Jefferson Takes the Chip from CBS
Dustin Baker
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Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson has already begun charting a Hall of Fame path since entering the NFL in 2020, leading the league in receiving yards during the timeframe and shattering the record for most receiving yards through a player’s first three seasons.
Jefferson Takes the Chip from CBS
He’s also commanded respect as the top wide receiver in the business from most of his peers and NFL experts.
The trend continued last week, as CBS Sports labeled Jefferson the best WR in the sport heading into 2023.
NFL training camps kick off in about 4.5 weeks, and between now and then, many media entities are ranking the top players per position and the top position groups per team. Accordingly, CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani stacked the Top 10 wideouts like this:
- Justin Jefferson
- Tyreek Hill
- Davante Adams
- Ja’Marr Chase
- Stefon Diggs
- Cooper Kupp
- A.J. Brown
- CeeDee Lamb
- Deebo Samuel
- Jaylen Waddle
Dajani explained, “He just keeps getting better. Last year, Jefferson caught a league-leading 128 passes for a league-leading 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns. Those receptions and receiving yards numbers set Vikings franchise records. Jefferson won Offensive Player of the Year, and passed Randy Moss in recording the most receiving yards in a player’s first three seasons in NFL history with 4,825. Jefferson has played in 50 career regular-season games. He’s gone over 100 receiving yards in 24 of them.”
Jefferson is expected to extend his contract with the Vikings this summer, likely committing until the end of the 2027 or 2028 season.
“No matter what route he’s running, Jefferson is incredibly dangerous. He accounted for the highest percentage of a team’s receiving yards last year (37.5%), and came in fourth in the NFL in scrimmage yards — behind three running backs. Jefferson also had maybe the catch of the century on a fourth-and-18 vs. the Bills,” Dajani added while putting Jefferson on the NFL’s WR throne.
Jefferson will also gain a new running mate this September after Minnesota added USC WR Jordan Addison from Round 1 of April’s draft. Depending on the speed of Addison’s ascension to WR2, the Vikings could employ one of the league’s top wide receiving combos before too long.
Two weeks ago, Jefferson told reporters at minicamp, “I love being around the guys. I love being around the team. We want to win the Super Bowl this year.”
Jefferson turned 24 on June 16th.
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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