6 new NFC North rivalries for the Vikings that will start in 2020

Justin Jefferson vs. Jaylon Johnson

The Bears got another steal in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft when they landed former Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

Many thought Johnson could come off the board in the first round, with the Vikings actually being a great fit. He fell to the second round though due to some concerns about his technique and his tendency to take chances.

Like many of the rookies this year, Johnson will need to work his tail off to catch up and it could take until the midseason before he sees significant action for Chicago this year.

Johnson could be buried on the Bears depth chart early and the same could happen to Minnesota’s 2020 first-round choice, Justin Jefferson. If Jefferson is unable to make up lost ground from the cancellations of mini-camps and OTAs, he could find himself as far as fourth on the Vikings depth chart during the beginning of the upcoming season.

This could cause him to only see action in four-receiver sets and the man he could end up lining across from in those situations is Johnson.

As far as size goes, these guys are closely matched. Jefferson has about an inch on Johnson and speed-wise they are also neck and neck. These matchups will come down to technique in their early bouts against each other and it could be a battle that goes both ways.

Of all the rivalries on this list, this is one that could have the longest span. Jefferson is seen as the Vikings’ future top target in the passing game and Johnson could also ascend to being one of the top corners for Chicago.

These youngsters could see quite a bit of each other over the coming years. 2020 will hold the first matchups in what could end up being a very good and even rivalry.