The Minnesota Vikings have been busy this offseason but have yet to make what would be their biggest, most important move yet: extending the contract of Justin Jefferson.

Negotiations for the new deal took a pause for the NFL Draft but now should resume as the Vikings look to lock down the three-time Pro Bowler for the future. While it’s uncertain when that happens, it seems much more likely to happen eventually than not at all.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell knows how much his superstar wide receiver means to the organization. When asked on the Up & Adams show if he consistently checks in with the Vikings' front office about the status of Jefferson's extension, O'Connell joked that he had already checked in multiple times by that afternoon. But he also offered an optimistic outlook on whether Jefferson will get his new deal.

“I know everything’s gonna get worked out there,” the Vikings head coach said. “Justin knows the love and admiration that I have for him. He knows he’s such a big part of what we do around here. That’s on the field, that’s off the field. [He] brings such a great energy to our building every single day and he’s the ultra-competitor as far as when he steps in between the white lines. Very few people are able to do the things that he’s able to do but it’s how he goes about his business, how he works, how he pushes his teammates to get better. Justin Jefferson’s a huge part of this organization.”

O'Connell certainly wouldn’t let on that things were going poorly if they were/are. Still, his endorsement of Jefferson is a sincere one that illustrates how important he is to the team. It’s all the more reason why a contract extension is paramount.

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Justin Jefferson

Minnesota has reportedly not shown any desire to trade Jefferson. It’s the obvious call but nonetheless the correct one. He's almost certainly going to command over $30 million per year, which top-tier wide receivers like A.J. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown recently got on their extensions.

J.J. McCarthy is hoping to develop into the Vikings' franchise quarterback but will obviously need Jefferson's help there. If Sam Darnold begins the season as the starter, he'll need Jefferson, too. There’s no question at all as to whether Jefferson is worth the money or if Minnesota wants to keep him.

The Vikings have one of the very best receiving trios in the game with Jefferson, second-year wideout Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson. With Jefferson missing nearly half of the season, Addison and Hockenson were two of just 22 players last season with 70 catches, five receiving touchdowns and 900 receiving yards. Addison was the youngest player and one of just three rookies in the club (along with Puka Nacua and Rashee Rice).

Jefferson is so good that he was only two catches away from joining that club in just 10 games. He still finished 19th on the receiving yards leaderboard. Having all three of them together for a full season would make for a great offensive infrastructure. Jefferson, of course, is the most important piece of the puzzle.