49ers Called Vikings About Justin Jefferson Trade

The Minnesota Vikings will play the San Francisco 49ers in just a handful of hours, at U.S. Bank Stadium. It will be the first time the new-look purple have taken to their freshly-turfed homefield, in the 2024 regular season.

And just like he has for the first three record-breaking years of his NFL career, Justin Jefferson will run out of the Vikings tunnel, Sunday morning. Now the highest-paid non-QB in the league, thanks to an offseason contract extension that has him scheduled to remain in Minnesota through 2028, the U.S. Bank Stadium crowd will go absolutely ballistic.

San Francisco 49ers tried to trade for Justin Jefferson

But if it were up to the visiting team, today, the Vikings’ latest wide receiver phenom would be running out of the away tunnel — likely to more jeers, than cheers. According to Adam Schefter (ESPN) , the 49ers were one of at least a few teams that called the Minnesota Vikings, this offseason, to inquire on a possible Justin Jefferson trade.

Amid the offseason uncertainty surrounding Brandon Aiyuk , the 49ers checked in on Justin Jefferson ‘s availability before this year’s NFL draft, but the Vikings had zero interest in trading the star wide receiver and immediately rebuffed San Francisco’s inquiries, league sources told ESPN.

Adam Schefter – ESPN

Fortunately, the Vikings hung up their trade batphone on the Niners, Jets and Colts (among others) faster than Daunte Culpepper used to pull the trigger deep to Randy Moss, when he saw that right arm go up in the air.

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The 49ers were not the only team to check in on Jefferson. The Jets and Colts also had some level of interest, but the Vikings never considered moving the three-time Pro Bowler and talks never went anywhere, according to sources.

Adam Schefter – ESPN

Schefty made it very clear, in just about every paragraph of his article at ESPN.com , that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Minnesota Vikings were NOT interested in trading JJ at any time.

This time around, I believe him. There’s no denying it, anymore. NFL wide receivers are overpaid. And in most cases, paying them a QB-size salary is not a successful path to building a Super Bowl-caliber roster.

Jefferson is more than a football player to the Minnesota Vikings

But when you view it through the lens of an NFL owner, the perspective changes. Remember, Justin Jefferson is much more than just another NFL superstar. He is one of the most popular athletes in the entire world.

JJ is his own brand, his own organization. Hell, his touchdown dance probably has an LLC. And the best part about partnering with any JJ business, is that his stock is ALWAYS skyrocketing. No doubt, the partnership has already paid dividends for the Viking. Not just locally, or even nationally… but globally.

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People who know absolutely nothing about American football, know who Justin Jefferson is. All over the world, there are kids and adults, alike, who are wearing Jefferson’s jersey or shirt — maybe bought his football card or collected a JJ bobblehead — who have never watched the Minnesota Vikings play.

Think about it. When Justin Jefferson hits the Griddy, or does a national sunglasses commercial, he’s wearing purple. If it’s a licensed promo, he’s wearing the Vikings logo. That’s air time for the Wilfs, that would have otherwise gone to the Cowboys, Patriots… or Eagles (strays fired). But not while JJ is here.

When ESPN wants Jefferson on Monday Night Football, or the league wants him on their Thanksgiving/Christmas lineup, the Vikings want it to be their team that gets that spotlight. Let’s be real, the NFL salary cap stopped Justin from asking for his real market value from the Wilfs.

Justin Jefferson is underpaid

My educated guess: they’d pay Jefferson’s $33 million per year, two or three times over, if that’s what it took. Sometimes, you have to spend money to make money. Not only do the Minnesota Vikings employ arguably the league’s best WR, but they also employ one of the best walking, talking team billboards in all of the sports world.

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And they don’t even have to pay for that part. He’s paid to play football, but they get so much more. Talk about a discount. So when you think about how much JJ costs this organization, remember this. He is much bigger to the Wilfs than just football.

And that’s why there probably isn’t a price the Niners, Jets, Colts or any other team could have offered to interest Minnesota. What Justin Jefferson brings the Vikings is invaluable, unmeasurable, irreplaceable. Whatever “-able” you prefer.

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