The Minnesota Vikings entered the 2022 season with a lot of hope. The team is perhaps more talented than it has been in some time and looks ready to make a run for the NFC North and perhaps beyond.
There are questions about who makes the team go. Is it quarterback Kirk Cousins? What about the defense at large?
Where would the team be without Dalvin Cook? Among all of them, Justin Jefferson, the talented third-year receiver, maybe the most important.
Making His Mark
The Vikings were stunned when Jefferson fell to them at 22nd overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Believe it or not, the talented LSU wideout wasn’t the first receiver off the board. As a matter of fact, he wound up being the fifth chosen for his position. Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy, Ceedee Lamb, and Jalen Raegor were all chosen ahead of him.
The Vikings were so surprised that they could not help being ecstatic when the Philadelphia Eagles chose Raegor just one pick prior. Given that Raegor was traded to the Vikings during the offseason, it underscores how bad of a decision it was for Philadelphia.
Jefferson made an impact immediately. He played in all 16 games, catching 88 passes for 1,400 yards and 7 touchdowns. The pick used to select him was acquired when all-pro receiver Stefon Diggs was dealt to Buffalo the year before.
Not only did Jefferson surpass the production of Diggs, who is in his own right one of the best receivers in the league, but it is also argued that he is better than Diggs altogether. Both have had extremely productive careers since the trade.
The 2021 season was no different for Jefferson. He improved to 108 catches, 1,616 yards, and 10 touchdowns in his sophomore season. Heading into 2022, it begged the question as to whether Jefferson might be the best receiver in the game.
Justin Jefferson
HIM pic.twitter.com/CGhoH5EMUp
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 11, 2022
What Jefferson Means to the Vikings
It cannot be understated what an elite receiver means to a team. Having that go-to option is a safety valve for a quarterback, especially one with a checked reputation like Cousins. Being able to find Jefferson repeatedly results in a lot of quality gains.
Jefferson’s speed and route running make him a vital weapon in the Minnesota offense. His speed keeps the defense honest as he has the capacity to take it to the house on any play. Teams must keep safety help over the top or risk being burned by Jefferson.
His mere presence is also a major benefit to the running game. That’s not to take away from Cook, widely considered to be one of the best backs in the game. That said, he knows that he won’t be facing stacked boxes because the threat of Jefferson looms large in every play.
If there is one downside to not only Jefferson but receivers at large, it is that they can be somewhat mitigated. If Cousins is facing particularly strong pressure, simply getting the ball out can become a challenge. Add in double coverage and it can be possible to take a great wideout completely out of the game.
That said, the Viking offense would be nowhere near as prolific without Jefferson. He is the kind of rare receiver that makes an impact whether the ball is in his hands or not. He represents a threat and the defense has to respect him anywhere that he lines up.
Justin Jefferson in the Vikings new offense 🤤 pic.twitter.com/Wr1ZUiJ9if
— PFF (@PFF) August 11, 2022
Is He the Most Important Player?
Though Jefferson is clearly a dynamic player in every facet of the game, it can be argued that he is not the most important player on the Vikings. At this crucial interval, he can be a game-breaker but his impact can be somewhat mitigated.
It can be argued that Cousins is the most important piece of the puzzle right now. When he is on, his stats are among some of the top quarterbacks in the game. But when he feels the pressure, it shows, and there is nothing that anyone can do about it.
Jefferson is definitely an important key to making sure that Cousins is at his best. But when defenses pressure Cousins and get in his face, there are times when even a dynamic receiver like Jefferson can’t help.
He adds an element to the game that few receivers do. His presence is a threat and defenses must respect that he has the potential to create big plays at the drop of a hat. Though his impact is largely tied to Cousins and his up-and-down play.
For now, Jefferson will have to settle for being arguably the second-most important player on the Minnesota roster. The hopes and dreams of the Vikings and their fans will continue to rest on the arm of Cousins.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: "At the end of the day, I want to be a Hall of Famer"https://t.co/NlvejtJ771 pic.twitter.com/mCahjL4QJG
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 24, 2022
Credits On Featured Image: Tammy Anthony Baker from Louisiana, CC BY 2.0
