Vikings GM provides major update on Justin Jefferson contract talks

Free agency and the NFL Draft are over, and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is still without a new deal.

However, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hinted that it may not be a very long wait before the two sides finally come to terms.

“We continue to have great dialogue with their representatives,” Adofo-Mensah said of extension talks, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. “The process is still ongoing. We did say, ‘Hey, [let’s pause] a couple days.’ The draft’s coming. They have players they represent. We have our process.”

Jefferson is preparing to enter the final year of his current deal and is expected to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in football.

Adofo-Mensah wants to make this special for the superstar pass-catcher.

“Either way, whenever we sign him, we want Justin to have his whole week,” Adofo-Mensah added. “You know that friend that has a birthday that takes the month? I think Justin would deserve his whole month if we signed a contract to celebrate it. We’re excited to work towards it. We’re going to keep going. You can’t have all these plans when you talk about all these visions and not talk about the king linchpin, so we’re going to keep working toward that end goal.”

Many have criticized the Vikings for dragging their feet in contract discussions with Jefferson, as he became eligible for an extension last offseason.

Some even wondered if Minnesota could potentially trade the 24-year-old, especially after losing quarterback Kirk Cousins to free agency last month.

But evidently, the Vikings have every intention of keeping Jefferson, and Jefferson appears to want to stay in Minnesota for the long haul.

We’ll see if the Vikings can get something done with Justin Jefferson in the coming weeks and months. If not, expect trade speculation to intensify.