Wide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings has a high bar for his next deal, and he may decide to take matters into his own hands if the Vikings are unable to meet it. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis spoke with several agents who had negotiated top-of-the-market agreements after Philadelphia Eagles standout A.J. Brown’s deal topped $32 million a season and Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown obtained a contract extension worth $30 million annually. Although it’s widely believed that Jefferson will reset the market, one agent claimed that if Jefferson accepts a five-year deal, his next contract could be worth up to $36 million annually. With a potential value of up to $180 million, that would be the biggest contract ever given to a non-quarterback. Lewis was forewarned of the possible “storm cloud” that could arise: in the event that the Vikings failed to live up to their contract obligations, Jefferson could decide his own fate. There are levers for both parties to pull. Lewis stated that Jefferson is talented enough to control his own destiny and that the Vikings own the franchise tag. Jefferson has never been one to stir up controversy. “This messiness is the storm cloud on the horizon, but none of this is fun to type, much less think about.” Despite mounting pressure to complete a deal, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stated that Jefferson is at the centre of their plans and that talks are still going well.During his press conference following the draft, Adofo-Mensah stated, “You know, the process is ongoing, and we continue to have great dialogue with their representatives.” We will continue to strive towards that final objective because “you can’t have all these plans where you talk about all these visions and not talk about the king linchpin.”The subject of Jefferson’s contract extension comes up each time Adofo-Mensah enters the press room. Adofo-Mensah stated that the two parties were “unbelievably close” to reaching a contract during the NFL Combine. Lewis added that a number of Vikings employees thought a deal would be completed prior to the commencement of the season. Although such discussions have since ended, they still serve as the cornerstone of the alliance with Jefferson’s team. Jefferson’s future has continued to be a hot topic in the national media ever since. But during the season and in the months leading up to the draft, the Vikings hardly ever conduct business of this scale. They needed to plan their financial future and determine whether they would marry Danielle Hunter or Kirk Cousins first. More controversy about no deal is sure to arise as the NFL offseason enters its dog days, particularly if (not if) Jefferson chooses not to participate in optional organised team activities. Adofo-Mensah, however, has supported Jefferson at every turn and stated that he “is the best receiver in the league and should be compensated as such.”The rumours about Jefferson’s contract were revived in April when he skipped voluntary workouts; this is probably not the last team activity he would miss. If the Vikings’ last offseason is any guide, Jefferson won’t be present when the voluntary OTAs get underway on May 20. Minicamps are required and run for three days, from June 4 to June 6. If Jefferson chooses not to participate, he may be fined. Big-deal announcements from the Vikings have historically occurred before the start of training camps, if not minicamps. 2020: After Dalvin Cook’s representatives declared a planned holdout, the contract negotiations continued through a training camp. The weekend prior to the start of the regular season, a settlement was finally reached. Adofo-Mensah indicated that the Vikings intend to avoid dragging out discussions until the final days before the 2024 season opener by saying that Jefferson should have a week to enjoy his new contract. It’s not concerning if Jefferson skips minicamps; however, if the Vikings don’t declare at the beginning of training camp that Jefferson will now be the highest-paid wide receiver in the league, then there’s cause for concern.
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