Justin Jefferson states he’s ‘not mad’ at Kirk Cousins for leaving Vikings for Falcons

For the veryfirst time in his NFL profession, Justin Jefferson’s beginning quarterback will not be Kirk Cousins.

Cousins, the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback who assisted Jefferson endedupbeing one of NFL’s finest large receivers throughout their 4 years together with the Minnesota Vikings, left to indication a four-year agreement worth up to $180 million with the Atlanta Falcons when NFL totallyfree company opened in march.

Jefferson stated he comprehended Cousins’ choice in a radio interview Tuesday.

“Yeah and no,” Jefferson stated when asked whether he was amazed that Cousins headed to Atlanta in the offseason.

“I constantly understood Kirk was going to do whatever he requires to do for his business-wise. I simply understood that whatever wasn’t the method that he desired it to be here. Especially with having to pay me, and having to pay so numerous other various guys. I feel like he simply desired a brand-new begin, and a brand-new chance to start with Atlanta, and a tidy slate.”

Jefferson stressedout that he was not mad “at all” at Cousins for the choice he made.

“I’m grateful for what he has brought to me and the things that we haveactually achieved together,” Jefferson continued. “But at the end of the day it’s a service, and you’ve gotta do what you gotta do for yourself and your household, and I plainly comprehend that.”

“The next” for Jefferson and the Vikings is either veteran complimentary representative finalizing Sam Darnold, or J.J. McCarthy, who endedupbeing the No. 10 total choice in April’s 2024 NFL draft for Minnesota after having won a aational champion with Michigan last college football season. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has suggested that Darnold will have a small edge over McCarthy in the near term offered his 6 years of NFL experience, and Jefferson stated he hasactually takenpleasurein his time with Darnold therefore far.

“I feel like Sam is doing a terrific task with simply interacting and simply linking with the gamers,” he stated. “He comprehends that he’s the brand-new guy. We have to bond with him, and we have to develop that connection and that chemistry with him. And he’s an older guy. It’s not like he’s brand-new into the league, so he kind of understands how to interactsocially, how to talk, how to interact with us. 

“Not just simply about football, however simply in basic. Just talking about various things, simply like how me and Kirk utilized to do. But to have Sam in there, more of a seasoned, older frameofmind, to have J.J. come in and discover from him as well, it’s absolutely something that we required, and I believe will be terrific for J.J. as well.”

But Jefferson is currently a fan of McCarthy as well, understanding that the the 21-year-old novice is mostlikely Minnesota’s — and, by extension, Jefferson’s — quarterback of the future. 

“I like J.J.,” Jefferson stated. “He’s certainly discovering, he’s absolutely attempting to findout. Asking concerns. They put JJ’s locker right next to myown, simply like how they did Kirk. So I currently understand their stateofmind and how they desire things to go. They desire me to be that guy that J.J. can constantly talk to and ask concerns about. He’s absolutely that type of kid. He absolutely desires to ask concerns. He desires to findout how to endedupbeing a leading quarterback. He desires to discover how to endedupbeing a issue in this league.”

“I love his mindset. I love his questioning and his interest to desire to endedupbeing something. So I’m absolutely looking forward to what he has to bring to our group. Of course, there’s a lot of expectations from him. But I constantly inform him, wear’t actually concern about the expectations. All you have to do is simply bring yourself with self-confidence.”

Whether it’s Darnold or McCarthy who ends up with beginning tasks makes no distinction to Jefferson. He’s positive in his game-changing capability regardless, an capability rewarded with the four-year, $140 million agreement extension consistingof $110 million ensured that he signed with the Vikings last month.

“It doesn’t actually matter what quarterback it is in my eyes,” Jefferson stated. “I’m constantly gonna shot to make the finest of the chance. I’m constantly gonna shot to be the quarterback’s pal, and make his task a lot mucheasier.”

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