Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

A new rumor suggests the Minnesota Vikings were actually open to a Justin Jefferson trade at one point during the offseason.

Pioneer Press columnist Charley Walters wrote Sunday that there was buzz during the NFL Draft that the Vikings wanted to move up from No. 11 to No. 5. However, the point of the move would have been to try to draft wide receiver Malik Nabers, which would have allowed the team to trade Jefferson.

It is a wild rumor, but if it is true, it would suggest the Vikings were not optimistic about sorting out Jefferson’s contract situation. The star wide receiver is currently absent from OTAs as he enters the last year of his rookie deal, and is looking for a big raise from his $19.7 million salary. Previous reports have suggested that the Vikings may have to compromise on their usual contract structure in order to keep the wide receiver.

There were some Jefferson trade rumors prior to the draft, but those were largely dismissed. Perhaps the Vikings considered it more strongly than we knew, but the moment seems to have passed now.