Could the Minnesota Vikings end up trading wide receiver Justin Jefferson during the NFL Draft?

Jefferson is preparing to enter the final year of his deal, and the Vikings don’t seem to have made much progression in contract negotiations with him.

It’s certainly strange how much Minnesota has been dragging its feet, which makes you wonder if the Vikings even really want to pay him.

Jefferson is expected to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, which may be giving Minnesota pause about extending him.

But Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has a suggestion: why not trade Jefferson in a deal to the Washington Commanders for the No. 2 overall pick and the chance to select LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels?

Florio wonders if the Commanders would trade the second pick for Jefferson straight up? He says they would likely also want the 11th overall pick (which the Vikings own) in order to draft their own quarterback. Of course, whether or not Washington is dead set on taking Daniels is the question.

Florio proposes that Minnesota sends Jefferson and the 11th pick to the Commanders in exchange for the No. 2 pick and a second-rounder (No. 36).

You have to wonder how Jefferson feels about the whole situation, as well.

He must be getting frustrated over the fact that the Vikings have not paid him yet. Does he even want to remain in Minnesota long term at this point? He hasn’t asked to be dealt, so he probably is still hoping that something gets done.

But there is no doubt that the Vikings haven’t handled this all that well. As Florio says, if Minnesota is not willing to pay Jefferson, then it should just trade him and get it over with.

We’ll see if the Vikings decide to move Justin Jefferson this week.