Justin Jefferson Has Stirred the Pot Before
Recently, Justin Jefferson has been in the news for some comments about performing better had Sam Darnold remained in town. Right or wrong, Jefferson’s words carry a pile of weight even if they merely state the obvious.
Jefferson knows that what he says will generate headlines. After all, the WR1 has previously created some ripples with his words. Go back to when he compared Joe Burrow to Kirk Cousins, as relayed by Sports Illustrated: “They’re not the strongest arms, but they’re going to get it to you exactly where you need them to throw it. The thing about Joe that’s a little bit different—I feel like Joe has a little bit more swagger. He has that confidence on the field and he’s not scared to get hit. I feel like as a quarterback, that’s a big trait to have, especially to be as young as he is. He’s a phenomenal quarterback.”
Justin Jefferson Needs a True QB1
Nobody, including the Vikings, understood how good Justin Jefferson would become.
Minnesota had the good fortune of choosing the top-tier receiver at No. 22 in the 2020 NFL Draft. Understanding how sensational he would be would have prompted the Vikings to make a bold, aggressive move up the board to snag the LSU pass catcher. Leading into the draft, Jefferson was being dinged for a perceived lack of high-end speed alongside an erroneous assumption about not being able to thrive outside of the slot.
Since 2020, Mr. Jefferson has seen the ball coming out of the hand of these passers:
- Kirk Cousins
- Sean Mannion
- Kellen Mond
- Nick Mullens
- Jaren Hall
- Joshua Dobbs
- Sam Darnold
- J.J. McCarthy
- Carson Wentz
- Max Brosmer
Other depth passers — think Brett Rypien and other coaches in shoulder pads — have been worked into the mix, as well.
Now, turn to the statistical production. Check out what Justin Jefferson has done since becoming a pro in 2020:
- 2020: 88 Catches, 1,400 Yards, 7 TDs
- 2021: 108 Catches, 1,616 Yards, 10 TDs
- 2022: 128 Catches, 1,809 Yards, 8 TDs
- 2023: 68 Catches, 1,074 Yards, 5 TDs
- 2024: 103 Catches, 1,533 Yards, 10 TDs
- 2025: 84 Catches, 1,048 Yards, 2 TDs
Given recent comments, the stats from 2024 and 2025 jump out.
Many could see that moving on from an older Kirk Cousins in March of 2024 — someone coming off a serious injury and who had next to no meaningful team success in his career — was the correct decision. Shifting away from Sam Darnold in favor of J.J. McCarthy has proven to be considerably trickier.
Going forward, the Vikings are navigating a tough push and pull.
Continuing to rally around Mr. McCarthy makes some sense from a long-term perspective. The kid is only 22 and boasts a pile of talent. In time, perhaps, McCarthy will develop into a franchise passer. After all, Darnold needed time to develop, failing plenty before entrenching himself as a great option for Seattle.
But then there’s the presence of Justin Jefferson, someone who is already moving into his seventh NFL season. At 26, Jefferson is ready to win now. He’ll get to his 27th birthday in June and Minnesota would be wise to find him a competent passer for however long he has left in the NFL.
Jefferson being at his current stage within his Hall of Fame career pulls Minnesota toward a surer solution at quarterback for 2026.
If Justin Jefferson wants to create more pressure on Minnesota’s leadership, then more public comments about the QB who got away will do the trick. Could the Vikings do something wild like trade for Joe Burrow?
The Super Bowl takes place on Sunday, February 8th. The game boasts Drake Maye versus Sam Darnold, a painful QB matchup for the Vikings.
