EAGAN, Minn. — Justin Jefferson didn't so much mind being in Minnesota for the Vikings offseason program.
"Jets" joked with Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell Thursday as O'Connell finished his media session and Jefferson stepped up to the podium.
O'Connell had some fun donning his "reporter" hat and asking Jefferson what he'd taken out of voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamp, which concluded Thursday.
"I learned a lot," Jefferson said, turning to grin at his coach. "Having this as the most [time] I've spent in the offseason [program], it was good. Just being able to be around the guys, be around the quarterback, learn from the guys and get better, you know?"
O'Connell returned the smile before responding, "I'll take that as a guarantee that your presence—"
"We're gonna talk about that later on," Jefferson good-naturedly interjected. "Next question?"
The fun exchange encapsulated the atmosphere within Twin Cities Performance Center as players and coaches alike reflected on a productive spring and headed into a break period before reconvening late next month for Vikings Training Camp.
Here are five takeaways from media sessions with O'Connell, Jefferson and quarterback J.J. McCarthy:
1. Jets & J.J. continuing to build chemistry
Jefferson may be looking forward to a little R&R, but the next five weeks will still include plenty of football as he gets in time away from the facility with McCarthy.
He and McCarthy both talked about the bond they've built and will continue to foster in anticipation of the upcoming season.
"[Our connection] grew a lot just being around, talking with him, picking his brain on different things and, really, just [reminding him] that I'm here … to conversate about different things he sees on the field, and I'm also there for him off the field, as well," Jefferson said. "Just being a guy that understands his position, understands that he has a lot going on. So, it definitely was great to be around him during these OTA sessions."
McCarthy complimented the way Jefferson, even entering his sixth NFL season, "works his butt off every single practice."
"That just rubs off on everyone, especially when your best player's giving it his all," McCarthy said. "So, nobody has any excuse to do anything less. He's just authentically him every single day."
2. Readying for wide receiver competition
It's no secret Jefferson is the Vikings No. 1 receiver, with Jordan Addison holding the No. 2 spot and Jailen Nailor fitting into WR3.
But behind that? The Vikings have quite the group of young talent vying to make an impact, and O'Connell is looking forward to seeing how it all shakes out.
Returnees to the group include Lucky Jackson, Jeshaun Jones and Thayer Thomas, and Minnesota drafted Tai Felton out of Maryland. The Vikings also added free agents Rondale Moore and Tim Jones, and they signed undrafted rookies Silas Bolden, Dontae Fleming, Robert Lewis and Myles Price.
"When you start talking about depth behind [the top three], I think we forget sometimes, you know, guys like Lucky and Jeshaun and Thayer — those guys have been getting coached by Keenan McCardell in a room with those other guys showing them the way," O'Connell said. "They're becoming really good football players. And then you add in the additions via free agency and the draft … It's going to be a very, very competitive situation.
"That's gonna be what we're talking about, more than like, throughout all of camp," he added.
3. 'Now he's on our side'
The Vikings signed two veteran cornerbacks in free agency in Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, and Jefferson has appreciated the opportunity to go against two defenders in practice he's previously seen in games.
He's especially familiar with Okudah, who was drafted by Detroit the same year (2020) — and same round (first) — Minnesota tabbed Jefferson out of LSU.
Though Okudah did miss some time due to injury during his three seasons with the Lions, Jefferson knows how Detroit's secondary plays and just how aggressive Okudah can be.
"He has that speed … and he has that ability to really play-make and just be an annoying cornerback," Jefferson grinned. "That's what I like to call those types of corners, 'annoying cornerbacks,' because they know how to be physical. They know how to get you off your route and not be able to have free access."
Asked if he and Okudah have exchanged any trash talk about previous matchups, Jefferson laughed.
"Nah, receivers and cornerbacks, we will never talk about those types of things," he quipped. "We just let it go. Now he's on our side, so we're good."
4. No problem with arm strength
McCarthy may still be stacking reps, but there's one thing inherently clear: the guy can throw.
The 2024 first-round pick has repeatedly demonstrated incredible arm strength, which Jefferson commented on.
"The velocity on the ball and the spin on the ball, you know, he has a tight spin," Jefferson said of McCarthy. "It definitely comes to you very quick — quicker than what you'd expect."
And yet, at one point or another, critics have floated the narrative that it may be a challenge to McCarthy's game — a case that simply doesn't hold water.
Reporter: How surprised were you? Do you even know where that started?
"A lot of it just comes with the stigma at Michigan. And, you know, not throwing the ball a lot," McCarthy opined. "And you know, it could be my frame. They don't see a 6-5, 240 guy, so, 'How can you throw it 61 miles per hour at the combine?'
"But at the end of the day, it's going to show up," McCarthy added. "And the people who know, know. I think it's just the situations I've been in and maybe not passing the eye test or something."
5. Darrisaw 'phenomenal' on recovery journey
Christian Darrisaw participated in individual drills during Tuesday's practice but did not participate Wednesday or Thursday.
O'Connell assured it's no negative reflection on the left tackle who is rehabbing from a season-ending knee injury suffered Week 8 of last season.
"Talk about a guy who's laser-focused on what's right in front of him. And that can be difficult when you're a player coming back from an injury and a lot of it is outside your control," O'Connell said. "But I can tell you whatever is in Christian Darrisaw's control, and maybe more so than most going through an injury like that, he has been phenomenal.
"He's progressed to a point that if you put some trainers out there in front of him … we're probably gonna have to go find those trainers after he throws them over the fence — because he's that strong," O'Connell added. "We had to get him back around football players because of where he's at. That doesn't necessarily mean his timeline's changed or what we thought has changed. All I've told Christian is, 'Let's worry about that when it's time to worry about that, and all you can control is the here and now, and just continue to set weekly goals,' that he is crushing in a really positive way."
