49ers Pursued Justin Jefferson Trade Before NFL Draft

During the offseason, the San Francisco 49ers examined the possibility of acquiring Justin Jefferson, a standout wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, prior to this year’s NFL draft. However, the Vikings swiftly dismissed any trade inquiries from San Francisco, as they had no intention of letting the three-time Pro Bowler go, according to league sources.

Other teams, including the New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts, also expressed interest in Jefferson, but the Vikings consistently maintained their stance against trading the star wide receiver. Any discussions surrounding a potential trade never gained traction.

These inquiries took place before the Vikings solidified their commitment to Jefferson by signing him to a record-breaking contract in June, which made him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Teams inquiring about Jefferson hoped to entice Minnesota with appealing trade offers, but the Vikings were focused solely on retaining one of the league’s elite players.

As the 49ers prepare to face the Vikings this Sunday, head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledges the incredible talent Jefferson brings to the field. Shanahan highlighted Jefferson’s versatility and fearlessness as a receiver.

“There’s not an angle he can’t really run at—at full speed and drop his weight,” Shanahan explained to reporters. “He’s also fearless in how he plays. His hands are as good as anyone. From what I’ve heard from people who have been with him, they say he’s one of the smartest players that people have been with. He’s the full package.”

In June, Jefferson signed a four-year extension with the Vikings worth $140 million, which includes $110 million guaranteed. Just a few months later, the 49ers managed to resolve their own contract situation with Brandon Aiyuk, signing him to a four-year extension valued at $120 million, with $76 million guaranteed.

Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stated at the NFL scouting combine in February that trading Jefferson was never a consideration, even though it could have provided the opportunity to move up in the draft to select a quarterback.

Jefferson, who earned the title of 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, entered this season with an impressive average of 98.3 receiving yards per game—this figure represents the highest average in NFL history across any player’s career span.

At just 25 years old, Jefferson has already set the NFL record for the most receiving yards over the first three seasons of a career, amassing a total of 4,825 yards. Remarkably, he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards last season despite battling injuries that sidelined him for seven games and limited him in parts of two others. His 1,074 receiving yards in the 2023 season marked the highest total ever recorded by an NFL player who played in ten or fewer games within a season.