Silver linings are hard to find on a 1-5 team that had playoff hopes before the season began.
After making it to the Divisional Round last season, those hopes are all but gone in 2020. There have been plenty of reasons as to why the Vikings have gotten off to such a slow start, but their two first-round draft picks have shown flashes of becoming future stars.
Actually, Justin Jefferson has shown more than just flashes, and has filled the shoes of Stefon Diggs better than expected. Through his first six games he has totaled 28 catches for 537 yards and three touchdowns.
Justin Jefferson cooks Kendall Sheffield on the double move — HELLO
Jefferson leads all receivers in @PFF grade (90.7) and yards per route run (3.20) through Week 6. pic.twitter.com/k68NDnieYB
— Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) October 19, 2020
Those numbers would be impressive for a veteran receiver in the league. They’re even more impressive considering Jefferson didn’t play a big role through the first two games of the season.
What makes Jefferson so good at such a young age is a combination of things. He has sticky hands, great at making contested catches and is fascinating to watch after the catch. The Diggs departure wasn’t easy for the Vikings fan base, but finding a gem like Jefferson has made the transition easier.
Jeff Gladney also didn’t play much of a factor through the first couple games, but the injuries in the secondary forced him onto the field. Although he has gotten burned in coverage a few times, Gladney has shown off his physical playing style that should remind Vikings fans of some of the great corners that played in Minnesota before him.
#Vikings cornerback Jeff Gladney is the NFL’s top-graded CB against the run (90.5), per @PFF
— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) October 19, 2020
Being a willing tackler at the cornerback position isn’t always easy to find, but Gladney has ranked as the best at his position against the run, according to PFF.
It was expected that the youth in the secondary would cause a slow start and it has done exactly that in the passing game. No preseason and a limited offseason didn’t give Gladney the typical amount of reps a rookie would usually have. It’s fair to expect him to show progress in coverage as the year goes on, but his run defense has already proven to be great.
The Vikings have missed on some of their more recent first-round picks and it’s never a guarantee that they’ll pan out at the NFL level. However, their two 2020 selections look like future pieces they’ll be able to build around for many years to come.