The Minnesota Vikings will play the San Francisco 49ers in just a handful of hours, at U.S. Bank Stadium. It will be the first time the new-look purple have taken to their newly turfed home-field, in the 2024 regular season.
As he has for his first three record-breaking seasons in the NFL, Jefferson will run out of the Vikings tunnel on Sunday morning. Fresh off of a new contract extension that made him the highest-paid non-QB in the league, and has him scheduled to stick around through 2028, the crowd will go absolutely ballistic.
San Francisco 49ers tried to trade for Justin Jefferson
But if it were up to the visiting team today, Minnesota’s latest wide receiver superstar would be coming out of the away tunnel later today, likely to more jeers than cheers. According to Adam Schefter (ESPN), the 49ers were one of a few teams that called the Vikings this offseason, to test the waters on a possible Justin Jefferson trade.
Amid the offseason uncertainty surrounding Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers checked in on Justin Jefferson‘s availability before this year’s NFL draft, but the Vikings had zero interest in trading the star wide receiver and immediately rebuffed San Francisco’s inquiries, league sources told ESPN.
Adam Schefter – ESPN
Fortunately, the Vikings hung up their batphone on the Niners, Jets and Colts (among others) faster than Daunte Culpepper pulling the trigger to Randy Moss, when he saw there was no safety help over the top.
The 49ers were not the only team to check in on Jefferson. The Jets and Colts also had some level of interest, but the Vikings never considered moving the three-time Pro Bowler and talks never went anywhere, according to sources.
Adam Schefter – ESPN
Schefty made it very clear, in just about every paragraph of his article at ESPN.com, that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Minnesota Vikings were NOT interested in trading JJ at any time. And I do believe that. Yes, WRs are overpaid. In most cases, paying wide receivers a QB-size salary is not the path to building a Super Bowl roster.
Jefferson is more than a football player to the Minnesota Vikings
But when you view it through the lens of an NFL owner, the perspective changes. Remember, Justin Jefferson is much more than just another NFL star. He is one of the most popular athletes in the entire world. JJ is his own brand, his own organization. Hell, his touchdown dance probably has an LLC. And the best part about partnering with any JJ business, is that his stock is ALWAYS skyrocketing.
It’s a partnership that has already lifted the Vikings brand to new heights. Not just in Minnesota, or even the USA, but globally. When Justin Jefferson hits the Griddy, or does a national sunglasses commercial, he’s wearing purple. If it’s a licensed promo, he’s wearing the Vikings logo. Not the Cowboys, Patriots or Eagles (haha, how do you like that stray?).
Justin Jefferson is underpaid
My educated guess: they’d pay Jefferson’s $33 million per year, two or three times over, if that’s what it took. Sometimes, you have to spend money to make money. Not only do the Minnesota Vikings employ arguably the league’s best WR, but they also employ one of the best walking, talking team billboards in all of the sports world.
And they don’t even have to pay for that part. He’s paid to play football, but they get so much more. Talk about a discount. So when you think about how much JJ costs this organization, remember this. He is much bigger to the Wilfs than just football.
And that’s why there probably isn’t a price the Niners, Jets, Colts or any other team could have offered to interest Minnesota. What Justin Jefferson brings the Vikings is invaluable, unmeasurable, irreplaceable. Whatever “-able” you prefer.
