Vikings HC: Justin Jefferson Exchange Was ‘In no arrangement Ever’ Talked about Ahead of $140M Contract
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The Minnesota Vikings never severely regarded as trading wide receiver Justin Jefferson, per head coach Kevin O’Connell.
“There is a clear capability that we form of manufacture industry,” O’Connell instructed journalists Tuesday. “Must you hear clear things — a form of things advance and hasten — and likewise you form of chalk it as much as what they’re. But when there is things which will most certainly be to this level launch air the realm of what is undoubtedly going on and taking station, you watch yourself attempting to advance out and pronounce, which I will unequivocally: We never, ever, one time, mentioned it internally amongst the leadership.
“Some of us absorb sources a ways and wide, however amongst the leadership, amongst the resolution-makers, the of us which will most certainly be at as soon as fascinated with the scenario, there if fact be told used to be no longer one time that used to be ever mentioned, game-deliberate [or] contingency deliberate. And I mediate that is that if fact be told crucial, as a result of it is no longer honest concerning the consequence this day, it is concerning the route of of which we’re rather jubilant with.”
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“This used to be a terribly cold day to be a section of, and one fairly frankly we’ve been very powerful taking a watch ahead to for a extraordinarily long time.” – Head Coach Kevin O’Connell pic.twitter.com/Bmz59kGdby
The Vikings ended the uncertainty over Jefferson’s future by signing him to a file-setting extension. He can produce as much as $140 million over four years and can invent $110 million assured. His $35 million common wage is the wonderful non-quarterback quantity within the league.
Ahead of things were finalized, some naturally wondered whether or no longer Minnesota would possibly section ways with the three-time Pro Bowler. Huge title wideouts Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill each acquired traded when they were angling for fresh affords with their respective groups.
It sounds as even though any alternate conversations between the Vikings and another personnel were fully one-sided.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis reported in March that normal manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah “aggressively rejected” any belief to hasten Jefferson last offseason when extension negotiations broke down. Russini and Lewis added that Kirk Cousins’ exit “hasn’t modified things.”
Subsequent reporting after news of Jefferson’s contract broke shed further gentle on the extent to which Minnesota remained resolute.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday the Contemporary York Jets, Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers made contact with the Vikings before the 2024 NFL draft. Schefter added that “the conversations went nowhere with anyone.”
In step with Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Steelers also reached out in February, only to be “straight up instructed a alternate wasn’t going on.”
A head coach is rarely going to publicly admit his personnel blueprint about trading its only player only days after mentioned player agreed to a precedent-setting contract.
In the case of O’Connell, there is now not any motive no longer to grab him at his discover for the rationale that Vikings would’ve had no shortage of avenues to search out if they had any long-length of time reservations about Jefferson.
