An NFL insider thinks a Green Bay Packers rival is playing a risky game by not being aggressive this offseason in extending their star player. Packers fans should really hope the Minnesota Vikings find a way to botch their negotiations with wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
The Vikings have already made important roster decisions in anticipation of extending Jefferson. The Vikings tried to shop running back Dalvin Cook. However, they could not find a trade partner and decided to cut the Pro Bowl athlete this month.
Jefferson missed voluntary OTAs this spring. However, he was seen at mandatory minicamp in June. Per Cody Benjamin with CBS Sports, Jefferson said he planned to participate in training camp and was not in a hurry to sign a new contract with the Vikings:
“Will I be here? Oh yeah,” he said. “(The contract) is not really something I’m really worrying about. It’s really about doing what I need to do to get this team to where we want to go.”
The Vikings still have Jefferson under contract through the 2024 season.
Procrastination could help the Green Bay Packers
Mike Florio with NBC Sports thinks the Vikings shouldn’t procrastinate extending Jefferson for the long term. Florio wrote that the Vikings would regret waiting to ink to Jefferson sooner rather than later, as time would only increase Jefferson’s asking price and could open the door for him to look elsewhere for employment:
“For starters, the price is only going to keep going up and up. Every team that has ever waited to sign a great player has ended up spending more to later sign him. Unless, of course, the player suffers a serious injury or loses his fastball. Does anyone think Justin Jefferson is suddenly going to morph into Troy Williamson?
Then there’s the possibility that the foot-dragging will upset the good-natured Jefferson, making him decide that he wants out. That he wants to play elsewhere — like Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, and A.J. Brown in 2022. Once that bridge is crossed, it’s hard to go back.
To the Vikings, tread lightly. While the squeaky wheel gets the grease, taking a smoothly-spinning wheel for granted could cause it to suddenly fly off the axle.”
Will the Minnesota Vikings lose Justin Jefferson?
The Vikings shouldn’t be in too big of a hurry to sign Jefferson this summer. He’s a special athlete, but he’s not immune to injury or a decline in numbers in the course of a season. It’s hard to see a world where Jefferson doesn’t re-sign with the Vikings.
Jefferson will soon be the league’s best wide receiver, and the Vikings appear to understand they’ll have to invest in him financially. But there’s always a chance that if talks between the Vikings and Jefferson drag on too long, the Packers’ secondary will breathe a sigh of relief.
For More Wisconsin Sports:
Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @WiSportsHeroics. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Wisconsin sports, click here! Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks.
