ESPN Makes GOAT Argument for Current Viking
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year, and if he continues his barnstorming pace, he might just become the GOAT of WRs.
Of course, that’s the ‘greatest of all-time’ acronym, and ESPN’s Bill Barnwell floated the idea this week.
ESPN Makes GOAT Argument for Current Viking
Jefferson, 23, was drafted by the Vikings in 2020 and has mauled the league since. He leads the league in receiving yards since turning pro, owns every through-first-three-seasons and through-xxx-games receiving yards stat imaginable, and already took down Randy Moss and Cris Carter for most single-season receiving yards and single-season receptions in Vikings history, respectively.
Barnwell examined all current players who could become the greatest of all time at their positions, and when he arrived at wide receiver, he assigned Jefferson a one percent chance to earn the title when it’s all said and done. He wrote, “With Ja’Marr Chase sidelined by injury for part of the 2022 season, Jefferson is the only player I’m comfortable putting out there as a candidate. The Vikings star has racked up 4,825 receiving yards across his first three seasons, the most of any player in NFL history by more than 600 yards.”
Jefferson is also seeking a contract extension from the Vikings, an agreement that will fetch between $30 and $35 million per season.
“Jefferson plays in a more pass-friendly era than Rice and spends a minimum of nine games per season indoors. Of course, he also has started his career with Kirk Cousins at quarterback and likely will be catching passes from a new signal-caller in 2024 given Cousins’ uncertain future in Minnesota. Jefferson, who will be playing his age-24 season in 2023, still has so much more work to do to stay aligned with Rice, let alone surpass the legendary wideout,” Barnwell continued.
Minnesota will pair Jefferson will rookie wideout Jordan Addison in 2023 and beyond, so the newcomer will either free up Jefferson to do more damage — or slice into his statsheet if Addison is the real deal.
Barnwell concluded, “Somebody will eventually break Rice’s record, but just about everything will have to go right for him to do so. And even then, given how pass rates have changed, there likely would still be a reasonable case for Rice as the greatest wideout who has ever lived.”
Jefferson matching or exceeding Rice’s seemingly unsurpassable totals will likely be determined by an item mentioned by Barnwell — the quarterback. Kirk Cousins turns 35 this summer and won’t lead Minnesota for too much longer. And while many fans are excited to begin the life-after-Cousins era, his 4,000+ passing-yard output like clockwork doesn’t grow on trees. Folks merely have to hope ‘the next guy’ after Cousins matches his production for Jefferson to continue his breakneck pace.
No other WR was tabbed in the article as present-day GOAT material, per Barnwell. It’s Jefferson’s — and his only — to possibly seize.
Barnwell also name-dropped Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce from the Kansas City Chiefs at their positions as potential GOAT nominees, along with Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, among others.
Jefferson turns 24 on Friday.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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