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Sports

Justin Jefferson Lands on Dubious Trade List

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Justin Jefferson lines up during a Vikings road game in Jacksonville.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson waits for the snap during fourth-quarter action against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 10, 2024, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, giving Minnesota its top playmaker on the field as the offense worked through a late-game sequence in a road matchup against an AFC opponent. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.

Remember how the Minnesota Vikings shipped Randy Moss out via trade after seven seasons about 20 years ago? One website claims that could happen again, but with Justin Jefferson. In the spirit of recent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Garrett trades, two heavyweights leaving their existing franchises, CBS Sports nominated top-notch NFLers who could follow suit.

And per Garrett Podell, that’s Jefferson, among others.

Vikings’ Playoff Pressure Makes the Rumor Worth Tracking

Justin Jefferson gestures to fans after a Vikings game against the Packers. Justin Jefferson trade
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson gestures to fans while walking off the Lambeau Field turf after facing the Green Bay Packers on Sep. 29, 2024, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Jefferson’s postgame moment captured a familiar NFC North scene, with Minnesota’s star receiver acknowledging the road crowd after another rivalry chapter. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.

Podell: Jefferson Could Be Next to Demand Trade

On a list that included Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, among others, Jefferson got the nod as a player who could request a trade.

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Podell wrote, “Prediction on whether or not Jefferson will eventually ask for a trade: Yes, by the 2028 NFL offseason. The McCarthy-Murray competition will fail to bear long-term fruit at football’s most important position, leaving Jefferson dissatisfied entering the final season of his four-year, $140 million deal in 2028.”

“Out of guaranteed money, Jefferson will be looking for a new, multiyear deal at the age of 29, but he’ll aim to get his next batch of guaranteed cash elsewhere. Compensation to get the deal done: First-round pick and third-round pick. It’s a similar package to the one the Patriots used to acquire Brown from the Eagles, but instead of a fifth-round pick, Minnesota gets a third-round draft choice since Jefferson doesn’t come with the same attitude and fluidity questions.”

Jefferson has never wavered about his commitment to the Vikings, but a playoff-less season in 2026 might change his mind.

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“Likely landing spot: Las Vegas Raiders. It’s hard to project how the NFL landscape will look years down the road, but the Raiders make plenty of sense for a multitude of reasons,” Podell added.

“Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, will need a true WR1 to complement All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, and Las Vegas has shown a willingness to trade for a superstar wide receiver at the back of the end their 20s: The Raiders traded a first-round draft choice and a second-round draft choice to the Green Bay Packers in 2022 in exchange for a 29-year-old Davante Adams.”

If Vikings Don’t Make Playoffs or Win Playoff Game — Yep.

Trading Jefferson now would be premature. The real challenge lies nine months ahead. Should the Vikings miss the playoffs again in 2026, the situation in Minnesota will become uncomfortable for all involved. While Jefferson is currently expressing loyalty, as most star players do, that patience typically wanes if the team gives them a reason to reconsider.

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Justin Jefferson reacts during a Vikings international game against the Browns. Justin Jefferson trade
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson reacts after a first-quarter play against the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025, in Tottenham, United Kingdom. The international-stage snapshot showed Jefferson working through another Vikings drive overseas, with Minnesota’s offense chasing rhythm in front of a London crowd during a rare regular-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

That is where the Damian Lillard comparison in the NBA becomes relevant. Portland recognized the impending issue for years. Lillard remained loyal, often carrying mediocre teams, until he reached a point where continued loyalty no longer made sense. Such decisions are not sudden. But they do build and intensify.

For the Vikings, the crux of the issue is their quarterback situation. Jefferson’s Minnesota requires one of its quarterbacks, Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy, to elevate the offense to a competitive level.

McCarthy previously had an opportunity, but his efficiency metrics were poor, compounded by injuries. That paved the way for Murray. If Murray underperforms, discussions about Jefferson’s future will intensify rapidly.

