A crazy rumor went around Twitter (Or "X", as I refuse to call it) on Tuesday evening that claimed the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals were discussing a blockbuster trade involving superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson. If you can believe it, the initial hearsay began at Kroger (yes, the grocery store). The rumor gained such traction that even The Athletic's Dianna Russini denied its accuracy on Wednesday morning. The Bengals joined the fun via their official social media channels as well. The Vikings were never going to trade Jefferson.
It's easy to understand how such ridiculous, unfounded gossip became fan fiction. The rumor would allegedly involve Tee Higgins and draft picks going back to Minnesota in exchange for Jefferson. Firstly, NFL free agency began this week, a fun-filled period that consistently gives birth to crazy scenarios. Secondly, Jefferson and Higgins, especially the latter, at times have both been mentioned as potentially being on the move.
Higgins requested a trade after the Bengals slapped him with the player-dreaded franchise tag. Higgins is understandably disappointed that long-term contract extension discussions haven't made progress. The tag, which Higgins has yet to officially sign, is a one-year fully guaranteed contract that would pay him $20.7 million during the 2024 campaign.
The Bengals are being responsible with their long-term money after signing franchise quarterback Joe Burrow to a $275 million extension. Burrow's contract was structured in a sense that made tagging Higgins for 2024 a realistic outcome. Burrow's impending cap charge is $29.7 million. It will balloon to $46.3 million in 2025 when Higgins is scheduled to reach free agency for a second consecutive offseason. Cincinnati's hope is for the difference in Burrow's 2024 and 2025 cap commitments to account for Higgins' salary this season, offering the Bengals one final run at a Super Bowl with their core playmakers intact.
The Bengals are also innately aware that Ja'Marr Chase will soon command a historic extension that pays him more than $30 million annually. Chase, Cincinnati's true No. 1 receiver, will reset the market. Bengals decision-maker Duke Tobin simply can't afford to pay Higgins what his heart desires while also paying Burrow and Chase what their value dictates.
Jefferson, like Chase, is also well-positioned to sign an extension that will shatter previous record-setting financials. A loose rumor went around that claimed Jefferson wanted to know Minnesota's plans at quarterback before signing his extension. If true, he's likely disappointed that Kirk Cousins was swapped for Sam Darnold in free agency earlier this week. It’s an undeniable downgrade. The Vikings will likely aggressively target a quarterback like J.J. McCarthy or Jayden Daniels in the 2024 NFL Draft, but it's unclear if that would satisfy Jefferson's long-term vision, either.
That's the fleshed-out version of why some may have been fooled by the misguided Kroger-based tittle-tattle involving Jefferson and Higgins. One can envision the Bengals trading Higgins in exchange for draft capital if the relationship continues souring. Plenty of receivers have been traded in recent years due to contract-related differences.
The same can't be said for Jefferson. If such an imaginative deal took place, the Bengals would encounter similar issues signing both Jefferson and Chase to long-term extensions while filling out a 53-man roster—although admittedly, perhaps it'd be worth fielding a bunch of undrafted defenders to reunite the LSU National Championship-winning trio of Burrow, Chase, and Jefferson. Imagine, which is exactly what the rumor intended you to do.
It's not happening. Higgins' situation has yet to be resolved and feel free to let your imagination run (realistically) wild. The Vikings possess no such legitimate reason to entertain trading Jefferson.
