Throughout a Tuesday look on “The Wealthy Eisen Present,” Minnesota Vikings extensive receiver Justin Jefferson addressed whether or not or not he was stunned that quarterback Kirk Cousins left the membership and signed a four-year, $180M contract that included $100M assured to hitch the Atlanta Falcons in free company.
“Yeah and no,” Jefferson defined, as shared by Joe Nelson of Fan Nation’s Contained in the Vikings. “I all the time knew Kirk was going to do no matter he must do for his business-wise. I simply knew that the whole lot simply wasn’t the best way he needed it to be right here, particularly with having to pay me and having to pay so many alternative guys. I felt like he simply needed a brand new begin, a brand new alternative to begin with Atlanta and a clear slate.”
Some puzzled if Cousins’ departure might end in Jefferson forcing his manner out of Minnesota through a possible trade earlier than, throughout or after the 2024 NFL Draft. Jefferson finally remained with the Vikings by way of springtime exercises and inked a historic four-year contract extension in June, making him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
“I am not mad at him in any respect for that,” Jefferson mentioned about Cousins’ free-agency choice. “I am grateful for what he has dropped at me and the issues now we have achieved collectively, however on the finish of the day, it is a enterprise, and also you gotta do what you gotta do for your self and for your loved ones. I clearly perceive that. It is onto the following.”
On the draft’s opening night time, the Vikings moved up a spot to seize Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the tenth total choose. McCarthy will enter coaching camp later this month, trailing veteran Sam Darnold in a contest which will already be over.
“They need me to be that man that J.J. can all the time speak to and ask questions,” Jefferson added, per Josh Alper of Professional Soccer Discuss. “He’s positively that kind of child. He positively needs to ask questions. He needs to learn to be a high quarterback. He needs to learn to change into an issue on this league.”
Jefferson additionally vowed “to make it as simple as attainable for” both McCarthy or Darnold to succeed this fall. Issues typically change shortly within the NFL, however it seems like Jefferson will discover himself catching passes thrown by Darnold when Minnesota opens the common season with a recreation on the New York Giants on Sept. 8.