The Would-Be Trade Haul for Jefferson

If Jefferson posts Jeffersonian numbers in 2026 while Minnesota misses the postseason or gets blown out in the first round, the playmaker will almost certainly fetch a 1st-Rounder via trade — if it comes to that.

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The Philadelphia Eagles were able to squeeze a 1st-Rounder and 5th-Rounder out of the New England Patriots this offseason for Brown. There’s no reason to believe Jefferson would be less. In fact, Minnesota might charge extra juice because Jefferson is a better football player than Brown.

The safest price from a summer of 2026 outlook is Jefferson would probably be a 1st- and 3rd-Rounder. Twenty-one years ago, the aforementioned Moss fetched a 1st-Rounder (Troy Williamson), a player (Napoleon Harris), and a 7th-Rounder.

All Up to O’Connell

Whether Jefferson is traded anytime soon rests squarely on Kevin O’Connell’s shoulders. The Podell theory will not come to fruition if the Vikings make an impressive playoff run this season. All Jefferson wants is to win, which likely translates to the first postseason triumph of his career. It’s a reasonable ask. The last time Minnesota won a playoff game? Six years ago — the 2019 stunner down in New Orleans when Minnesota walked off the Saints courtesy of Kirk Cousins and Kyle Rudolph. The Vikings drafted Jefferson three months after that moment.

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Dianna Russini interviews Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during training camp. Justin Jefferson trade
The Athletic senior NFL insider Dianna Russini interviews Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during training camp in Eagan, Minnesota, on Aug. 15, 2025. Their conversation covered O’Connell’s Coach of the Year season and Minnesota’s roster outlook, with the franchise’s quarterback plan driving much of the broader Vikings discussion that summer in Eagan. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

O’Connell must get Jefferson a playoff win to keep him satisfied.

Otherwise, Jefferson could ask for a trade in the 2027 offseason, and no one would fault him for it. It’s why signing Murray in free agency was so crucial — to prove to Jefferson that the franchise is not content with 9-8 seasons that don’t net playoff berths. They mean business.


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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

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World Cup 2026: Mbappé’s brace sends France into round of 16 as Les Bleus demolish Sweden

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France defeated Sweden 3-0 in a dominant round of 32 performance on Tuesday evening, with Kylian Mbappé‘s brace and Michael Olise‘s assist setting the tone for a comprehensive victory. The French superstar struck twice, first from close range after Olise’s through ball, as Les Bleus overwhelmed their opponents with superior skill, movement, and execution.

Mbappe finished a superb move to break the deadlock just before half-time in the last-32 tie watched by 80,663 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, after France had already hit the woodwork twice, once through Mbappe and once through Olise.

The French were on top throughout against a limited Swedish side, utterly dominating in terms of possession and shots on goal.

Olise set up Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola for the second on 53 minutes, and then delivered a delightful pass for Mbappe to complete a convincing victory.

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Mbappe’s 18th World Cup goal

Mbappe’s strikes saw him move level with Lionel Messi on six goals in the all-star golden boot race at this World Cup.

The France captain now has 18 World Cup goals in total, meaning he is just one behind Messi’s overall record of 19, a mark which 27-year-old Mbappe will keep chasing.

He celebrated his first goal by running across to embrace coach Didier Deschamps, who missed France’s final group game against Norway to travel home for his mother’s funeral.

Deschamps will step down at the end of the competition after 14 highly successful years in charge.

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Going out in the last 32 would have been such an anti-climactic way to depart for Deschamps, who captained the first France team to win the World Cup in 1998 and coached them to glory in 2018.

In 1998, France’s run to victory on home soil included a 1-0 last-16 win over Paraguay, when Laurent Blanc scored a golden goal in extra time.

Les Bleus will face the South Americans in the last 16 again this time, on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Morocco beat Netherlands on penalties to reach round of 16

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France will be fully expected to win and march on.

Mbappe and Olise were again central figures, with Ousmane Dembele also showing flashes of his brilliance while Barcola was preferred to Desire Doue as the fourth forward.

Sweden have quality in attack too, with the Premier League trio of Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Anthony Elanga. But they couldn’t get enough of the ball to create chances and Graham Potter’s team now go home.

