Minnesota Vikings training camp kicks off in less than two weeks, with rookies reporting on July 23rd.
But before that, the NFL remains inside the quietest portion of its calendar, and items like Justin Jefferson’s quarterback rankings make the headlines.
Justin Jefferson Reveals His Top 5 QBs
Jefferson spoke with Brazilian journalist Danilo Lacalle this week and dropped his QB pecking order in a video circulated on social media.
The order is as follows;
- Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets)
- Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)
- Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)
And here’s the video, complete with Brazilian subtitles:
Lacalle also inquired about the toughest cornerback a wide receiver can play against leaguewide, and Jefferson replied, “The toughest corner would probably be Jalen Ramsey.”
Jefferson’s list is quite standard, except for Rodgers at No. 2. Including Rodgers at age 39 seems more like an all-time rankings list, or perhaps Jefferson foresees Rodgers returning to MVP form with the Jets. Most ‘Top 5’ lists heading into 2023 exclude Rodgers and sometimes slip Los Angeles Chargers signal-caller Justin Herbert in the mix or add Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens.
Meanwhile, Jefferson left his quarterback, Kirk Cousins, off the list, but so does everyone who creates a Top 5 offering of the league’s best signal-callers.
Mahomes solidified himself as the NFL’s top quarterback and player in 2022, an opinion that should’ve been held worldwide before last season when the Chiefs won a Super Bowl and Mahomes took home regular season MVP and Super Bowl MVP awards. But national media outlets love banging the drum on someone like Josh Allen possibly entering Mahomes’ quarterbacking tier. It’s just never a fair proposition, and Mahomes smacked down the ‘best player’ debates five months ago.
Jefferson, personally, has locked up the moniker of the NFL’s top wide receiver after last season, winning the Offensive Player of the Year award and leading the league in receiving yards. Since turning pro in 2020, Jefferson leads all players in receiving yards and is on a breakneck pace to shatter longstanding NFL records if he stays healthy for the next decade-plus.
Vikings training camp begins in 12 days, and Jefferson will be present despite waiting on a contract extension. He’s expected to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history sometime this summer. It’s just a matter of when.
Jefferson turned 24 last month.
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.