5 reasons why Justin Jefferson will instantly impact the Vikings in 2020

Jefferson can produce anywhere on the field

When it came to the 2019 version of the Vikings offense, a lot of the roles on the team were etched in stone.

Adam Thielen ran out of the slot while Stefon Diggs lined up on the outside. Minnesota loved to run two receiver sets and pound the rock and with occasional cameos from Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr., there were few exceptions with how players were used.

It’s not clear whether that will change under new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, but Justin Jefferson’s ability to play in the slot and on the outside suggests he could strongly consider using him all over the field.

Jefferson’s 2019 season at LSU was fueled by the Tigers’ decision to use him in the slot for 92 percent of his snaps per Pro Football Focus. By being able to take advantage of the holes in zone coverage, Jefferson racked up 1,518 of his 1,540 yards (or 98 percent) in the slot and he almost always found a mismatch.

While Jefferson was used almost exclusively in the slot last year, that doesn’t mean he can’t get it done on the outside.

During his junior season at LSU, Jefferson only played 19 percent of his snaps in the slot, but he still collected 875 yards and six touchdowns. Not great numbers, but enough to be an effective replacement on the outside.

A lot has been made of Jefferson’s success in the slot last season since the Vikings already have Thielen playing 32 percent of his snaps in the slot and the team also only ran an NFL-low, 18 percent of their plays with three wide receivers. But this can also be a positive.

By being able to move Thielen and Jefferson around, both receivers are interchangeable and it can create more mismatches against the defense. If Minnesota can have a pass-catcher (say Bisi Johnson or Smith) step up, that should allow Jefferson to be just as effective.