The Vikings’ voluntary offseason training program began on Monday, and the receiver spoke with reporters. He mentioned the time he spent working with J.J. McCarthy this spring and the welcome he extended to Kyler Murray, a free agent signee.
From Jefferson’s perspective? The more rivalry there is in the quarterback room, the better.
Jefferson remarked, “It was very fantastic… to give a little spark in that room to see a competitive edge and for those players to really lock in and to do what we’re asking them to do, which is come in and be that person—because we need that one guy for this team.” “I’m really looking forward to that room. I’m eager to see what those folks have planned for us throughout training camp.
Jefferson and McCarthy have connected several times and at different locales for throwing and training sessions since the conclusion of the 2025 season.
Jefferson pointed out that it has given the teammates a chance to give each other more feedback, which will only improve their performance. Maintaining the close relationship is crucial, he continued.
So, we’ll continue to do that,” Jefferson said. “I feel like he’s a lot more confident in where I’m going to be, how fast I’m going to get there, and what timing to throw the ball before I break,” he later added.
And continue to work with Kyler and all the quarterbacks I can work with, just so we know that connection is top-tier when we start training camp.
He is comprehending everything. It takes time, as I have stated. Repetition and seeing it repeatedly are what lead to it. He will therefore be a completely different quarterback than he is presently by this time next year.”
And it doesn’t have to be running 30 different routes,” he stated. It all comes down to simply touching the ball, watching it leave his hand, and then sensing the impact and speed of his football. It’s fantastic to have that time, especially because it’s much earlier now than it was during training camp. gaining some momentum, and working with him is undoubtedly enjoyable.
Speaking of training camp, “Jets” is aware that the Vikings may not announce a starting quarterback until after their offseason schedule is complete. However, he doesn’t mind because his primary focus is creating plays with the passer who lines up for the specific play.
“I mean, I see it out of their hands and grab the ball for them,” Jefferson grinned, adding that although quarterback-receiver chemistry is crucial, he doesn’t worry about who is throwing the ball to him. “For Kyler, it’s more about trying to time up my route running—how quickly I’m running, how fast I’m getting in and out of the breaks.”
Murray has seven years of NFL experience, including 87 starts, but he’s in a new setting for the first time since Arizona selected him first overall.
In addition to the quickness and arm speed Murray has shown throughout his career, Jefferson told reporters that he is “waiting for those huge, thrilling plays” from him.
Although he recognized that McCarthy “needs to step it up a bit,” he thinks it’s beneficial for the young player to experience some pressure and lock in at a higher level.
When it comes to these kinds of things, it’s all a competitive mindset, Jefferson stated. “It all comes down to who is prepared for that time and who is prepared to take the initiative.
The Vikings are confident in Murray’s ability to step up in the pocket and occasionally outside of it as they look to him and his quarterback peers to step up. Since being selected by Minnesota in the 2020 draft, Jefferson has worked with a number of quarterbacks with varying degrees of mobility.
In terms of mobility, Murray is at or close to the top.
Jefferson admitted that while opponents usually push more defenders up toward the line of scrimmage to accommodate for a potential runner, having a mobile quarterback might make things simpler for receivers.
Playing Kyler Murray or Lamar Jackson is not the same as playing a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady, Jefferson clarified.
That allows us to, on the back end, go against those DBs and safeties and not have to [factor in] a bunch of double teams and those cloud coverages we’ve been getting a lot of these past two years. You have to have more people in the box, more people kind of eyeing him down, and maybe a quarterback-containing spy.”
While working with Minnesota’s quarterbacks, Jefferson has also kept an eye on former teammate Sam Darnold, who guided the Seahawks to a Super Bowl triumph last year after signing as a free agent with Seattle and helping the Vikings win 14 regular-season games in 2024.
When asked how he felt about Darnold’s success with a different team, Jefferson said without hesitation, “It was great. To be honest.
I was ecstatic and thrilled for him,” he remarked. “He has experienced a great deal throughout his entire career. It was therefore incredible for him to win this Super Bowl and to keep shining brightly. I was ecstatic for him.
Of course, Jefferson still has that ultimate objective on his bucket list. However, he is pleased with Minnesota’s offseason and eager to see what new players the Vikings get in this week’s NFL Draft.
Jefferson described it as “very exciting” to watch Minnesota’s quarterback competition up close.
“We have enormous skill in that room,” he declared. “In particular, for Kyler to come from Arizona and carry on that spark, and for J.J. to have that spark in him. And I’m eager to accompany him on that journey.
