Vikes GM hasn't considered trading Justin Jefferson - ESPN

Trading star receiver Justin Jefferson «is not something that's once crossed my mind,» Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah told reporters Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine.

Adofo-Mensah's comment came as the Vikings enter their second year of attempting to sign Jefferson to a long-term contract extension. The sides broke off talks before the start of the 2023 season but have since reengaged. There has been some media speculation suggesting the Vikings trade Jefferson to accumulate enough draft picks to find a long-term replacement for quarterback Kirk Cousins, but Adofo-Mensah seemed to discredit that suggestion Tuesday.

«You got a blue[-chip] player, a blue[-chip] person, you try to keep as many of those as you can,» he said.

In his most expansive explanation yet of the team's approach to retaining Jefferson, Adofo-Mensah said the sides were «unbelievably close» to a deal last summer before suspending talks. He said he promised Jefferson and his representatives that he would not speak publicly about the negotiations, despite the frustration of what he considers false rumors, but he made clear he does not anticipate a future without Jefferson in Minnesota.

«We had a lot of great dialogue last offseason,» Adofo-Mensah said. «I think people forget: Deals rarely happen after three years. And there's a reason. With two years left [on his rookie contract], there's uncertainty that somebody has got to hold. Either the club has got to hold it, or the player has got to hold it. There's new money, old money. How do you look at contracts? Those are very hard conversations to have. So a lot of them don't get done. ...

»We've said it and we'll continue to say it: We think he's the best wide receiver in the league