Vikings WR Justin Jefferson gets hit with major disrespect from unlikely source
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson received some disrespect this week from an unlikely source. Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back turned ESPN analyst Ryan Clark suggested on Monday that second-year Steelers wide receiver George Pickens is much more talented than Jefferson. Clark didn't slam Jefferson — he praised the way Jefferson sees the game — […]
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson received some disrespect this week from an unlikely source.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back turned ESPN analyst Ryan Clark suggested on Monday that second-year Steelers wide receiver George Pickens is much more talented than Jefferson.
Clark didn't slam Jefferson — he praised the way Jefferson sees the game — but it still felt like a giant stretch to call Pickens more talented than the best wide receiver in the NFL.
"George Pickens is much more talented than Justin Jefferson," said Clark during an appearance on ESPN.
Pickens is undoubtedly a talented player. But Jefferson is putting numbers at a historic pace. And you don't do that unless you're extremely talented and extremely smart. Jefferson has proved that he's both. Pickens, however, is still working to get to where Jefferson is (and he may never get to that level).
What makes this disrespect so bad (and unlikely) is that it comes from Clark, who, like Jefferson, played college football at LSU.
Clark and Jefferson never played tougher in Baton Rouge, but you'd still think Clark would have some love for his fellow former Tiger. I guess his allegiance to Pittsburgh is a bit stronger, which perhaps is understandable since Clark spent eight seasons with the Steelers.
But that doesn't excuse his bad take. Pickens has potential, but he even if he reaches that potential, he could still come up short of what Jefferson's already accomplished in the NFL.
Featured image via Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
