Vikings' Justin Jefferson addresses future of Kirk Cousins

Minnesota Vikings All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson has thus far only had Kirk Cousins as his full-time starting quarterback in the NFL and hopes that trend continues beyond the 2023 season. 

"It's a part of the business. It's kind of really hard to say so," Jefferson said Thursday about Cousins' uncertain future, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN. "Of course, I would love for Kirk to continue to be my quarterback. But, again, I don't control that. That's up to the team and up to Kirk. But of course, I would love to have Kirk and continue my journey with Kirk."

The Vikings restructured Cousins' contract for salary-cap purposes in March, but the 35-year-old remains on track to reach free agency after the campaign. Cousins made it known in June he likely won't discuss his future with the organization until "next March" and instead will focus "on this season and the job to do right now."

Cousins accumulated a regular-season record of 46-33-1 across the past five campaigns with the Vikings but has yet to guide the club to a conference title game. He also possesses a lackluster 1-3 career postseason record. 

It was reported this spring that the Vikings and San Francisco 49ers "talked about" quarterback Trey Lance during the scouting combine before San Francisco traded the 2021 first-round draft pick to the Dallas Cowboys. The 49ers have repeatedly been linked in rumors with Cousins, in part because San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan previously served as the signal-caller's offensive coordinator when both were with Washington. 

Shanahan currently hopes Brock Purdy can go from being a revelation as a rookie to a full-time franchise quarterback coming off the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow Purdy suffered in late January. 

It's likely only a matter of time before the Vikings make Jefferson the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. Minnesota keeping the 24-year-old happy by holding onto Cousins past this season could ultimately benefit everyone involved.