CeeDee Lamb has elected to stay away from the Cowboys in the absence of a long-term extension being worked out. The same remains true in the case of Justin Jefferson, another wideout looking to approach or reach the top of his position’s market. 
Jefferson is absent from the Vikings as their organized team activities begin, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The 2022 Offensive Player of the Year also skipped out on the beginning of Minnesota’s offseason program last month, so today’s update does not represent a surprise. Jefferson’s decision comes as extension talks are ongoing.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said earlier this offseason that the sides came close to an agreement last year. Negotiations were ultimately put on hold, though, and they briefly resumed resumed after the close of the 2023 campaign. With attention turning to the draft, the team temporarily pressed pause for a time, but the focus is once again on hammering out a lucrative pact.
Jefferson had the most productive three-year start to a career in NFL history, giving him a strong case to sign the league’s most valuable receiver pact. The 24-year-old was limited to 10 games in 2024 due to a hamstring injury, though he still managed to post a 68-1,074-5 statline. Kirk Cousins is no longer Minnesota’s quarterback, with Sam Darnold in place as a bridge option and first-rounder J.J. McCarthy positioned to take over as a starter down the road.
Both of those signal-callers carry plenty of question marks relative to Cousins, but Jefferson will still be counted on to produce among the league’s top playmakers moving forward. The three-time Pro Bowler is due $19.74MM in 2024 as he is set to play out his fifth-year option. A franchise tag could be an option for the following year, but a multi-year investment at a much larger rate remains a matter of mutual interest.
Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM-per-year Dolphins pact has been surpassed as the top receiver deal in terms of annual compensation. Both Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions) and A.J. Brown (Eagles) have eclipsed that figure on mega-pacts of their own, with the latter’s checking in at $32MM per season with $51MM fully guaranteed at signing. Jefferson, along with Lamb and Bengals standout Ja’Marr Chase, is in line to parlay his production into a similar contract. It will be interesting to see if traction is gained between he and the Vikings in the near future.
If they’re smart they’ll get it done before Chase. The price ain’t gonna get lower. They just reset their quarterback contract clock and they’re set to have a huge amount of cap space starting in 2025. Much easier financial path than the Bengals have.
Be in camp for mandatory time or else you’re a bum.
A bum being underpaid by $25M+ a year? Minny has slacked for 2 offseason’s to get a deal done. This is on the franchise, not the player.
He’s being paid what he agreed to be paid.
Being paid what was negotiated by the NFLPA while he was still in college. He had zero say in his rookie contract; like all rookies.
He had all the say in the world. He could have said “no” and not signed the deal.
All players are paid exactly what they or their representatives agreed they should be paid for a set amount of years and a set amount of dollars that may change based on circumstances such as trades, injuries, or release. The deal is absolute in these regards. The notion that a player should be paid more for producing more is noble, sure, but how many deals have gone south due to injury or lack of production. I would argue that deals that are underpaid vs. production are very similar to deals overpaid vs. production. This is the nature of the industry.
The facts in this case are fairly clear. He signed a deal for a value that was known prior to signing the deal. He is under no obligation to take part in any non-mandatory events for the team. He technically isn’t obligated to do any mandatory events either but if he wants to be paid he does. The team is obligated to pay him the set amount that was agreed on.
JJ’s issue, much like other players, is with the NFLPA as you mentioned. They are paid by the players to represent them. I believe the NFLPA is the WORST players union in any sport. Between ceding on rookie capped contracts, the franchise tag, non fully guaranteed contracts, and especially 17 and eventually 18 game seasons they are paying a 3rd party to be taken advantage of.
Don’t be surprised if he elects to become a free agent.
Or another hamstring injury again.
I think that is a distinct possibility as those injuries keep recurring unless a player gets an extended rest. Few coaches want their best player sitting for a month or more though to nurse a hamstring back to health.
How long does the off-season need to be for his hammy to be fine? He hasn’t played since January.
Just watch how many WRs pull hamstrings early in training camp after being off since January. Every pre season we see guys over extending themselves and getting those types of injuries along with ankle sprains.
Jefferson is going to be a free agent for 35mm a year
As a Vikings fan and jj fan, a sign and trade might be the best option for both.
They aren’t making a deep run until they figure out their identity post cousins. Not advocating for a rebuild, but they’ll be reworking/retooling for at least a couple years. A top paid WR seems like a luxury for a team that doesn’t know who will be throwing the ball down the line.
They have a clear plan for who’s going to be throwing him the ball. They have a quarterback and number two receiver cost controlled. Why would they not pay perhaps the most valuable non-QB in the game?
What does it cost to trade for this guy?
NFL players are never traded for their value. Might only take a first plus a few other picks. Should cost 3 firsts or so, but…might not.
Insert obligatory Iverson “We sitting in here — I’m supposed to be the franchise player, and we in here talking about practice. I mean, listen: We talking about practice. Not a game. Not a game. Not a game. We talking about practice. Not a game. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game like it’s my last. Not the game. We talking about practice, man.”
btw: I agreed with him 100% because I understood his rant wasn’t against practicing it was about the media reaction. Imagine if he had to play in today’s social media driven society?
I actually think Iverson was enjoying himself through that whole rant. Players like to complain about media attention but without it they would not be getting those lucrative endorsement deals they cash in on when they aren’t practicing…practicing…practicing…practicing….