Vikings can't afford to fumble Justin Jefferson situation

The 26-year-old is in year one of the four-year $110 million mega-extension he signed with the Vikings just prior to the 2024-25 season.

Jefferson’s 62 receptions for 799 receiving yards and just two receiving touchdowns through 12 games this season have him producing at his lowest per-game rate in every category. 

The Vikings should keep Justin Jefferson and get him a competent quarterback

While chatter about Jefferson asking for a trade this offseason has gotten extremely loud in recent weeks, the Vikings should absolutely not let it get to that point under any circumstances.

They have to realize the decision to rely on J.J. McCarthy as the starter with little to no help behind him was a massive mistake, and, in turn, add a competent quarterback to compete with him moving forward. 

That’s all Jefferson needs: competent quarterback play. In fact, that was on full display with Wentz at the helm as he averaged 95.4 receiving yards in those five contests. He’s that good, which just goes to show how awful McCarthy and Brosmer have been.

At 26 years old, the four-time Pro Bowler has so many great years of football left in him, and it would be a shame to see that go to waste in Minnesota, but at the same time, it would just feel wrong to see the 2020 first-round (22nd overall) pick not donning the Purple and Gold.

With all that in mind, the Vikings can’t just run this back in 2026, nor should they give away their franchise player for draft picks that they can only hope turn out anywhere close to being as good as Jefferson. 

What they should do is give Jefferson some help by either swinging big for a star signal caller via trade, like Kyler Murray or Joe Burrow (pipe dream). Or the more likely route of making a smaller move to land a Jameis Winston or Mac Jones, who, while not as flashy, will get the job done and get Jefferson the ball, which is what ultimately leads to success in Minnesota.