(Photo: The Ringer)
March 20th, 2020. That’s the day when the Minnesota Vikings shocked the football world and traded away Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills for draft picks, a seventh-round pick to be exact. That same year, the Vikings drafted a receiver by the name of Justin Jefferson out of LSU who was coming off a stellar year with the Tigers and won a National Championship the previous season. Justin was selected with the 22nd overall pick in the first round. In his rookie season, he had an immediate impact and finished 2020 with 1,400 yards receiving. He’s become one of the more popular stars in the league with his celebration when he scores known as the griddy. Today, the Vikings decided to extend their star receiver! A four-year deal worth $140 million and $110 million guaranteed which makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.
Justin has become one of the three best Wide Receivers in the league. When I watched him in college, I saw how special he was then and I’ve seen the same thing since he came into the NFL. What I enjoy about his game is how he’s able to make a difference no matter where he’s lined up whether it’s outside on the perimeter or in the slot. Justin is effective wherever you put him. Watching him closely, he’s a very fluid, yet smooth route runner and sometimes, he makes it look effortless when he’s coming out of his release. Justin is everything you could hope for and want in a number one receiver as he’s exciting and electric. Let’s talk about his route running. I said a few sentences up top that he is a smooth route runner, I can also call it “silk”. Think of taking a piece of silk, holding it up in the air, and letting it just blow in the wind. That’s 18 for you. He knows how to free himself away from a defender and each time I watch him, he’s wide open and there’s not a single defender in his vicinity. Justin runs the inside routes and the deep routes with the same energy and consistency along with making those tougher catches in traffic. I don’t think there’s a route he can’t run if I’m being honest here. What separates him from other receivers is his ability to separate and create down the field which has made him one of the best deep threats in our game today. He’s going all out to make the best possible play for his team no matter what he’s running. The body control he plays with for a receiver to be so young amazes me as he knows how to position himself to make the catch. Justin is phenomenal in space after the catch as he has the speed, shiftiness, and footwork to make anyone who’s trying to tackle him miss in the open field. Even when he’s covered, he’s still dangerous. There’s a saying in basketball, “Great defense, but better offense” That say can be applied with Justin. When he hits the gritty, he just scored and there’s not a thing you can do about it.
Since breaking into the league, he’s been special. Each year since joining the Vikings, he’s recorded 1,000 yards receiving. Last season, he only played in nine games and still finished the year with 1,074 yards receiving. 2022 was the best I’ve seen him look in his young career. Two games stand out to me from that year. The first was week one against the Packers. Justin had 158 yards receiving at halftime and the other game is against the Buffalo Bills. On 4th and 18, he had four Bills defenders around him and climbed the ladder to make a wild, yet impressive acrobatic catch. Justin was named Offensive Player of the Year for his tremendous season in 2022. He deserves every penny and has earned it.
