During a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter addressed rumors surrounding the Minnesota Vikings and their potential trade offers for the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Contrary to speculation, Schefter confirmed that star wide receiver Justin Jefferson was not included in any trade packages offered to the New England Patriots.

Schefter’s remarks were shared by Tyler Forness of Sporting News, where he stated, “No, they did not. They offered various pick packages to come up there. The Vikings had the most discussions with the Patriots. On Thursday, I texted someone in New England, ‘Any chance this (trade) gets done?’ And the text I got back a few hours before the draft was ‘zero chance.'”

According to reports, the Vikings and the New York Giants were among the most active teams last week in discussions regarding a potential trade for the draft’s third overall pick. Ultimately, the Patriots used the pick to select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated revealed that Minnesota offered New England picks No. 11 and No. 23 this year, a 2025 first-round choice, and “pick swaps favoring the Vikings as part of the proposal.” However, the Patriots ultimately opted to retain their position in the draft.

While trade discussions swirled, Justin Jefferson’s name surfaced in rumors due to the final year of his rookie contract coinciding with Minnesota’s potential reset following quarterback Kirk Cousins’ departure to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. However, the Vikings opted to retain Jefferson and selected Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy after trading up to the 10th pick.

Schefter emphasized the Patriots’ determination to maintain their position in the draft, confident in their ability to secure Maye after the predicted selections of Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels at picks one and two, respectively.

Amidst trade talks and draft speculation, the Vikings remain committed to negotiating a contract extension with Justin Jefferson. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah expressed optimism about ongoing discussions with Jefferson’s representatives, suggesting that the team aims to secure Jefferson’s future with a lucrative extension, potentially making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.