Vikings Urged to Trade for $220 Million Pro Bowl QB to Pair With Jefferson
Considering the top three teams in the 2024 NFL Draft have not shown an appetite to trade down, the Minnesota Vikings may need to pivot on finding their future franchise quarterback if their ideal quarterback is taken in the draft — and one analyst believes Tua Tagovailoa is worthy of discussion.
Nick Wright of Fox Sports’ “First Things First” suggested the Miami Dolphins, who are facing a crossroads with Tagovailoa entering the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, should call the Vikings and pursue a trade with Minnesota, who should star receiver Justin Jefferson in mind of their quarterback decisions.
“If I were to give advice to the Dolphins, I would say, ‘Hey, you know how Minnesota got an extra first-round pick’ — they needed a quarterback. So they have the 11th and 23rd picks – I’m going to call them and see what happens.” Wright said on March 21, “They’re doing it. Tua Tagovailoa. “Think about it. You might be able to bring stability to the quarterback and ease Justin Jefferson’s anxiety.”
The trade package will likely revolve around the Vikings’ two first-round picks, and could also include a second- or third-day pick to make the deal sweeter. Tagovailoa, 25, is coming off his first Pro Bowl season after passing for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns and leading the Dolphins to an 11-6 season and a playoff berth.
“If Mike McDaniel was the coach, that could certainly be the case. If I were the Dolphins, I would call the Vikings and ask them what they think of Tua. ” – @getnickwright
Tagovailoa is playing on a fifth-year option worth $23.1 million for the 2024 season, a reasonable price for a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback, but it’s only going to get more expensive.
Spotrac projected Tagovailoa would receive a four-year, $220 million contract worth $55 million per season if the Dolphins extend him this offseason. Prices will increase further in the next off-season.
The Vikings aren’t willing to pay a quarterback that kind of money, as evidenced by the departure of Kirk Cousins this offseason. They built an offense packed with Pro Bowl talent around the quarterback position to create the perfect situation for the development of the team’s young quarterback.
Justin Jefferson’s intimidation tactics will continue until he signs with the Vikings.
Tagovailoa is a proven quarterback in the league and will be a great addition to the Vikings’ offense. He brings stability at a time when the Vikings are leaving no stone unturned to find Cousins’ successor.
But what Wright wanted was stability to satisfy Jefferson. Jefferson was content to put up numbers early in his career, but throughout his career winning came first and numbers came second as teams started using double and triple teams to take him out of games. It showed that there is.
Jefferson has consistency with Cousins, which could lead to the Vikings’ success thus far. Year after year they kept quiet about how draft picks were a good thing to shore up a roster that didn’t have enough cap space to spend in free agency.
The current offseason is already much different than it was back then. The signings of Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman greatly strengthened a defense that looked good in 2023, but has fallen apart in recent weeks due to a lack of depth. .
The Vikings organization has a clear plan, and Jefferson knows it. It’s also his biggest move to sign a contract extension this offseason without risking injury, before signing an extension that could bring him and his family more than $100 million in guaranteed money. It will be profitable.
The Vikings have a history of handing out lucrative contract extensions days before training camp, and Jefferson is likely to be no exception. But until then, speculation and fear tactics regarding Jefferson’s future and career satisfaction as a quarterback will remain at the forefront of the news cycle.
