Bleacher Report’s ‘QB-WR Duo’ Rankings Might Surprise You
Dustin Baker
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While the NFL community — and even the Minnesota Vikings fanbase — is divided on the overall performance and aura of Kirk Cousins, folks believe he’s really, really good at one thing without debate — feeding pigskin to Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson joined the Vikings in 2020, the fifth WR off the board in the pandemic draft, and has taken the league by storm since. He leads the NFL in receiving yards in the last three seasons and continues to set records as the sun rises.
Bleacher Report’s ‘QB-WR Duo’ Rankings Might Surprise You
His partner in crime, Cousins, isn’t quite as universally loved and will play on the final year of his contract in 2023. The Vikings could extend Cousns at any moment but probably would’ve done so by now.
Well, don’t look now, but the guy who could be exiting the franchise in 11 months is considered by Bleacher Report as one-half of the best QB-WR duo in football. Indeed, BR‘s Maurice Moton ranked the business’ top combos, and Cousins + Jefferson topped the list, edging Josh Allen + Stefon Diggs and Joe Burrow + Ja’Marr Chase.
Moton explained, “Despite all the justified criticism Cousins has received in the past, his shortcomings haven’t stopped Justin Jefferson from becoming a three-time Pro Bowler, All-Pro and 2022 Offensive Player of the Year. By the way, the wideout has topped his catch and receiving yard totals every season.”
“As wide receiver Adam Thielen aged into his 30s, Jefferson saw his role in the passing attack expand with Cousins at the helm. At 23 years old, he’s arguably one of the top two receivers in the discussion for the league’s best wideout along with Davante Adams,” Moton continued.
The Vikings traded the aforementioned Diggs to the Buffalo Bills three years ago, and Vikings faithful cherish the transaction daily. Minnesota wound up with an asset in Jefferson who is somehow more productive than Diggs and cheaper during his four years.
Moton finished, “Cousins’ consistency coupled with Jefferson’s climb to the top of the wide receiver hierarchy helps this Vikings duo edge the Bills’ tandem for the No. 1 spot.”
The upcoming season could be the Cousins-Jefferson swan song unless general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah adds more years onto Cousins’ deal. A brand new element permeated “the Cousins debate” this offseason — age. He’ll be 35 in four months, and historically, quarterbacks either maintain their production or decline around that age. Few get better.
The grand Vikings climax nearing fruition directly involves Jefferson — who will be the next QB1, and will he be as steady as Cousins? It’s probably the only way Jefferson continues his Hall of Fame pace in Minnesota. He’ll need a passer as good or better than Cousins when the time comes.
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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,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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