During the 2024 offseason, the San Francisco 49ers made headlines by inquiring about a potential trade for Minnesota Vikings’ star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Before the Vikings finalized Jefferson’s lucrative four-year, $140 million contract extension, several NFL teams, including the 49ers, explored the possibility of acquiring him.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that San Francisco “checked in” with Minnesota to gauge their willingness to trade Jefferson. However, the Vikings quickly shut down any talks, making it clear they had no intention of parting ways with their franchise cornerstone [oai_citation:6,Report: In offseason, 49ers contacted Vikings about a trade for Justin Jefferson – NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-in-offseason-49ers-contacted-vikings-about-a-trade-for-justin-jefferson) [oai_citation:5,49ers reportedly made hysterical call to the Vikings in the 2024 offseason](https://thevikingage.com/posts/san-francisco-49ers-trade-call-minnesota-vikings-justin-jefferson).
At the time of these trade rumors, the Vikings had yet to solidify Jefferson’s contract extension, raising speculation about his future with the team. The uncertainty surrounding his new deal prompted a handful of teams to inquire about his availability, with the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts also showing interest. Yet, for the Vikings, trading Jefferson was never seriously considered, especially given his pivotal role on the team and his potential to become one of the NFL’s all-time great wide receivers [oai_citation:4,Report: In offseason, 49ers contacted Vikings about a trade for Justin Jefferson – NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-in-offseason-49ers-contacted-vikings-about-a-trade-for-justin-jefferson) [oai_citation:3,49ers reportedly made hysterical call to the Vikings in the 2024 offseason](https://thevikingage.com/posts/san-francisco-49ers-trade-call-minnesota-vikings-justin-jefferson).
The 49ers’ interest likely stemmed from their own internal discussions regarding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who, like Jefferson, was drafted in 2020. Although Aiyuk has developed into a key player for San Francisco, the opportunity to land a talent of Jefferson’s caliber may have been too tempting for the 49ers not to explore. Ultimately, the Vikings opted to extend Jefferson’s contract in June 2024, ensuring he remains a cornerstone of their offense through 2029 [oai_citation:2,Report: In offseason, 49ers contacted Vikings about a trade for Justin Jefferson – NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-in-offseason-49ers-contacted-vikings-about-a-trade-for-justin-jefferson) [oai_citation:1,49ers reportedly made hysterical call to the Vikings in the 2024 offseason](https://thevikingage.com/posts/san-francisco-49ers-trade-call-minnesota-vikings-justin-jefferson).
The deal made Jefferson the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, with a contract averaging $35 million per year. His immense value to the Vikings and his status as arguably the best wide receiver in the league left little doubt about Minnesota’s decision to lock him up long-term. While the trade rumors have since dissipated, the 49ers’ bold attempt underscores how coveted Jefferson is across the league and how the NFL’s wide receiver market continues to evolve.
For the 49ers, missing out on Jefferson means they must now face him on the field, where he remains a dominant force.
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