Justin Jefferson Putting in Work with His New Minnesota Vikings QB1

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Justin Jefferson - Minnesota Vikings offseason
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Twins

This time last year, Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings were putting the finishing touches on what was then the richest non-quarterback contract (AAV) in the NFL, a deal that was finally completed in the first week of June, 2024.

Now that he’s in purple for the foreseeable future, not only does Jefferson know what professional uniform he is going to wear through his 20’s, but he also knows who his quarterback will be during the next four seasons of his HOF-trajectory career, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Long before the Minnesota Vikings selected Michigan QB JJ McCarthy — who will soon be a first-time father — with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, we all knew how determined head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah were to find Jefferson’s long-term quarterback partner.

Justin Jefferson working to build relationship with JJ McCarthy

Justin Jefferson, JJ McCarthy - Minnesota Vikings offseason
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Twins

And since making McCarthy their guy, the Vikings immediately began nursing the relationship between him and Justin Jefferson. The first day McCarthy walked into his new locker room, his direct neighbor has been his superstar wide receiver.

Why? Well, the reasoning is obvious. The Minnesota Vikings need Justin Jefferson to be great, if they are going to succeed as a team over the next handful of years. And in that same breath, Jefferson needs JJ McCarthy to be great, if he is going to reach his full potential.

“He’s been my locker-mate ever since he got here. So, kind of chopping it up with him and being with him outside of football. Taking him to the Wolves game, just inviting him to the house, you know, just trying to build that connection and build that team chemistry.

Because, of course, he’s going to be my QB. In order to have that connection and have that personal 1-on-1 connection, we have to know each other besides football. So, it’s definitely great getting to know him outside of football, seeing what he likes, what he likes to do…just seeing the type of person that he is, he’s a real cool guy.”

Justin Jefferson talks about his connection with Minnesota Vikings QB JJ McCarthy

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That’s right, even when JJ was behind Sam Darnold on the depth chart last offseason, the organization was determined to kindle that relationship. And after McCarthy went down with a season-ending knee injury during the preseason, his locker did not move.

Minnesota Vikings future vibes are…

So, with all that being said, how are the vibes surrounding the two most important players on the Minnesota Vikings roster, entering year two of McCarthy in the building and year one as the presumed starter (AKA: Jefferson’s the primary facilitator)?

Well, the two were front and center at the Minnesota Timberwolves’ last playoff game, literally sitting courtside, where the vibes between JJ McCarthy and Justin Jefferson were (as the kids say) immaculate.

As we got closer to the 2025 NFL Draft, it became clear early on why the Minnesota Vikings were so set on finding their new franchise QB last year. The 2025 QB class was such a step down from 2024 that it’s very possible McCarthy would’ve gone No. 1 overall, had he returned to Michigan for his senior season and performed well.

In 2024 (at No. 10 overall), JJ was the fifth quarterback off the board. But none of that matters now. Because McCarthy is focused on 2025, where he enters 2025 OTAs (Wednesday) as the only legitimate starting QB option in Minnesota.

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That means JJ McCarthy is the one Minnesota Vikings player tasked, week-in and week-out, with getting the football to Justin Jefferson, (AKA: the league’s most talented wide receiver). Thus, those two need to build up as much chemistry as possible.

If Justin and JJ can get to a point where they can read one another’s eyes, expressions… and sometimes even read each other’s minds, then Kevin O’Connell’s offense could be nearly unstoppable while they are leading it.

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