy Harvin in February 2013, only to deal him a month later. The process repeated itself in 2020, only this time it was Spielman downplaying any chance of trading Stefon Diggs and then moving him to Buffalo.
But despite the fear-mongering that went on as Justin Jefferson's contract situation with the Vikings remained unsettled this spring, there was never a feeling that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was going to move on from this Pro Bowl wide receiver. Yes, Adofo-Mensah said he had zero intention of moving Jefferson -- often a red flag -- but, in this case, the GM doubled down to the point of sounding as if he was working for Jefferson.
Adofo-Mensah, speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, said the Vikings felt Jefferson was the "best wide receiver in the league," and "should be compensated as such."
After the Vikings selected quarterback J.J. McCarthy with a first-round pick in the NFL draft, Adofo-Mensah said the organization wanted "Justin to have his whole week," to celebrate his signing and called Jefferson the team's "king linchpin."
“You know that friend that has a birthday that takes the month?" Adofo-Mensah said. "I think Justin would deserve his whole month if we signed a contract to celebrate it. We’re excited to work towards it."
These aren't the types of things executives say if they are going to trade a player, they are the types of things they say if they are willing to pay just about any price to keep that guy. And that price was determined on Monday morning as Jefferson signed a reported four-year, $140 million contract extension ($120 million in guarantees) that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
The deal was announced one day before the Vikings' opened their three-day mandatory minicamp. Jefferson will turn 25 on June 16 and will be paid an average of $35 million per season, putting him $1 million ahead of San Francisco pass-rusher Nick Bosa, who held the previous non-quarterback record.
Jefferson jumped to the top of the list of highest-paid wide receivers, passing the Eagles' A.J. Brown ($32 million average, three years, $96 million); the Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown ($30.002 million average, four years, $120.01 million); the Dolphins' Tyreek Hill ($30 million average, four years, $120 million); and the Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle ($28.25 million average, three years, $84.75 million).
All but Hill's contract have been signed since late April.
There is room for debate about who might be the NFL's best wide receiver, but Jefferson is definitely in that conversation. He set an NFL record for most receiving yards in the first three seasons of a career with 4,825 and added 1,074 last season, even though he missed seven games because of injury. Jefferson, the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2022, has 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns in 60 regular-season games.
Some thought Cousins' departure to Atlanta might be the reason that Jefferson was hesitant to sign, but the Vikings made it clear that Jefferson was at kept in the loop as Adofo-Mensah and offensive-minded head coach Kevin O'Connell planned their next move. That might not be the norm for most players, but Jefferson is a special case.
The Vikings' short-term move likely will involve Sam Darnold, signed to a one-year, $10 million deal, opening the season as the starter, but it's McCarthy who is being counted on to take the franchise deep into the postseason in the coming years. The fact he is on a five-year rookie deal in a salary-cap league could make him the type of bargain that Jefferson has been.
The Vikings will feel fortunate if in four years McCarthy's play warrants the type of praise, and raise, Adofo-Mensah was set on giving Jefferson all of this time.
Judd Zulgad is co-host of the Purple Daily Podcast and Mackey & Judd podcast at www.skornorth.com.
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