Jefferson Won’t Negotiate Until Vikings Resolve Cousins’ Future; Signing All 3 Superstars “Unrealistic”

One thing has become crystal clear over the last few days, as reports have poured from insiders across the National Football League during Super Bowl week. The Minnesota Vikings have no idea how their offseason will unfold or who their quarterback will be for the 2024-25 season.

Related: Some Within Vikings Organization Eyeing Trade-Up for Justin Jefferson Friendly QB in NFL Draft

They do know, however, exactly where their offseason begins: Kirk Cousins. Saturday, we found out that the Danielle Hunter’s contract negotiations have been put on hold until the Vikings can figure out the fate of #8.

Kirk Cousins coveted around NFL

On Sunday morning, a cumulative report dropped by top NFL insider and ‘one of us’, Tom Pelissero (NFL Network), who says the Vikings want to re-sign Kirk Cousins but that the 35-year-old QB will have a lot of suitors, should he hit free agency.

“The Vikings want to re-sign Kirk Cousins, who is set to hit free agency in March for the first since 2018. But Cousins is expected to have a strong market, even coming off a torn Achilles as he enters his age-36 season, and Minnesota is evaluating all options in the event Cousins lands elsewhere.”

Tom Pelissero – NFL Network

Concerned that the cost could get too expensive, the front office is exploring all possible 2024-25 QB options, including discount veterans like Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold; not to mention the draft.

Justin Jefferson won’t talk until Kirk’s situation is resolved

Complicating matters even further, says Pelissero, is Jefferson’s insistence that Kirk’s contract situation be resolved before he is willing to sit down at any TCO Performance Center negotiating tables.

“Complicating matters is that superstar receiver Justin Jefferson is also up for a new contract after talks didn’t yield a deal before last season. Jefferson is a Cousins fan and will want to know the quarterback plan before signing on for the long haul.”

Tom Pelissero – NFL Network

Signing Cousins, Jefferson and Danielle Hunter is unrealistic?

The three insider stooges from NFL Network weren’t quite done with their morning scoops on the Minnesota Vikings, though. They went on to report that it’s “probably unrealistic” to think general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can get all three of Cousins, Jefferson and Hunter under new contracts this offseason.

“The Vikings also have another top pending free agent, edge rusher Danielle Hunter, and re-signing all three players is probably unrealistic.”

Tom Pelissero – NFL Network

This report makes me officially nervous about the Vikings’ offseason plans, or lack thereof. Because we know there’s no truth to this idea that Minnesota can’t afford to re-sign all three of their pending free agent superstars. Here’s the full video. Tom’s report is at the very start.

The Insiders on @NFLGameDay: A look at some of the QBs who'll get paid this offseason, spotlighting #Vikings free agent QB Kirk Cousins, #Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, and #Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. pic.twitter.com/HbjdQiKM98

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 11, 2024

Are the Minnesota Vikings ditching their superstar(s)

Not only is it plausible to re-sign all three guys but, due to astronomical dead cap charges for both Hunter ($15M) and Cousins ($28.5M), it could very well hurt their cap situation MORE in the short term NOT to re-sign them.

Related: Kirk Cousins Shows Off Repaired Achilles by Dancing to ‘My Pony’ at NFL Honors

So… why are three of the biggest sports insiders in the world reporting that it’s “probably unrealistic”? That’s the red flag, right? All of the steam flowing out of Super Bowl week seems to have the Vikings moving on from at least one of Kirk Cousins and/or Danielle Hunter.