The Minnesota Vikings have two ginormous items in their orbit this week: a) The 2024 NFL Draft, on the whole b) Finalizing Justin Jefferson’s contract extension.
There’s a New Vikings Conspiracy Theory
Well, worlds collided on Sunday when Justin Jefferson posted a picture of himself on Instagram with a song lyric, sending Vikings fans into a tizzy with a new theory.
Jefferson posted this:
So, what’s the conspiracy theory? Well, it’s twofold.
- Some believe the song lyric is a tip of the cap that Jefferson’s extension is complete.
- That song lyric is from Drake — and fans believe the words hint that Minnesota will draft quarterback Drake Maye in three days.
Sources told VikingsTerritory last weekend that a Jefferson contract is either done or extremely imminent, and then the phenom playmaker showed up at Target Center on Saturday to watch as the Minnesota Timberwolves chipped off the Phoenix Suns in Game of the Westen Conference Quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, for about a month, Vikings faithful have decided that the team’s next quarterback is a binary choice between Drake Maye (North Carolina) and J.J. McCarthy (Michigan). If the song-lyric truthers are correct, Jefferson used the quote to suggest Maye is on the way.
Jefferson is due — perhaps overdue — for a contract extension, as 2024 is the final year of his rookie contract. Jefferson’s representation and the Vikings front office have worked toward an agreement for over a year, and finalization of the deal could be around the bend after the NFL Draft, which gets underway on Thursday night.
Additionally, on March 13th, Kirk Cousins formally left Minnesota, signing with the Atlanta Falcons for four years and $180 million. Two days later, Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pulled the trigger on a pre-draft trade, grabbing an additional 1st-Round pick from the Houston Texans while offloading two 2nd-Rounders in the deal, plus a late-round pick swap.
Now, fans wonder which team will do business with Minnesota for the would-be trade, as the Washington Commanders (Pick No. 2), the New England Patriots (Pick No. 3), the Arizona Cardinals (Pick No. 4), or the Los Angeles Chargers (Pick No. 5) are likely companions.
Caleb Williams (USC), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), Bo Nix (Oregon), and Maye, of course, are expected to go off the board in Rounds 1 and 2. Most Vikings loyalists believe the purple team will end up with one of the six.
McCarthy is the favorite (+160) to land in Minnesota, and soon after the draft, if the Jefferson extension is not announced by then, all the things Vikings will turn to his wallet.
Perhaps the latter is all moot if the Jefferson-Instagram smoke is accurate.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.