Amid offseason uncertainty surrounding Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers checked into Justin Jefferson's availability ahead of this year's NFL draft, but the Vikings had no interest in trading the star wide receiver and immediately rebuffed San Francisco's inquiries, league sources told ESPN.
The 49ers weren't the only team interested in Jefferson. The Jets and Colts also showed some interest, but the Vikings never considered trading the three-time Pro Bowler and the talks never went anywhere, according to sources.
Those inquiries came before the Vikings signed Jefferson to a record contract in June, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. The teams that inquired thought they could tempt Minnesota with attractive trade packages, but the Vikings were only interested in re-signing one of the league’s best players.
San Francisco faces Jefferson and the Vikings on Sunday, and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan knows what type of receiver his defense will be facing.
“There's not a single angle he can't run at full speed and still keep weight off,” Shanahan told reporters. “Plus, he's not afraid to play. His hands are as good as anybody's. From what I've heard from people who have been around him, they say he's one of the smartest players people have ever been around. He's a very complete player.”
The Vikings signed Jefferson in June to a four-year, $140 million extension that includes $110 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN. Less than three months later, the Niners ended their contractual standoff with Aiyuk by signing him to a four-year, $120 million extension that includes $76 million guaranteed.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said at the NFL's scouting event in February that a trade for Jefferson never crossed his mind, even if it would help him move up in the draft to land a quarterback.
Jefferson, the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, entered this season averaging 98.3 receiving yards per game, the most in NFL history over any span of his career.
Jefferson, 25, set an NFL record for most receiving yards in his first three career seasons (4,825) and then eclipsed 1,000 yards last season despite missing seven games — and parts of two others — due to injuries. His 1,074 yards in 2023 were the most ever by an NFL player who played 10 or fewer games in a season.
