ESPN Drops NFL Top 100 – Where is Justin Jefferson?

The Minnesota Vikings might have quarterback questions during the 2024 season, but there’s no denying that Kevin O’Connell’s roster is flush with talent. Justin Jefferson is chief among that talent, and his excellence fares well when compared to the rest of the league. Just how much ESPN believes in him is another story.

Where does Minnesota Vikings Justin Jefferson rank?

Justin Jefferson put an exclamation point on his offseason when signing the largest contract ever for a non-quarterback. It’s a reflection of his talent as a wide receiver, but also indicative of how he is viewed in comparison to all of his peers. ESPN just dropped their top 100 player predictions for 2024, and Jefferson comes in third overall.

“Fresh off a $140 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, Jefferson has reached a bit of a career crossroads. He has hit his prime just as the Vikings have moved on from quarterback Kirk Cousins, the passer who threw 354 of his 392 career receptions. Jefferson might well be the best receiver of this generation but continued statistical dominance — and impact on the game — will require a quick and productive transition to Sam Darnold, who will play in place of the injured J.J. McCarthy.“

Vikings beat writer Kevin Seifert on Justin Jefferson (ESPN)

Kevin Seifert gets to see Jefferson on a near daily basis. Of course he is well aware of his talent. With Jefferson ranked third among all players, it’s evident that those who don’t cover him as directly understand his talent as well. Jefferson trails only Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson in the rankings. That shouldn’t be a shock given the importance of the quarterback position.

Related: All-Time Great CB Wants Nothing to do with Covering Justin Jefferson

Completely healthy headed into 2024, it will be exciting to see how Jefferson celebrates his contract with on-field performance.

What to expect from Justin Jefferson for the Minnesota Vikings

Last season the Vikings got contributions from Justin Jefferson in just 10 of their games. After he returned from injury, the star wideout dealt with a revolving door of Minnesota quarterbacks. Even with the amount of adversity he faced, and realities working against him, Jefferson still surpassed the 1,000 yard mark.

Ready to see @JJettas2 take off in two weeks ✈️#Skol pic.twitter.com/p7RcbaQS2f

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 24, 2024

Although Sam Darnold is not Kirk Cousins, Jefferson makes it easier on whomever is playing quarterback. He’ll still experience a more consistent level of play than was provided by Nick Mullens, Josh Dobbs, and Jaren Hall. Minnesota trailing in any contests will also created a heightened atmosphere for Jefferson to bridge the gap.

This season should provide a greater emergence of Jordan Addison. That too will take eyes off of Jefferson, and opposing defenders can’t afford to let either wideout get loose. It was just two seasons ago in which Jefferson flirted with 2,000 yards and led the league finishing with 1,809.

Related: Report: Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson Building Up Some Sparkling Chemistry

Maybe he doesn’t reach those heights again, but I certainly wouldn’t bet against him either.