He is still in Minnesota.
If you just scrolled through social media and saw a jersey swap of Justin Jefferson in a 49ers or Bills uniform, take a breath. It’s fake. Every year, like clockwork, the NFL rumor mill starts churning out "blockbuster" scenarios that send the league's best receiver to a contender. Usually, these involve the San Francisco 49ers or the Cincinnati Bengals. But here is the reality: the Minnesota Vikings have not moved him.
Honestly, the confusion is understandable. The Vikings just wrapped up a 2025 season that felt like a fever dream for all the wrong reasons. J.J. McCarthy’s rookie development has been a bit of a roller coaster, and Jefferson’s stats took a visible dip because of the quarterback instability. He finished 2025 with 1,048 yards—his lowest total for a full season. For a guy who usually treats 1,500 yards as a baseline, that drop-off makes people wonder if he's getting frustrated enough to pack his bags.
Did Justin Jefferson get traded during the 2025 season?
Short answer? No. Long answer? It’s basically impossible for it to happen right now.
Last year, the Vikings handed Jefferson a four-year, $140 million extension. That deal made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history at the time. When you sign a contract that includes $110 million in guarantees, you aren't exactly easy to move on a whim.
The math is a nightmare for Minnesota's front office. If Kwesi Adofo-Mensah actually pulled the trigger on a trade before June 1, 2026, the Vikings would be staring at roughly $46 million in dead money. That’s a massive chunk of the salary cap used just to watch a superstar play for someone else. Teams don’t do that unless the player is literally refusing to walk into the building.
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Where did the trade rumors come from?
Most of this noise comes from "hypothetical" trade pitches that gain too much traction on X (formerly Twitter). One specific theory from NinersWire recently suggested the Vikings should swap Jefferson for Brandon Aiyuk and a handful of first-round picks. It sounds great on a podcast, but in the real NFL, these teams aren't playing Madden.
The Vikings are currently building their entire offensive identity around two people: Kevin O'Connell and Justin Jefferson. Trading your cornerstone piece while trying to develop a young quarterback like J.J. McCarthy would be like trying to build a house and starting by throwing away the foundation. It makes zero sense for a franchise trying to keep its head above water in a competitive NFC North.
- Contract Status: Signed through 2028.
- Current Team: Minnesota Vikings.
- 2025 Performance: 84 catches, 1,048 yards, 2 TDs.
- Trade Status: Not on the block.
The Bengals and Bills "Leaks"
You've probably seen the "leaks" about a reunion with Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. Fans love the LSU connection. Who wouldn't want to see Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase on the same field again? But the Bengals are already struggling to figure out how to pay Chase and Tee Higgins. Adding a $35-million-per-year receiver to that bill is financially impossible without deleting half their defense.
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Then there was the Buffalo Bills chatter. After the Bills moved on from Stefon Diggs a while back, speculators thought they might make a massive swing for "Jets." While Josh Allen would surely love a target of that caliber, the Bills don't have the assets or the cap space to make the Vikings even pick up the phone.
What to expect in the 2026 Offseason
Jefferson is a leader. He’s been vocal about supporting McCarthy and the coaching staff, even when the offense looks sluggish. However, the 2026 offseason will be a turning point. If the Vikings don't find a way to stabilize the quarterback room—whether that's through McCarthy's growth or bringing in a high-end veteran—the "frustration" narrative will only get louder.
But for now, the jersey you bought is safe. He’s not going anywhere. The rumors are just a byproduct of a superstar playing on a team that’s currently in transition.
If you are looking for actual roster moves, keep an eye on the Vikings' secondary or the WR2 spot behind Jefferson. Players like Jalen Nailor have shown flashes, but the team's focus is clearly on fixing the defense and the interior offensive line, not shipping off their best player.
Your Next Steps
- Verify the source: If you see a trade report, check if it’s from Adam Schefter or Ian Rapoport. If it’s a "graphic" from a fan account, ignore it.
- Check the Cap: Look at Over The Cap for updated dead money figures; they usually explain why a trade is or isn't possible.
- Watch the Draft: The Vikings' moves in the upcoming draft will tell you more about their commitment to the current core than any rumor will.