Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Justin Jefferson
Rank: 1
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 195 lbs
Experience: 4th year
College: LSU
Stats (In NFL): 50 games played, 48 starts, 324 receptions, 4,825 yards, 25 touchdowns, 11 rushes, 40 yards, 1 touchdown
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 1
Kevin Fielder: 1
Judd Zulgad: 1
Saivion Mixson: 1
Average: 1.00
Best case scenario
Jefferson continues his reign of terror on NFL defensive backs and continues to set records.
He has set numerous records for receptions and yards for a player in his first three seasons in the league. Jefferson is likely to continue breaking records across the board with 2,000 yards in his sights. After gaining 1,400 yards in his rookie season, he has surpassed 1,600 and 1,800 in the following two seasons. 2,000 yards, especially with a 17-game season, is well within reach for Jefferson.
Worst case scenario
Teams continue to sell out to stop Jefferson and the other Vikings’ weapons can’t take advantage.
Outside of injuries, the only way Jefferson falters is if teams figure out a way to cover him. They will likely need to sell out to stop Jefferson, and that has show to work. The Lions, Packers and Giants sold out to stop Jefferson and it worked. The Vikings couldn’t do enough to beat the Packers and Giants (playoff game) but overcame enough against the Lions to get the win. The easiest way right now to stop the Vikings is to control Jefferson.
What to expect in 2023
Barring injury, Jefferson is going to be a dominant force for the Vikings once again. He is the best wide receiver in the game and proves that week in and week out. You can make an argument for both Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams, but Jefferson outperformed both this past year and has a large enough resume to stake this claim. With the Vikings returning most of their offense from last season, Jefferson is primed for just as good, if not better, of a season in 2023.
Previous player profiles
90-Garett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-NaJee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-C.J. Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-T.J. Smith
72-Alan Ali
71-Josh Sokol
70-Blake Proehl
69-John Reid
68-Trishton Jackson
67-Kalon Barnes
66-Benton Whitley
65-Calvin Avery
64-Theo Jackson
63-William Kwenkeu
62-Sheldon Day
61-Tay Gowan
60-Ross Blacklock
59-Vederian Lowe
58-Jaren Hall
57-Nick Muse
56-Ivan Pace, Jr
55-Jalen Reagor
54-Luiji Vilain
53-Austin Schlottmann
52-Troy Dye
51-Olisaemeka Udoh
50-Nick Mullens
49-Kene Nwangwu
48-DeWayne McBride
47-Jaquelin Roy
46-Jay Ward
45-Brandon Powell
44-Troy Reeder
43-James Lynch
42-Greg Joseph
41-Johnny Mundt
40-Blake Brandel
39-Mekhi Blackmon
38-Chris Reed
37-Joejuan Williams
36-Ryan Wright
35-Esezi Otomewo
34-Jalen Nailor
33-Ty Chandler
32-Jonathan Bullard
31-D.J. Wonnum
30-Patrick Jones II
29-Andrew DePaola
28-Ed Ingram
27-Lewis Cine
26-Garrett Bradbury
25-C.J. Ham
24-Josh Metellus
23-Andrew Booth Jr.
22-Akayleb Evans
21-Jordan Hicks
20-Camryn Bynum
19-Khyiris Tonga
18-Dean Lowry
17-Brian Asamoah
16-Alexander Mattison
15-Jordan Addison
14-Josh Oliver
13-Ezra Cleveland
12-K.J. Osborn
11-Harrison Phillips
10-Marcus Davenport
9-Byron Murphy Jr.
8-Ben Sims
7-Kirk Cousins
6-T.J. Hockenson
5-Harrison Smith
4-Brian O’Neill
3-Danielle Hunter
2-Christian Darrisaw
