Trade Rumors Surrounding Justin Jefferson And Davante Adams Are Addressed

INDIANAPOLIS – One full day into the combine has shut down two more wildly circulating rumors, and that's probably good considering the whispers were about Justin Jefferson and Davante Adams, two of the NFL's most visible wide receivers.

On Tuesday, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Raiders general manager Tom Telesco shot down the idea that Jefferson and Adams might be traded this offseason. 

"That is not something that once crossed my mind," Adofo-Mensah told multiple media outlets, including OutKick. "You’ve got a blue player, blue person. You try and keep as many of those as you can."

Telesco was more succinct about the idea of trading Adams, a six-time Pro Bowl player who was actively recruited by friend and former Green Bay teammate Aaron Rodgers on multiple occasions.

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is frustrated with the team's offense and wants the ball more. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Davante Adams Staying Put

"He's a Raider," Telesco said.

And, obviously, a wild offer can change the minds of general managers and the course of accomplished careers. But that's not the apparent plan at the moment.

The Raiders, for example, this offseason hired Luke Getsy to become the new offensive coordinator. Getsy and Adams are familiar and aligned from their time together while with the Green Bay Packers.

Trading Adams would also be a hellish salary cap undertaking for the Raiders, who would be left with $23.5 million in dead money from the move.

The situation in Minnesota is one where Jefferson, the team's best player, is scheduled to play on an expiring one-year deal in 2024 that pays $19.7 million.

Jefferson wants to be the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, sources have told OutKick. That would mean he surpasses Tyreek Hill's $30 million per season average.

And the Vikings don't necessarily disagree that should happen. It's just, well, details keeping a deal from getting done. 

Sep 10, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) catches a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Jefferson To Become Highest Paid WR

"Yeah, you know, we had a lot of great dialogue last offseason," Adofo-Mensah said. "I think people forget: Deals rarely happen after three years and there's a reason. Two years left. There's uncertainty that somebody's got to hold, either the club's got to hold it, or the player’s got to hold it. There's new money, old money, how you look at contracts. 

"Those are very hard conversations to have. And so a lot of them don't get done. We got unbelievably close. We've said it, and we continue to say, we think he’s the best receiver in the league and should be compensated in such. We think he’s one of the best non-quarterbacks in the league, and should be compensated as such."

Great, so everyone is on the same page in the Twin Cities. What happens next?

"So we'll continue to have those dialogues and those conversations," Adofo-Mensah said. "I promised them, and I will continue to promise them, I will not talk about our negotiations. 

"I think the job should be done with integrity. So a lot of stuff that I hear is completely false, but I can't get up here and tell you what's not true or not false, because that's not that's not how I promised them I would operate. But I will tell you that we're excited to have him and continue those conversations because he's somebody we want around for a long time."

Well, one rumor Adofo-Mensah did publicly speak about was the trade possibility. That's quashed now.

In Minnesota and Las Vegas.