The Minnesota Vikings have selected some gems in the NFL draft in recent memory. Key players such as Eric Kendricks, Danielle Hunter, and Stefon Diggs were all taken after the first round of the 2015 draft. Kyle Rudolph was a second-round selection in 2011. And Everson Griffen was a fourth-round pick in 2010.
However, according to Bleacher Report, no Vikings pick has been as good as Justin Jefferson, who was selected 22nd overall in the 2020 draft.
Four receivers went off the board before Jefferson, who was Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and has arguably emerged as the best wideout in the NFL at the age of 26.
Other possible choices for the Vikings could have been Harrison Smith (29th overall in 2012), Adrian Peterson (7th overall in 2007), or Kevin Williams (9th overall in 2003). But recency bias prevails, and Jefferson plays the sexiest position of the three.
We still haven’t seen Jefferson play with J.J. McCarthy yet, which could lead to a quarterback-receiver combo similar to Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. That could lead to even higher accolades for Jefferson, making his star shine even brighter and pushing him further up lists like this.