Former LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson found his NFL landing spot when the Minnesota Vikings selected him with the 22nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
Jefferson comes off a strong 2019 season in which he recorded 111 catches for 1,540 yards for 13 touchdowns, while averaging 13.9 yards per reception.
His counterpart, Ja’Marr Chase, was the 2019 Bilentikoff Award winner, but Jefferson was a viable asset in the Tigers’ revamped passing game en route to a national championship victory.
The addition of Jefferson gives the Vikings an extra weapon for quarterback Kirk Cousins to throw to on the outside. Along with receiver Adam Thielen, Jefferson should play a big role in the team’s passing game in 2020.
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When Minnesota traded veteran receiver Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills, receiver became a must-get in the draft. Jefferson will help to fill the void of Diggs, as the Vikings pass the ball well over 50% of the time they are on offense.
Putting Jefferson in a starting role during his rookie season would give the fans a reason to be excited about a potential future great. He is excellent in creating space off the line of scrimmage, and can shift away from defenders mid-route to make the outside catch.
Heading into his rookie season, Jefferson could record over 1,000 receiving yards. Cousins will target him a lot this year, and Jefferson has the reliability to make the catch anywhere on the field.
In terms of touchdown numbers, the former Tigers standout receiver could have anywhere between 5-15 touchdown receptions in 2020.
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His quick speed and versatility will help separate him from opposing defenders. Plus, in a one-on-one situation, Jefferson is likely to come away with the catch a good portion of the time that a 50/50 deep ball is thrown his way.
Tigers fans should be excited to see Jefferson put in the production and have solid numbers this season.
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