Justin Jefferson Can Break All Sorts of NFL Records in 2023
Josh Frey
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Today is Justin Jefferson’s 24th birthday, and as a result, some of the content across this site will revolve around celebrating the Vikings star wide receiver today. In this piece, we are going to talk about the different NFL records that the reigning Offensive Player of the Year can break during the 2023 season.
First 2000-Yard Receiving Season
This has been part of the discussion around Jefferson ever since last offseason, but could 2023 be the year where the receiver officially becomes the first receiver to break the 2000-yard threshold in a single season?
Currently, the player that has come closest is Calvin Johnson, who put together 1964 yards back in 2012. We’ve seen a number of players come close, including Jefferson himself with 1809 yards in 2022, but that elusive 2000 yards has remained out of reach to this point in NFL history.
First Player with Three Straight 1500-Yard Receiving Seasons
Because he has put up 1616 and 1809 yards over the past two seasons, Jefferson has a chance to record 1500+ receiving yards in three straight years. By doing so, he would be the first player in NFL history with such a streak. Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders also has a chance to put this same streak together after recording 1553 yards and 1514 yards in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
In fact, only a handful of players have recorded at least three 1500-yard receiving seasons throughout their entire careers. Currently, five players have done so: Jerry Rice, Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Andre Johnson, and Marvin Harrison. Rice is the only player in NFL history with four 1500-yard receiving seasons.
Four-Year Receiving Record
Essentially, if Justin Jefferson keeps up his usual productivity in the fourth year of his career, he will have recorded more yards than any other NFL player through their first four seasons by about Week 7. Currently, Michael Thomas holds the record for most yards for a four-year player at 5512.
Jefferson is in sixth-place before his fourth season even begins at a career 4825 yards, sitting just 687 yards behind the Saints receiver for the record. The other players above Jefferson right now include the following: Randy Moss (5396 yards), Torry Holt (5088 yards), Jerry Rice (4881 yards), and A.J. Green (4874 yards).
Five-Year Receiving Record
Let’s get real crazy for this last one. Let’s say Jefferson does break through and become the first player in NFL history to record 2000 receiving yards in a single season during 2023. It would make sense considering he had 1400 in his rookie year, 1616 in his second year, and 1809 in his third year. Another increase of about 200 yards this season as the 24-year-old approaches his prime puts him right around that 2000 mark.
Well, if this happens, not only would Jefferson break all the other records listed above, but he would also break the five-year receiving record. Reminder, 2023 is Jefferson’s fourth NFL season. Currently, the most receiving yards through a player’s first five NFL seasons belongs to Torry Holt, who recorded 6784 yards during his first five years with the St. Louis Rams. Jefferson sits in 41st on that list, 1959 yards behind Holt.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.