Around this time, almost six years ago, the Minnesota Vikings didn't know it yet, but they were about to become the beneficiaries of one of the biggest NFL Draft blunders in recent memory.
USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz recently shared his list of the 10 most foolish NFL draft decisions of the last 10 years, and in the No. 2 spot, he has the Philadelphia Eagles passing on Justin Jefferson to draft former TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor instead.
"Outside of quarterbacks, perhaps no draft prospect in recent years has been inextricably linked to another player as Reagor has been to Jefferson. The latter had been repeatedly linked to the receiver-needy Eagles in the lead-up to the draft, and the former LSU standout later acknowledged he thought he was headed to Philadelphia once the team was put on the clock at No. 21.
Instead, Howie Roseman went with Reagor, a speed merchant from TCU with a far more uneven track record than the prolific Jefferson. Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman reacted gleefully to the selection in a now-famous draft-day video. The duo scooped up Jefferson with the following pick, and the four-time Pro Bowl selection has repeatedly set records for the most productive start to a receiver's career.
Reagor, meanwhile, lasted just two years before the Eagles cut bait and traded him to the Vikings."
Philadelphia Eagles' "foolish" mistake resulted in Justin Jefferson becoming a member of the Minnesota Vikings
These days, Philadelphia's Howie Roseman is often labeled as the best general manager in the entire NFL. But that decision Roseman made in 2020 to pass on Jefferson was not only one of the worst NFL Draft blunders of the last decade, but an argument can be made that it was one of the worst of all-time.
It just goes to show that even the best general managers in the league aren't always going to bat 1.000, especially when it comes to the NFL Draft.
As for Minnesota, well, the purple-and-gold fan base is very thankful for the choice that Roseman made in 2020 since it resulted in yet another iconic wide receiver getting to spend the prime of his career in a Vikings uniform.
All Jefferson has done during his time in Minnesota is set record after record (after record) and give Vikings fans something to look forward to every time their favorite team steps on the field.
Of course, Roseman and the Eagles weren't the only team to pick a different wide receiver over Jefferson in 2020.
In that NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders (Henry Ruggs), Denver Broncos (Jerry Jeudy), and Dallas Cowboys (CeeDee Lamb) also decided to use their first-round pick on a pass-catcher not named Justin Jefferson.
Since then, no wide receiver selected in the 2020 NFL Draft has accumulated more receptions (579) or receiving yards (8,480) than what Jefferson has racked up in a Minnesota jersey.
One could say, he's made everyone look "foolish."