Analyst convinced Justin Jefferson won't sign extension with the Vikings

In the wake of Stefon Diggs being traded to the Houston Texans, many are wondering who will be the next superstar receiver to switch teams this offseason. If Craig Carton is correct, that player could be Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings.

Jefferson is seeking a lucrative contract extension that would make him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL, and while the Vikings remain confident in their ability to keep him in Minnesota, FOX Sports’s Craig Carton recently said the following about why he believes Jefferson isn’t going to sign an extension with them.

“You’ve gotta trade [Jefferson] because if he turned down a contract that would make him either the first or second-highest paid wide receiver in the history of the NFL, he’s telling you ‘I’m not re-signing here.' So you better get value for him while you can."

Jefferson’s future with the Vikings has been up in the air over the past year. After setting an NFL record with 4,825 receiving yards in his first three seasons, he was eligible for a contract extension last summer. Progress was made up until the season opener, but the two sides couldn’t agree on a contract, which allowed rumors to swirl throughout the 2023 season.

Rumors about Justin Jefferson leaving the Minnesota Vikings won't stop until he signs an extension

Jefferson had a turbulent year, but his value still went up, with 68 catches for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games. While signing a player like Jefferson feels like a no-brainer, some will point to the success that the Kansas City Chiefs have recently had after trading Tyreek Hill and the lack of highly-paid receivers on Super Bowl-winning teams as reasons to trade Jefferson and start over.

But there are also horror stories in such deals. The Tennessee Titans traded A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022 and general manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel have been fired largely due to that move.

While the Vikings are starting over in a sense with the departure of Kirk Cousins, they still have a solid nucleus around Jefferson and made several additions on the defensive side of the ball, including Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Blake Cashman.

Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has also said he hasn’t ever thought about trading Jefferson, who could command around $40 million per season in his next contract.

The rumors and commentary have been exhausting, but they’re not about to go anywhere until Jefferson signs on the dotted line – whether it be in Minnesota or somewhere else.

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