Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Jefferson will sign new deal with Vikings on one condition

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 2/14/24

There’s no question the Minnesota Vikings want to lock star receiver Justin Jefferson up to a long-term deal, and they’ll presumably pay him whatever he wants to make it happen.

There’s just one catch.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo, Jefferson informed the Vikings he won’t sign any new deal until he knows what the team’s quarterback plans are.

Whenever Jefferson does sign his new deal, it’s expected to eclipse Tyreek Hill’s four-year, $120 million contract ($30M per season) as the largest for a receiver in NFL history.

Jefferson has been outspoken about the Vikings bringing back Kirk Cousins, who played the 2023 season on a one-year, $35 million contract but will be a free agent in March. Spotrac has Cousins’ market value at $39.3M per season and projects him to sign a three-year, $118M deal when he hits free agency.

#Vikings WR Justin Jefferson response after being asked who’s going to be throwing him the ball in 2024:

“I have no idea. It could be could Kirk, it could not be Kirk… it doesn’t matter who is going to be throwing me that ball. I’m always going to be that same type of player.” pic.twitter.com/1rBC7gdYrz
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) February 8, 2024

Aside from injury, Cousins is the only QB Jefferson has played with since entering the league in 2020. Over those four seasons, he’s totaled 392 receptions, 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns. He has the second-most receiving yards, sixth-most receptions and 11th-most touchdowns during that span.

Although he may generate significant interest on the free-agent market, Cousins admitted last month that he’d like to return to the Vikings, stating at this stage of his career organizational structure is more important to him than money is.

“I think that God has blessed me financially beyond my wildest dreams,” Cousins said, via ESPN. “So at this stage in my career, the dollars are really not what it's about.”

Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in a 24-10 win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. He was having a career year at the time of the injury and was on track to set new career highs in both passing yards (4,953) and touchdowns (38).

While re-signing Cousin is probably the most likely scenario, the Vikings do have other options including trading for Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields, drafting a passer like Washington's Michael Penix Jr., Oregon's Bo Nix or Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, or pursuing a top free agent like Ryan Tannehill, Joe Flacco or Gardner Minshew.

More must-reads: