With their top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings added former LSU receiver Justin Jefferson and there’s a good chance he’ll make an immediate impact.
Heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, one of the biggest questions surrounding the Minnesota Vikings was when they were going to select a wide receiver.
Some felt the Vikings might look to add a new pass-catcher in the first round, while others felt it would be best for them to wait a little longer since the depth of the receivers in this year’s draft pool was so deep. But once it came time for Minnesota to make their first pick of the draft, they didn’t waste any time in adding a new weapon for Kirk Cousins to throw to.
With their first of two selections in the opening round this year, the Vikings decided to draft former LSU receiver, Justin Jefferson.
With the decision to trade Stefon Diggs this offseason, Minnesota clearly felt they had to use a top draft pick to fill the void left by his departure. Jefferson definitely has the potential to make up for a lot of the production lost by Diggs being traded.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer recently appeared on ESPN’s NFL Live and he shared what impresses him the most about his new rookie receiver.
"“I think his ability to go up and get the football. In contested catches, he’s one of the best in the country. He was able to line up in all the different positions on the offense and run all kinds of different routes. So he looked like a professional right from the start.”"
During the upcoming season, Minnesota is likely going to miss the home-run potential that Diggs brought to the field on every snap. However, the Vikings now have a guy in Jefferson who can add a number of different elements to their offense and possibly make the passing attack even more dangerous.
Minnesota’s facilities are still closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so all of the team’s OTAs have been transformed into virtual meetings and workouts. In order for him to succeed quickly in 2020, a lot is going to depend on how well Jefferson can pick up the Vikings’ offense on his own.
At the very least, the young receiver knows there a number of things about his game that already impress his new head coach in Minnesota.