Vikings Trade Justin Jefferson to the AFC in Exchange for a New QB1
According to Purple Insider Matthew Koller on Feb. 5, the league could be looking to bring in a new quarterback after noticing that the Minnesota Vikings and Kirk Sonson are headed for a divorce.
Fox Sports 1’s Colin Cowherd has an idea to target the Vikings for one of the top quarterbacks in this draft class. But the cost of doing so is high.
“I have an idea,” Sirsi said on the “Otar” program on February 5. “New England has the No. 3. What does New England need? player. … Trading the pick would give them the no. 1 next year, and Justin Jefferson would be 11-3.
Here’s a hypothetical scenario where Cowherd trades the Patriots two picks and a Vikings All-Pro receiver for a future quarterback position. Vikings get:
– 2024 first round pick (third overall)
Patriots get:
– Justin Jefferson
– 2024 first round pick (11th overall)
– 2025 first round pick
“You can’t move forward without giving something up,” Koerd said.
The Vikings can’t get that from USC’s Caleb Williams. But they still picked North Carolina’s Drake May or Jayden Daniels, allowing Cowherd to get them.
Neither Daniels nor Maye is a serious threat to Williams’ spot as the primary option. And Daniels’ rapid rise raises questions about who will replace May at No. 2 and whether Williams can have the same effect when she moves up to No. 1.
Jordan Addison can opt out of a Justin Jefferson trade with the Vikings. Coming off a Rookie of the Year winner with four consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns to start his career doesn’t work for a starting quarterback either.
But Cowherd believes the Vikings are prepared to deal with a potential loss. “They already got Jordan Addison. Hockenson] They love. They have skill players,” Cowherd said. “Jordan Addison [No. 1]. So they have two 1’s. … Otherwise, he’s the best two players in the league. He is a great young player.
“Maybe Jordan could suggest Addison. But Jordan Addison doesn’t have to get paid for the next three years. That’s what I like.”
With a cap hit of $28.9 million, trading Jefferson would require financial discussions, according to Spotrac. But Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said he has a good relationship with Jefferson’s representatives. The new deal could drop his cap hit from $19.7 million in 2024. Former Vikings GM Jeff Diamond predicted Jefferson would extend his record.
Colin Cowherd is against the renewal.
Cowherd inadvertently provided a stronger counterargument to a hypothetical trade scenario that could involve the Vikings. “We have four quarterbacks at 11 o’clock,” Cowherd said. “If Caleb is No. 1 and I don’t think there’s much of a gap between him and everybody else, how does it help me if Justin Jefferson goes from No. 3 to No. 11?”
Cowherd wasn’t concerned that the contract is onerous for the Vikings, not the Patriots, who have about $40 million on hand. Cowherd said of paying top dollar to Jefferson, “Who cares?” “Don’t pay the quartermaster.”
If they stay put, the Vikings will have J.J. from Michigan. McCarthy, Bo Nix from Oregon or Michael Penix Jr. in Washington. Along the way, each prospect’s draft slot has changed significantly.
