Justin Jefferson rejoins Vikings for minicamp; Danielle Hunter skips workout in contract dispute

The Vikings practiced Tuesday without Danielle Hunter, as the edge rusher followed through on his plan to skip the team's mandatory minicamp while he pursues a new contract. Their first minicamp practice, though, also marked the first appearance this offseason for another star in search of a new contract.

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who'd skipped the voluntary portion of the team's offseason program, was on the field for the first day of the Vikings' minicamp on Tuesday, catching passes from Kirk Cousins in individual drills and pulling in one pass while the quarterback was under pressure during a full-team period.

After practice, Jefferson, the reigning NFL offensive player of the year, said he had been training in Miami during the first portion of the offseason, while fielding marketing and endorsement opportunities, but he claimed his contract status was not an issue. He added he will report to Vikings training camp on time in July, no matter what happens with his contract.

"I had a lot of stuff going on," Jefferson said. "They didn't really force me to come back too much. It didn't really seem like I was missing too much. They definitely wanted me back here. I wanted to be back here, but I had a lot of stuff going on. [The contract] is not too much part of it. It's just me being myself, having stuff to do. But I'm glad to be back here."

This is the first offseason Jefferson is eligible for a contract extension. While his record-breaking first three seasons could be used to support the idea he should get more money than any non-quarterback in NFL history, the fact he's still two years from free agency might tamp down the urgency to reach a deal.

Jefferson is scheduled to make $2.4 million in the fourth year of his rookie contract, and the Vikings are set to pay him $19.74 million in 2024 after picking up his fifth-year option last month. A contract extension, which could pay the 23-year-old more than $30 million per season, would also require the Vikings to buy out two years of cost certainty, as well as the option to put the franchise tag on him twice after his rookie contract. The receiver's agents, on the other hand, could reasonably argue Jefferson's age, durability, production and marketing appeal make the investment worth the money.

Even as he's stayed away from TCO Performance Center, Jefferson remained in touch with coach Kevin O'Connell throughout the offseason. His presence in Eagan on Tuesday, O'Connell said, gave those in the Vikings facility a jolt.

"I told him this morning, you can just tell when he's walking the halls in our building — just the energy and the juice he brings," O'Connell said. "He was in great shape, moving around today like I expected him to be. Mentally, still really sharp. We're quite a few installs in on formations and certain plays, and he was able to jump right back in there and try to absorb some of the new things we're doing as well as his role, which is a pretty special one in our offense."

Hunter, who is in the final year of his contract, has missed the team's entire offseason workout program to date, passing up the chance to earn a $100,000 workout bonus. By skipping minicamp, Hunter would incur a mandatory fine of $16,459 for missing the first day and a $32,920 fine for missing the second day. The 2021 collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFL Players Association removed a team's ability to later waive fines for a player who skips mandatory practices.

This is the third consecutive offseason Hunter, 28, has spent in contract discussions with the Vikings. The team has twice reworked the five-year, $72 million deal Hunter signed in 2018. He is scheduled to make $4.9 million this season, and would be a free agent after the season. Though he was the fastest player in NFL history to 50 sacks, Hunter was limited to six games in 2020 and 2021 because of injuries, reducing his leverage to rework a contract that current makes him the league's 15th highest-paid edge rusher.

A source said earlier this week the Vikings expected Hunter to skip minicamp, given the state of negotiations with the team. On Tuesday, though, O'Connell said he continues to hope for a resolution that keeps Hunter in Minnesota.

"When I say [we're] solutions-oriented, that is definitely one of the solutions that hopefully we can work toward," O'Connell said. "When you've been here for one season, you've really formed relationships and bonds that are really strong. But you know, he's played for the Vikings a lot longer than I've been here. Whatever has transpired over the years that helped form the current relationship, positive as it may be, my role is continuing to coach our team and try to help shape how it all comes together. That's why I try to work hand in hand with [General Manager] Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, but I definitely see [a new contract] as a real outcome. There's a lot to be determined there, and I want to be sensitive to allowing that process to play out."

Tuesday's session was the first open practice since running back Dalvin Cook was released on Friday. O'Connell talked after practice about how much he appreciated working with Cook in 2022, saying, "he will go down as one of the great running backs in Vikings history."

"I really hope he finds a great situation that he can continue to thrive in," O'Connell added. "There'll be some really exciting moments out in front of him."