With the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday approaching, the Minnesota Vikings face a significant challenge. Kirk Cousins, their starting quarterback for the past six years, has departed for the Atlanta Falcons, leaving Minnesota with limited options at the position. During the offseason, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year contract, making him the projected QB1 on the depth chart ahead of Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall. This trio is widely considered one of the weakest at quarterback in the league. The pressing need for a franchise quarterback is further emphasized by the desire to retain wide receiver Justin Jefferson, a generational talent who is entering the final year of his contract. Currently playing under his fifth-year option, Jefferson is set to earn $19.743 million, according to Spotrac. This is a bargain price, considering former Vikings GM Jeff Diamond predicted for The 33rd Team that Jefferson could command an annual salary of $35 million in his new contract. Even if Minnesota were to offer that amount to Jefferson, he may decline due to the current state of the roster. “In my opinion, the only way you can realistically approach Justin [for an extension] is for him to know who his quarterback is this year and 2025 and 2026 and beyond,” ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, a former NFL QB, said Tuesday during a segment on “NFL Live.” “I think that’s gotta be on Minnesota’s mind as well. You’re not going to keep Justin Jefferson with that giant question mark [at QB].” Given the situation, the Vikings must secure one of the top quarterbacks available in the first round of the draft. Fortunately for Vikings fans, that may be a possibility. On Wednesday, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that the Vikings are interested in trading up to select North Carolina’s Drake Maye. To execute this trade, Minnesota would likely need to surrender both of its first-round picks (Nos. 11 and 23) and potentially more. However, if it means retaining a wide receiver who is just 24 and already on a Hall of Fame pace, that’s a bargain.
Vikings Face Quarterback Dilemma Ahead of NFL Draft, Threatening Justin Jefferson’s Future
