National media outlet makes historical prediction for Vikings WR Justin Jefferson in 2023
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson's first three years in the NFL have gone about as well as anyone could've ever imagined (or hoped) they would. The former LSU standout has 324 receptions for 4,825 yards and 25 touchdowns over his first three seasons in the league. In 2022, Jefferson had his best season yet, […]
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson's first three years in the NFL have gone about as well as anyone could've ever imagined (or hoped) they would.
The former LSU standout has 324 receptions for 4,825 yards and 25 touchdowns over his first three seasons in the league.
In 2022, Jefferson had his best season yet, catching 128 passes for 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns.
As good as the 2022 season was for Jefferson, and as hard as it'll be to replicate, NFL.com thinks the former first-round draft pick will be even better in 2023.
In fact, they think Jefferson will do something in 2023 that's never been done before.
NFL.com boldly predicted this week that Jefferson will become the first player to surpass 2,000 receiving yards in a season.
From NFL.com: No wide receiver has ever hit 2K. Calvin Johnson's come the closest, posting an NFL-record 1,964 yards in 2012. Nine years later, Cooper Kupp reached 1,947 yards. In 2023, Jefferson makes history.
Shoot, it's just the natural progression of Jefferson's NFL production, from 1,400 yards in Year 1 to 1,616 yards in Year 2 to 1,809 yards last season. To reach 2,000, he needs to average just under 118 yards over 17 games. Jefferson is the kind of unstoppable force who can make that happen, especially in Year 2 of Kevin O'Connell's offense. And his new WR running mate in Jordan Addison — Minnesota's first-round pick in April — will help the cause by commanding more attention than the Vikings' complementary targets last season.
The Griddy will be on full display in 2023, with No. 18 dancing his way into the record books.
Jefferson, who hasn't missed a game during his first three seasons in the NFL, has the benefit of a 17th regular season game. If he can stay healthy in 2023 — which has never been an issue for the stud wide receiver — then there's a legitimate chance that Jefferson could become the first player to top 2,000 receiving yards in a season.
Featured image via Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