Getting this far should really be seen as a success for them, however, after they only made it to North America through the back door of the play-offs.

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Intense pressure 

Olise released Mbappe through the middle to put the ball in the net in the 20th minute, only for a tight offside call to cut short the celebrations.

However, that sparked an intense spell of French pressure which eventually resulted in the opening goal.

Some of their football was mesmerising, as Mbappe hit the post from a Jules Kounde ball across the face of goal and Adrien Rabiot fired narrowly over.

Olise then struck an upright with a breathtaking overhead bicycle kick before Dembele put the rebound wide.

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The opener came right on half-time, after an Olise effort was tipped behind by Swedish ‘keeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

Watch more2026 World Cup: Paraguay stun Germany in round of 32

Dembele and Olise combined at the resulting corner before finding Mbappe, and he did the rest.

Sweden needed the interval to regroup, but they conceded again eight minutes after the restart as the magical Olise threaded a pass through the legs of Gustaf Lagerbielke for Barcola, who lashed in.

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Olise couldn’t score when clean through, but soon after he delivered an exceptional assist for Mbappe to curl in again on 74 minutes.

France look untouchable even if the toughest tests are still to come, although Paraguay will find it hard to live with them.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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Blue Jays’ Braydon Fisher to start Canada Day game vs. Mets

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Manager John Schneider announced after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss that Fisher will serve as an opener for the Blue Jays during Wednesday’s Canada Day showdown against the New York Mets (3 p.m. ET / noon PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+).

Patrick Corbin was originally scheduled to start the game, but the veteran left-hander was moved to the bullpen earlier Tuesday.

Rookie right-hander Spencer Miles is expected to handle the bulk of the duties for the Blue Jays as they go for a series win against the Mets.

It will be the fifth time this season that Fisher has started a game for Toronto. He previously worked as the club’s opener on April 17 against Arizona, May 21 against the Yankees, May 26 against Miami and June 17 against Boston. He didn’t allow a run in any of those three appearances.

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For the year, Fisher has a 3.48 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 44 innings.

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Former World Heavyweight Champion Finally Returns to WWE

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A former World Heavyweight Champion returned to WWE tonight. He appeared on the latest episode of NXT.

Booker T was away from the NXT commentary desk for two weeks. He also missed the black-and-silver brand’s latest premium live event, The Great American Bash. RAW commentator Corey Graves and SmackDown’s Wade Barrett filled in for the Hall of Famer during his absence.

Before this week’s episode of NXT, the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion appeared on his Hall of Fame podcast. During the conversation, Booker revealed that he was forced to take a break from the Triple H-led sports entertainment juggernaut due to family issues. The 61-year-old disclosed that he was healthy and would return to the Tuesday night show this week.

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“I’m the youngest of eight. When something happens in the family, family comes first. Everything stops. I always said, being the youngest in the family, it’s my responsibility to make sure I step up and be there at all time [sic]. For me, I’ve been dealing with family stuff, and I had to take a step back and deal with it. I can’t deal with things and work at the same time. That’s all it’s been. I feel good; I’m perfectly fine; my health is great. I’m getting back to work on Tuesday.” [H/T: Fightful]

The latest episode of the black-and-silver show kicked off with a segment featuring new NXT Women’s Champion Kendal Grey. During Grey’s entrance, the camera briefly focused on the commentary desk. Vic Joseph welcomed Booker T back to WWE during that moment. The Hall of Famer was in good spirits and seemed delighted about resuming his commentary duties.

Booker T has been part of the NXT commentary team for nearly four years as of this writing. He joined WWE’s third brand as a color commentator in October 2022. After a stellar in-ring career, Booker has gained popularity among modern-day fans with his hilarious commentary lines and catchphrases.

The WCW legend has helped many up-and-coming stars, such as Bron Breakker, Trick Williams, and Stephanie Vaquer, get over with the WWE Universe. Booker’s recent absence from NXT raised concern about his status among fans. However, he finally returned to the Tuesday night show this week.