The Minnesota Vikings’ Organized Team Activity practice on Tuesday marked the second consecutive week a session was open to the media. It also marked the second consecutive OTA at which star wide receiver Justin Jefferson was absent.
Jefferson, who according to fellow wide receiver K.J. Osborn has been working out in Florida, isn’t obligated to attend OTAs, but it is noteworthy when a top player is absent for multiple workouts. Defensive end Danielle Hunter and running back Dalvin Cook fall into this category, but Hunter is looking for a contract extension and Cook is waiting to be traded, released or return to Minnesota on a pay cut.
So what’s going on with Jefferson?
“For me, I hope to see him as soon as possible,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Tuesday. “I think our participation amongst the whole team (at OTAs) has been so good that we’re able to get great work in. Would love to have him here, obviously. But I think as we work towards minicamp we’ll have a real clean-cut plan of what that looks like, hopefully get him some work, and I know a lot of the guys will be excited to see him.”
Jefferson has two years remaining on his rookie deal, but that doesn’t mean this doesn’t have something to do with his contract. Jefferson is due a base salary of $2.399 million this season and $19.7 million on his fifth-year option in 2024.
The 24-year-old is eligible for a contract extension this offseason that promises to be one of the NFL’s richest. Jefferson deserves it. The 22nd pick in the 2020 draft, Jefferson led the league in receptions (128) and yards (1,809) last season and has 324 catches for 4,825 yards with 25 touchdowns in 50 games and 48 starts over his first three seasons.
Jefferson isn’t just one of the NFL’s best receivers, he is one of the league’s most dynamic players. It wouldn’t be surprising if Jefferson’s representatives are looking to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.
Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald currently is the highest-paid non-QB with an average annual salary of $31.7 million per season. Miami’s Tyreek Hill is the highest-paid wide receiver at $30 million a year.
Discussions between Jefferson’s reps and the Vikings have been ongoing, but working out a contract this big often takes time and back-and-forth negotiations as each side tries to get the best deal. Jefferson could have decided he isn’t going to take any risks running through offseason workouts.
The ideal situation would be for an agreement to be done by the Vikings’ two-day mandatory minicamp on June 13 and 14. The Vikings would have the right to fine him, if he elects not to attend. That would make this one of the NFL’s big offseason stories. Right now, it’s only one worth monitoring, both inside and outside of TCO Performance Center.
The good news is that the lines of communication remain open between the Vikings best player and head coach.
“It’s one of those things that, we’ve had great dialogue throughout the offseason,” O’Connell said. “A lot of that will stay between Justin and I, but I just know he’s getting good work wherever he’s spending his offseason. (I) look forward to having him here when he decides to come up, and I know his teammates will be excited about that.”
Judd Zulgad is co-host of the Purple Daily Podcast and Mackey & Judd podcast at www.skornorth.com