The Minnesota Vikings began organized team activities on this week and the face of the franchise wasn’t in attendance when media members were invited to watch practice Tuesday.
Justin Jefferson, perhaps in search of a new contract that will undoubtedly make him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history, was among the Vikings not on the field Tuesday. The media wasn’t allowed at Monday’s OTA, so it’s unclear if Jefferson was there.
The other notable names missing Tuesday were edge rusher Danielle Hunter. running back Dalvin Cook, linebacker Jordan Hicks and safety Harrison Smith. Hunter is also likely in search of a new contract, while Cook could be cut or traded once June 1 rolls around because waiting until then will allow the Vikings to save more money on the 2023 salary cap.
Hicks and Smith have new deals so their absences don’t raise red flags like Jefferson, Hunter and Cook.
Some #Vikings OTA tidbits:
— Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Danielle Hunter, Harrison Smith and Jordan Hicks were not present today
— Jordan Addison, Byron Murphy Jr. and Harrison Phillips were out there but not doing much
— Brian O'Neill & DeWayne McBride were rehabbing
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) May 23, 2023
Jefferson is due to earn about $2.4 million in cash this season before his price tag jumps to more than $19 million in 2024 thanks to the Vikings exercising their fifth-year option on him. But that’s all moot since the odds of Jefferson playing 2024 without a new deal – and perhaps even playing 2023 with a new contract – are low.
Was Jefferson simply unable to attend the first OTA or is there purpose behind his absence? Is he playing it safe to avoid any chance of injury before striking it rich with a new contract?
“One thing to keep in mind is that OTAs are voluntary, which means we can’t say for certain whether it’s his contract situation or if he just has something else going on,” said Matthew Coller of Purple Insider. “He knows the system from last year and has worked with Cousins forever, so I don’t think it’s putting him behind at all. If he isn’t there for mandatory minicamp, then we start wondering what’s going on.”
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said before the NFL Draft that they have been in contact with Jefferson’s side but no reports of movement on a deal have emerged. Jefferson has been clear that winning is what matters most, so any contract would likely be attached to the idea that the Vikings can contend every year.
If Jefferson doesn’t buy into the Vikings as a serious, long-term contender, then the situation could get cloudy. This is precisely what Coller wrote about for Bring Me The Sports last week.
“We can’t get inside Jefferson’s head to know whether he’s leaning toward staying in purple forever or thinking about letting it play out. How did he feel about veteran players leaving and the roster looking competitive-rebuild-ish? Does he want Cousins to stay via an extension or the Vikings to look for a QB in the draft? Does he need the team to be a Super Bowl contender in 2023 or does he have a longer-term vision for where he sees this all going? How important is the culture and NFLPA survey?”
There will be more practices and all OTAs are voluntary, but these are practices that Jefferson attended in in the past, so his absence coupled with his contract situation certainly is an attention-getter.
