Vikings: National media keeps getting it wrong about Justin Jefferson
Minnesota Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson has asserted himself as the NFL’s top pass catcher in just three seasons. But what seems so obvious to Vikings fans is a topic national media outlets are still failing to grasp. Jefferson has climbed the NFL ranks in record time. He has accumulated 4,825 receiving yards and […]
Minnesota Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson has asserted himself as the NFL’s top pass catcher in just three seasons. But what seems so obvious to Vikings fans is a topic national media outlets are still failing to grasp.
Jefferson has climbed the NFL ranks in record time. He has accumulated 4,825 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns in the first three years of his career. He posted an unbelievable stat line in 2022, registering 128 receptions for 1,809 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
To put it simply, Jefferson had the sixth-best season from a receiver in the NFL’s history. The five players that totaled more receiving yards in a single season are as follows:
Calvin Johnson (2012) – 1,964 yards
Cooper Kupp (2021) – 1,947 yards
Julio Jones (2015) – 1,871 yards
Jerry Rice (1995) – 1,848 yards
Antonio Brown (2015) – 1,834 yards
He’s already in Hall of Fame company. This makes Pro Football Focus’ recent list of the NFL’s Top 32 wide receivers all the more confusing. That is because according to PFF, Jefferson checks in at No. 2. It is Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams who occupies the top spot.
From PFF: "I’m not sure you can say Jefferson is better than Davante Adams, but he’s joined him atop the mountain. Jefferson is second to Adams in a whole variety of categories since entering the league and has been phenomenally productive for the Vikings in his young career. He is an outstanding route runner, can win contested catches and already has one of the greatest catches in NFL history on his resume — a fourth-and-18 one-handed snag against Buffalo."
Since arriving to the league in 2020, Jefferson has produced more receiving yards than Adams in each of his three seasons. In fact, Adams hasn’t eclipsed the 1,600-yard mark once in his nine-year career. Jefferson has done so in back-to-back seasons.
Don’t get me wrong, Adams is likely the second-best wide receiver in football. But it’s Jefferson’s league. The torch has been passed. The only thing separating the two receivers is experience and seniority isn’t a fair tiebreaker.
At just 23 years old, Jefferson’s best football likely lies ahead of him, which is a scary thought in its own right. Having already flirted with the NFL’s first 2,000-yard season by a receiver, it’s a milestone Jefferson absolutely has on his radar.
Minnesota parted ways with his partner in crime in Adam Thielen this offseason, which only stands to create more opportunities for Jefferson. If he hasn’t done enough to earn that coveted No. 1 spot on PFF’s list yet, he should be able to put this silly debate to bed once and for all in 2023.
