Insider offers update on Justin Jefferson trade report

Eyebrows were raised when it was reported this past weekend that the Minnesota Vikings could've made star wide receiver Justin Jefferson available to other clubs had Minnesota been able to move up from No. 11 to No. 5 in this year's draft order to select wideout Malik Nabers.

NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated offered an update on the situation for a piece published Tuesday.

"What I can add here is that if there was ever a thought that Minnesota could move up to get Malik Nabers, a move that on paper could lead to a corresponding transaction involving Jefferson, it never got very far," Breer explained. Breer noted that "the market for other picks inside the top 10 collapsed" after it "became clear that" the New England Patriots were going to stay at choice No. 3 to grab quarterback Drake Maye.

Jefferson was the subject of some trade rumors before the draft, as he's in the final year of his rookie contract and seemingly never came close to signing an extension with the Vikings before April 25. It was reported as recently as last week that Jefferson "wants to be paid like some quarterbacks" and could want "at or close to $100M" in fully guaranteed money attached to his next deal.

The Arizona Cardinals drafted receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. via pick No. 4 before the Los Angeles Chargers took offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 5. The New York Giants chose the previously mentioned Nabers with the sixth pick, and Minnesota moved up a single spot to get quarterback J.J. McCarthy at selection No. 10.

"The Cardinals and Chargers, and even the Giants and (Tennessee Titans at No. 7), left open the possibility that they would trade down with other teams, and none got much action from anyone in the week leading up to the draft, or on draft day after New England made it official and took Maye," Breer added.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said earlier in May that "everything's going to get worked out" regarding the club signing Jefferson to an extension. While Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio suggested on Tuesday that the Vikings "possibly are waiting for someone to blow them away with an offer they can’t refuse" for Jefferson, Breer indicated O'Connell was telling the truth.

"But for now, and really throughout, my feeling is that the Vikings' plan has been to do what they need to do to keep Jefferson around long-term," Breer concluded.

Jefferson's future will continue to generate headlines as long as it remains unsettled. It's unknown if the latest trade rumor will complicate talks between Jefferson's camp and the Vikings over the next handful of weeks.