Earlier than the NFL Draft, a number of stories instructed the Minnesota Vikings thought-about buying and selling into the highest 5. Nonetheless, they could have been on the lookout for a Justin Jefferson substitute, not a quarterback.
“There was buzz at draft time that the Vikings needed to maneuver from No. 11 to No. 5, to not decide a quarterback however to get LSU broad receiver Malik Nabers, who was picked No. 6 by the Giants,” Charley Waters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press wrote in his Sunday column. “Had that commerce occurred, Jefferson would have been traded, and Nabers would have been the No. 1 receiver.”
Mike Florio of Professional Soccer Speak additionally famous that he heard rumors concerning the Vikings desirous to commerce Jefferson and draft Nabers.
Shifting on from the star wideout looks like an absurd thought for the Vikings. Though ESPN’s Discipline Yates rated Nabers because the second-best WR within the draft behind Marvin Harrison Jr., who was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, solely time will inform whether or not he turns into a three-time Professional Bowler like Jefferson.
Jefferson is getting into the ultimate yr of his rookie contract and skipped the beginning of OTAs final week. Albert Breer of Sports activities Illustrated speculated the 24-year-old pass-catcher might obtain $90M-$100M in ensures on his subsequent deal.
The Vikings might need to keep away from giving him a mega deal, which might devour future cap area. Nonetheless, Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell just lately instructed FanDuel’s Kay Adams, “Every thing’s going to get labored out with (Jefferson’s contract).”