Justin Jefferson still finished with 1,048 receiving yards last season, his sixth straight 1,000-yard season, despite a dip in performance that left many questioning his status among the league's elite pass catchers.
There was a time, not all that long ago, that Jefferson was regarded as the best receiver in the NFL, without question. After 2025, however, there are plenty of questions about where he fits among the league's elite pass catchers. He believes that opinions will change in time.
Jefferson recently told Mike Silver of The Athletic, "Not yet," when asked if opinions about his abilities would change after this year. "Not yet. But they will [know] after this year —I'll tell you that."
A key factor in Jefferson's resurgence could be his quarterback, Kyler Murray. Jefferson praised Murray's ability to be an athlete, saying, "What excites me is his ability to just be an athlete… He's able to kind of move with his feet and make something happen."
Jefferson's comments about Murray last season were noticeably absent. He chose to keep his praise in-house, fearing negative reactions from the media. "That one comment that I [might] make about one of my teammates might make headlines and be the trending topic, and that might be a bad look on the team and for me as well," Jefferson told Silver.
Jefferson's decision to keep his thoughts private reflects his commitment to team unity. He said, "So just keeping it in house, communicating with my teammates personally and letting them know what's going on… even talking with J.J. [McCarthy] last season and making sure his head is on right, with all of the negativity."
While last season's performance was a step back for Jefferson, he remains optimistic about his chances this year. With Murray at the helm, he may be in position to turn the clock back to 2022, when he was a first-team All-Pro and the NFL offensive player of the year.
Jefferson's words offer a glimmer of hope for Vikings fans, who are eagerly awaiting the start of the new season. As Jefferson said, "Not yet," but opinions about his abilities are about to change.
Source: Yahoo Sports