It is only Justin Jefferson's fifth year in the NFL but he has managed to prove that he is a special receiver. Ever since he was the No. 22 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, he has regularly put up big numbers and made highlight reel catches.
The Vikings have a rich history with some great wide receivers wearing purple and gold jerseys. Guys like Randy Moss and Cris Carter are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and hold the top two spots among the franchise's leading receivers.
Justin Jefferson now part of elite Vikings group with Randy Moss and Cris Carter
During the Vikings' loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, Justin Jefferson racked up 115 yards on eight catches. That yardage was enough to move him into elite company among the franchise's best pass catchers.
Jefferson moved into fifth all-time among Minnesota receivers. On Thursday, he passed Jake Reed to take over as No. 5, behind only Cris Carter, Randy Moss, Anthony Carter, and Adam Thielen.
PLAYER | RECEPTIONS | YARDS |
|---|---|---|
1. Cris Carter | 1004 | 12383 |
2. Randy Moss | 587 | 9316 |
3. Anthony Carter | 478 | 7636 |
4. Adam Thielen | 534 | 6682 |
5. Justin Jefferson | 433 | 6545 |
Jefferson is averaging 92.3 receiving yards per game through the first seven games of the season. That means that is very possible that he could pass Adam Thielen on this by the time Minnesota's Week 10 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars is over.
Justin Jefferson has been targeted 60 times this season and has been the most trusted target for Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. Expect that trend to continue since good things tend to happen when the ball comes his way.
Ahead of Sunday's games, "Jets" leads the league in receiving yards with 646. Since Minnesota has already had their bye week, the fact that he has played 7 games compared to others on the hist isn't a huge deal. However, he only leads second-place receiver Ja'Marr Chase by 26 yards, meaning he is likely to pass Jefferson on Sunday.
Under contract with Minnesota through the 2028 season, the sky is the limit for Justin Jefferson. it wouldn't be too shocking to see him move into the top three receivers in team history by the end of the season and start moving toward those huge numbers that Cris Carter and Randy Moss accumulated.
There is no denying that Justin Jefferson is special and one of the best wide receivers in Minnesota Vikings history, but only time will tell how he ends up stacking up against elite legends like Carter and Moss.