The Minnesota Vikings are cluing in their star wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, on the team"s quarterback situation.
According to Coach Kevin O"Connell, he already had multiple meetings with Jefferson this off-season, discussing the possibilities of quarterback candidates who could reshape the Viking"s offensive patterns.
Despite having an immense appreciation for Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson is not shy about being excited about what a new quarterback could bring to the team.
According to Coach O"Connell, Jefferson is eagerly anticipating the prospects a new QB could inject into the gameplay.
"he thinks Jefferson is "very excited" about what’s possible with a new quarterback."
The #Vikings think Justin Jefferson is "very excited" about what's possible with a new QB, per HC Kevin O'Connell via @alec_lewis https://t.co/OZgusm6xtu pic.twitter.com/FfRlRiALE3
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 26, 2024
“That could go a long way for a young quarterback to have a guy like that," said O"Connell.
O’Connell emphasized the combined strength of Justin Jefferson, Brian O’Neill, T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones.
These key players construct a potent offensive framework that could pioneer a new phase for the Vikings.
He stated, “You just think about what we have in our offensive framework right now, and I think it’s a pretty special time. I know Justin is looking at it like that as well, and my hope is we’ll get his contract done … and he continues to be that pillar of leadership that I look at him as within our team."
The coaching staff is hopeful that Jefferson’s contract negotiations will soon culminate positively.
The adoption of this collaborative process highlights the team"s intention to establish Jefferson as a pillar of leadership within the squad.
“Needing to know and being a part of a collaborative process, which Justin is, are two different things," said Coach O"Connell, “I"ve felt very strongly about keeping him informed. He"s been in the loop. He"s been aware. He"s allowed to articulate things to me via our relationship, and that"s really been through this whole process."
Although Jefferson supports Cousins, he has not demanded the management keep him around.
“Look, the things that Kirk and Justin were able to do over these last couple years, that"s what I can speak to," O"Connell said. “Having been here with those guys when they"ve played together, they"ve done a lot of really special things and that"s not lost on me and that"s not lost on Justin. But Justin … did step into a leadership role last year. He became a first-time captain. I think he"s excited about that, what that means for him moving forward, really being a pillar of leadership in our organization and that"s how I treat him.
Where do things stand with Justin Jefferson amidst the #Vikings’ QB transition? We asked Kevin O’Connell that (and a lot more) on The Insiders.
📺📱💻 Watch today’s full episode on #NFLPlus: https://t.co/f7lhg2vFcA pic.twitter.com/h6MyNrR4ZY
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 25, 2024
“That"s how our conversations and our communication go, and I think the quarterback position, the path that we"re going to go, I think he"s excited about getting to spend some time and work with Sam [Darnold] in addition to our other quarterbacks and then what this could look like to maybe be a part of helping mentor a young quarterback. I think it"s a pretty special time and I know Justin"s looking at it like that as well, and my hope is we get his contract done and taken care of, and he continues to be that pillar, that pillar of leadership that I look at him as within our team."
As Jefferson enters the final year of his four-year contract, his perspective towards the team"s quarterback strategies remains dynamic and open-minded.
