In every of the final two years, Justin Jefferson has been probably the most productive extensive receivers within the recreation. As a junior at LSU, Jefferson caught 111 passes for 1,540 yards and 18 touches. That efficiency led to the Minnesota Vikings making him the No. 22 total decide within the 2020 NFL Draft, and he proceeded to set the all-time rookie file for receiving yards by catching 88 passes for 1,400 yards and 7 scores. 

Jefferson has had the nice fortune of getting some wonderful quarterback play in every of these seasons. At LSU, his quarterback was Joe Burrow, who after all would go on to be the No. 1 decide within the draft. With the Vikings, Jefferson’s quarterback was Kirk Cousins. 

In an interview with Colin Cowherd, Jefferson was requested to evaluate the 2 quarterbacks. 

“Kirk and Joe throw comparable balls. They are not the strongest arm, however they’re gonna get it to you precisely the place you want it,” Jefferson stated. “The factor about Joe that is a bit bit completely different, I really feel like Joe has a bit bit extra swagger. He has that confidence on the sector. He isn’t scared to get hit, and I really feel like as a quarterback, that is a giant trait to have — particularly to be as younger as he’s. He is an exceptional quarterback.”

It is fascinating to listen to a participant be so overtly complimentary of a quarterback on one other group, however they have been faculty teammates, so it does make sense. Jefferson has additionally heaped reward on Cousins earlier than, and puzzled why it’s that Cousins tends to get a lot extra criticism than different high quarterbacks within the NFL. 

Nonetheless, Jefferson stated he was not shocked when he heard the rumors that the Vikings have been fascinated about Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, had he been accessible to them within the draft. 

“No,” Jefferson stated, indicating his lack of shock. “We’ve to construct on for after Kirk, or regardless of the case could also be. Having Justin Fields brings a bit bit extra stress to different groups by having a dominant quarterback like he’s.”

Cousins is heading into his age-33 season and can rely for $31 million in opposition to the Vikings’ cap this 12 months. Extremely, he is set to have a $45 million cap hit subsequent season, because of the two-year, fully-guaranteed $66 million extension he signed with the Vikings in 2020. That makes it extraordinarily tough for the Vikings to maneuver on from the Cousins period earlier than the 2023 season. Maybe that performed a job within the group finally deciding in opposition to making an aggressive transfer to commerce up for Fields, and led to their division rivals, the Chicago Bears, doing it as a substitute.