Mike Florio Floats Strange Justin Jefferson Trade Take

Mike Florio would like to see Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love end up with the Minnesota Vikings this week — and the franchise shouldn’t be afraid to part ways with Justin Jefferson to get it done, he says.

Jefferson trade chatter still misses the point.

In what felt more like a hot take than reality, Florio, indeed, floated the unthinkable for Minnesota.

Florio’s Jefferson Idea Draws a Strange Line for Minnesota

No, the Vikings won’t trade Jefferson.

Jeremiyah Love celebrates a first down during a game against USC at Notre Dame Stadium. Justin Jefferson trade — Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates after moving the chains with a first-down run, energizing the home crowd Oct. 18, 2025, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, as the Fighting Irish battle Southern California in a physical first-half stretch with momentum swinging on key offensive plays. Mandatory Credit: Michael Clubb-Imagn Images.

Florio: Trade Jefferson for Love

Florio introduced the take on NBC Sports airwaves, stating, “One of the things that Kevin O’Connell told us in Arizona a couple of weeks ago, the Vikings learned down the stretch how to win without a passing game. And he’s been so wired to pass, pass, pass, pass, pass. Great way, great way to take pressure off your quarterback if you bring in your next Adrian Peterson.”

“And that’s one thing my son’s been saying for a couple of years now, the Vikings desperately need a great running back. I mean, Aaron Jones is good, not great. Jordan Mason, is that his name? Yeah, the guy with the 49ers. The guy they traded with the 49ers for.”

Mason is on tap to share RB1 duty with Jones in 2026.

Florio continued, “A lot of high hopes, but it did not go well. They need somebody great. That may be too high to come up, and who knows what you’d have to give up to get him? Maybe you have to send Justin Jefferson to Arizona to get him.”

“But you know what? At this point, I love Justin Jefferson. This feels even more blasphemous than making an AI version of myself as Jesus and claiming it was a doctor later. But I would do Justin Jefferson for Jeremiah Love.”

It’s worth noting that the trade theory is merely Florio’s brainchild; there is no current Jefferson trade rumor mill.

Yes, Love Is Fantastic

The caveat here is that Florio is onto something — halfway, anyway. Love is the top playmaker in this week’s draft, and few dispute it.

He has 4.36 speed, the production at Notre Dame, ideal running back size at 6’0″ and 215 pounds, and he pass-blocks. He’s a dream prospect at his position and can be filed in the same category as Bijan Robinson in 2023 and Ashton Jeanty in 2025.

It’s just that Jefferson won’t be traded to get Love. In fact, Jefferson might be the only Viking who’s totally off-limits if Love were indeed a trade target in the first place. Trading Jefferson for Love feels like something orchestrated in a fantasy football league or in EA Sports’ Madden franchise.

Love is worth the squeeze via trade, but not when the sacrifice is the best wide receiver in the business. It’s like trading water for oxygen.

Financial Hell Trading Jefferson

If Minnesota traded Jefferson during the draft, it would be on the hook for $70 million in dead cap money. That is absolutely and fundamentally absurd. The only time an NFL franchise should remotely consider a dead cap penalty over $25 million is if the player outwardly stinks or if the player has demanded a trade.

Jefferson, obviously, fits neither criterion.

Justin Jefferson during a game against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Justin Jefferson trade — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) lines up during a divisional matchup, staying active within the offensive scheme Nov 23, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as Minnesota squares off with the Packers in a late-season contest featuring heavy implications in the NFC North race. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.

The first time the Vikings can trade Jefferson without the egregious stain of a dead cap infraction is after June 1, 2027. We’re talking 14 months from now. The club would “only” swallow about $19 million if it traded Jefferson in the summer of 2027.

Until then, Jefferson trade theories are ludicrous.

Realistic Trades?

What about deals that could realistically play out? There are a few.

On the existing roster, Minnesota could trade outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard to an EDGE-needy team if the trade partner is willing to donate a 2nd-Round pick. The Philadelphia Eagles are popular suitors in the rumor mill for Greenard. So are the Indianapolis Colts.

There’s a world, albeit far off, where Minnesota cut bait with J.J. McCarthy, trading him to the Los Angeles Rams or Pittsburgh Steelers, for example, and capturing a 4th-Round pick or so.

Justin Jefferson celebrates a touchdown catch against the Seahawks in the fourth quarter. Justin Jefferson trade — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates after hauling in a touchdown reception, igniting the offense during a late-game push Dec 22, 2024, at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, as Minnesota capitalizes in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks in a tightly contested road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.

Otherwise, veteran players like Jerry Jeudy (WR, Cleveland Browns), Brandon Aiyuk (WR, San Francisco 49ers), or Trey Benson (RB, Arizona Cardinals) might make sense for the Vikings, depending on how the draftboard falls for Minnesota this week.

The most likely Vikings trade before the end of the week is a deal where the franchise slides down a few spots on Thursday night while stockpiling a mid-round pick or two.

And it won’t involve Jefferson to the Cardinals or any team for Love.