Amid the offseason uncertainty surrounding Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers inquired about Justin Jefferson’s availability ahead of this year’s NFL Draft. However, the Vikings had no interest in trading the star wide receiver and promptly rebuffed San Francisco’s inquiries, league sources told ESPN.

The 49ers weren’t the only team to inquire about Jefferson. The Jets and Colts also showed some interest, but the Vikings never considered trading the three-time Pro Bowler and the talks came to nothing, according to sources.

Those inquiries came before the Vikings signed Jefferson in June to a record-setting contract that made him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Inquiring teams thought they might be able to entice Minnesota with attractive trade packages, but the Vikings were only interested in re-signing one of the league’s top players.

San Francisco faces Jefferson and the Vikings on Sunday, and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan knows what kind of receivers his defense will be facing.

“There’s no angle he can’t run at — full speed and without dropping his weight,” Shanahan told reporters. “He also plays fearlessly. His hands are as good as anyone’s. From what I’ve heard from people who have been around him, they say he’s one of the smartest players you’ve ever been around. He’s the total package.”

The Vikings signed Jefferson in June for four years and $140 million, with $110 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN. Less than three months later, the Niners ended their contract deadlock with Aiyuk by signing him to four years and $120 million, with $76 million guaranteed.

Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said at the NFL Scouting Combine in February that trading Jefferson never occurred to him – even though it would help him trade for a better quarterback in the draft.

Jefferson, who was named the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, entered the season with an average of 98.3 receiving yards per game, the best in NFL history in any career span.

Jefferson, 25, set an NFL record for most receiving yards (4,825) in the first three seasons of his career, then surpassed 1,000 yards last season despite missing seven games – and parts of two more – due to injury. His 1,074 yards in 2023 were the most ever by an NFL player who played 10 or fewer games in a season.