The Kirk Cousins Era in Minnesota is officially over. After the two sides failed to come to terms before free agency, the former fourth-round pick signed a massive four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons. This puts Minnesota between a rock and a hard place, as the team has no clear path to finding a franchise quarterback. Currently holding the 11th pick in the NFL Draft, all the good quarterback prospects are likely to be off the board by the time Minnesota is on the clock. With this in mind, could the Vikings consider a Justin Jefferson trade as a last-ditch effort to land their quarterback of the future?
Originally selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Justin Jefferson was the fifth receiver taken in his class. Now, you’d be hard-pressed to name five receivers better than the one-time All-Pro. Blessed with an elite route tree and the ability to make plays all over the field, Jefferson recorded 1,074 yards and five touchdowns in 2023 despite missing seven games and catching passes from the underwhelming trio of Nick Mullens, Joshua Dobbs, and Jarran Reed. Nobody ever wants to trade a player as good as Justin Jefferson, but the Vikings might not have a choice.
Could Vikings Trade Justin Jefferson After Kirk Cousins Departure?
The three-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is going to break the bank in the next year or so. As of this posting, Tyreek Hill currently has the highest annual salary among receivers at $30 million per year. Justin Jefferson is going to exceed that number easily, and the Vikings will have to trade him if they’re unable or unwilling to meet that salary. With Cousins gone and Baker Mayfield re-signed, the Vikings will have no choice but to spend up for a bridge quarterback while they wait for the next young answer under center. Even if the Vikings want to hold on to Jefferson, there’s a real chance the receiver will request a trade rather than risk his value dropping while playing through quarterback purgatory.
Edit (March 12, 7:36 EST): The Minnesota Vikings have signed Sam Darnold. If you think this solves anything, please watch any football game he’s played in since 2018.
The Minnesota Vikings do not stand a chance at drafting Caleb Williams. The Chicago Bears own the top pick and would never give that selection to a team within their division. Every other quarterback, however, is fair game. While the Washington Commanders probably won’t trade out of the second-overall pick, nobody knows who they will take. So, if the Vikings fall in love with a non-Williams prospect and have the chance to select them, they might trade Justin Jefferson for a higher draft pick.
Best Trade Destinations
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have a desperate need at quarterback, and if they like whoever is available at the third-overall pick, they will not trade for Justin Jefferson. However, recent reports indicate that New England isn’t in love with the top prospects in this class and could be willing to move down for the right price. As of this posting, the Patriots have not signed a wide receiver in free agency, but even if they land a top name like Calvin Ridley, they still need to find a difference-maker at the position. No matter who the quarterback is next year, they’ll need an improved supporting cast to succeed.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers have Justin Herbert, so they won’t be needing a new quarterback any time soon. Unfortunately, they need just about everything else. With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams on the trade block, the Chargers could have a desperate need for a wide receiver like Justin Jefferson. Even if one or both players stick around, neither is a long-term solution, and Quentin Johnston did nothing to inspire confidence as a rookie. Pairing Herbert with a superstar like Jefferson should give this team enough firepower to go blow-for-blow with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are sticking with Kyler Murray and, in all likelihood, will select Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth-overall pick. While Harrison has the potential to be as good as any receiver in the league, there is no such thing as a can’t-miss prospect. We already know that Justin Jefferson can dominate NFL competition, and the Cardinals have enough cap space to facilitate a trade.
New York Giants
The New York Giants might be battling the Vikings for the right to move up in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, if they decide that none of the prospects are better than Daniel Jones, they’d probably be willing to trade for Justin Jefferson. The Giants do not have a reliable receiving threat in this offense, especially since Saquon Barkley is now playing for the divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles. If Jones (or whoever comes after him) is going to succeed, they’ll need a playmaker like Jefferson on the roster.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers solved their offensive line woes with Robert Hunt, but they still need some wide receivers. Every other team on this list has the opportunity to directly trade their first-round pick for Justin Jefferson. The Panthers don’t possess such a luxury, so they’d need to find a way to give Minnesota the tools required to trade up in the first round. It’s hard to say how this would happen, but the Panthers should be willing to move heaven and earth if it means potentially saving Bryce Young’s career.
Main Photo: David Rodriguez Muno – USA Today Sports
