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Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on extending Justin Jefferson: ‘It’s a priority’

dane mizutani, pioneer press
·3 min read

It seems only a matter of time before Justin Jefferson becomes the NFL’s highest-paid receiver.

Asked on Tuesday morning at the NFL Combine about a potential contract extension for Jefferson this offseason, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made himself clear.

“I don’t want to be the Vikings GM without this guy on our team,” he said from Indianapolis. “It’s a priority.”

The Vikings still need to move some money around to be able to afford the contract extension, which is why Adofo-Mensah quickly followed his answer by subtly mentioning the order in which things need to happen this offseason. As things stand, the Vikings are roughly $24 million in the red, according to OverTheCap.com, meaning they need to restructure some contracts to make everything work.

The biggest name to keep an eye on is quarterback Kirk Cousins, who enters the final year of his contract with a $36.25 million cap hit, which could be lowered if the Vikings decide to extend his deal this offseason. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero recently reported he anticipates it’s either going to be a long-term deal or both sides will agree to to let Cousins play out the rest of his current contract.

If the Vikings don’t to commit to Cousins with a long-term deal, they will have a difficult time freeing up cap space.

Regardless, it’s clear the Vikings have every intention of keeping the 24-year-old Jefferson around for the foreseeable future. He led the NFL with 128 receptions and 1,809 yards last season, emerging as arguably the best player at the position, and was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year.

“I will be wherever I’m wanted,” Jefferson said in January when asked a possible contract extension. “If they want me here, I’m here.”

It’s worth noting that the Vikings could wait until after next season to sign Jefferson to a contract extension. He’s currently under contract for 2023, and the Vikings will certainly pick up his fifth-year option for 2024. The contract extension he’s eligible for this offseason would begin in 2025.

How much is Jefferson going to cost? Looking at the highest paid receivers could offer a pretty good indication. Just last offseason, Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill signed a 4-year, $120 million deal that pays him $30 million annually, and Raiders receiver Davante Adams is playing on a 5-year, $140 million deal that pays him $28 million annually.

It’s a good bet that Jefferson will make more than both of those players. That’s the way the market works.

Asked in January whether he should be the NFL’s highest-paid receiver, Jefferson said, “They pay me whatever they pay me. They don’t even really have to give me an extension this year. It is what (it) is. It’s not something that I’m really worried about. I want to win a Super Bowl; that’s the thing that I’m most focused on.”

That’s the mindset that has Adofo-Mensah so eager to keep Jefferson around.

“He’s trying to put the Minnesota Vikings on his back and wants to win a championship,” the GM said. “When you have guys like that in your building, you try everything you can to not let them out.”

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