Justin Jefferson has exceeded expectations in 2020

Justin Jefferson has exceeded expectations so far in 2020.

The Minnesota Vikings aren’t giving their decision to trade away Stefon Diggs any second thoughts thanks to Justin Jefferson.

Jefferson, like many LSU players in 2019, had a massive final year in Baton Rouge.

As Joe Burrow lit college football ablaze to the tune of 60 touchdowns, Jefferson was one of the biggest benefactors, catching 111 passes with 18 touchdowns.

Because at LSU he played the vast majority of his snaps out of the slot, it’s possible that Jefferson’s 2020 NFL Draft stock took an unnecessary hit. He is an outstanding athlete, route runner, he’s tough, he makes a lot of contested catches, and he was a monster for LSU in the red zone and after the catch.

The Minnesota Vikings have put Jefferson in a position to succeed throughout his rookie season, and he’s exceeding even the loftiest expectations anyone could have had for him.

Jefferson was so proficient out of the slot at LSU that his abilities as a vertical receiver were understated, at the very least.

So far in 2020 with the Vikings, Jefferson has 45 receptions for 848 yards and four touchdowns. He is averaging 18.8 yards per catch and is proving that he was more than just the 5th wide receiver taken in his class.

Jefferson was truly a WR1 who was taken in a draft class that was absolutely chock full of WR1 candidates. Still, despite the tremendous competition among his own rookie class, Jefferson has managed to stand out as the best so far and frankly, one of the best wide receivers in the NFL at this point in time.

Jefferson has proven that he’s not merely a slot receiver. He wasn’t just a benefactor of Joe Burrow last season. He’s a superstar in his own right and the Minnesota Vikings are reaping the benefits.