INDIANAPOLIS—During his opening remarks regarding receiver Justin Jefferson’s contract during the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, general manager of the Vikings Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took a harsh turn.
The Vikings want to keep Jefferson in purple, Adofo-Mensah reaffirmed. Before the season began and negotiations were put on hold, he said they were “unbelievably close” to reaching an agreement in early September. According to the Vikings, Jefferson is “the best receiver in the league” and should be compensated as “one of the best non-quarterbacks.”
“Those conversations will go on,” Adofo-Mensah declared on Tuesday. “I pledged to them, and I will continue to pledge, that I would keep our negotiations confidential. I believe that ought to be carried out honourably. Thus, a great deal of what I hear is untrue. It isn’t how I promised to do this work, so I can’t stand here and declare what’s true and what’s not. However, I can assure you that we’re looking forward to having him around for a very long time and are excited to carry on those conversations.”
Speaking of rumours, is there a scenario in which Jefferson would be traded by the Vikings?
“That is not something I have ever considered,” stated Adofo-Mensah. “You got a blue [chip] player, a blue [chip] person; you try to keep as many of those as you can.”
The Vikings and Jefferson are in a situation where time is running out.
Jefferson’s value may increase the longer the Vikings wait.
Jefferson’s old LSU teammate, Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, is eligible to sign a new contract this offseason. Reporters in Cincinnati were informed by Chase last autumn that he hoped Jefferson “sets the market for me.”
Despite Jefferson’s eligibility for a new contract having expired last summer, Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell have not lost hope that he will receive an extension. A group of agents, including Todd France of Athletes First and Brian Ayrault and Ben Renzin of WME Sports, are representing Jefferson.
