Justin Jefferson: Davante Adams is the NFL’s best receiver now, but I will be after this year

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Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson doesn’t believe he has earned the right to call himself the best wide receiver in the NFL. But he expects to soon.

Jefferson said he thinks Davante Adams, who was traded this offseason from the Packers to the Raiders, currently deserves recognition as the best receiver in the league. But Jefferson is expecting to turn in a season this year that gets him recognized as the No. 1 receiver in football.

“I’ll say after this year I’ll be the best receiver in the NFL,” Jefferson told Complex.com. “I definitely have to give it to Davante Adams as of now, him being so crazy and dynamic on the field. His route running is crazy, so I definitely have to give it to him right now, but I’m pretty sure after this year, it’s going to be me.”

Jefferson had 1,400 receiving yards as a rookie in 2020 and topped that with 1,616 yards in Year 2, and he believes if he continues to improve in 2022 he’ll be the best in the game.

“I think I have to do it three years in a row for everybody to believe so,” Jefferson said. “Some people don’t think that after two years you deserve to be at the top of the league. And then me, I feel like I’m going to surpass 1600 yards too. So I think that I’ll become the best receiver after this year.”

82 responses to “Justin Jefferson: Davante Adams is the NFL’s best receiver now, but I will be after this year

  1. It’s odd that Cooper Kupp continues to get overlooked. What has changed about his situation to suggest he can’t put up the same type of numbers as he did last year, if not better?

  2. Did I miss the part where he talks about team goals? Get the stats, get the bag, go.

  3. It was cute when he had a chip on his shoulder for getting drafted later than many other WR’s but now he’s getting into into the diva lane.

  4. Do you know who is not even close? Any WR on the packers this year. They dont even have what would be considered an average WR.

  5. Watch Cooper Kupp outperform both of these guys this year and still be treated like he doesn’t exist.

  6. of course its about wins but great receiver stats will increase that chance of winning and Jefferson is not in diva territory yet anyway..

  7. The interviewer asks six questions about his draft class and LSU before asking this one:

    “Do you think you are the best receiver in the NFL, and if so, why?”

    Jefferson: I’ll say after this year I’ll be the best receiver in the NFL. I definitely have to give it to Davante Adams as of now, him being so crazy and dynamic on the field. His route running is crazy, so I definitely have to give it to him right now, but I’m pretty sure after this year, it’s going to be me.

    Interviewer: “What is it about you having to wait until after your third year to call yourself the best? You feel like you have to do it three years in a row?”

    Jefferson: I think I have to do it three years in a row for everybody to believe so. Some people don’t think that after two years you deserve to be at the top of the league. And then me, I feel like I’m going to surpass 1600 yards too. So I think that I’ll become the best receiver after this year.

    I just don’t understand the negativity. The man is only answering questions. He didn’t call a press conference to announce that he is the greatest ever.

  8. The Vikings haven’t even gotten to .500 since they drafted this diva.

    But that’s ok in MN, because he has a cutsie dance thingy.

  9. Ya know he’s right, he has the rout running and catching ability of Raymond Berry and he’s much faster than people even opponents realize. He’s a student of the game and that’s what makes him so special. For as long as he stays in this new offense he will be either 1 or 2 in all receiving statistics-I just wish he was a little humble.

  10. When you have to proclaim you’re the best at something rather than let others do it it’s because you’re not.

  11. I think JJ is great and he might be right. But he needs to yap less and just prove it on the field.

  12. When he has 8 consecutive seasons with 1000 yards or more receiving, he can attempt to put himself in the same air as Mike Evans, who is the only WR in the history of the NFL to be able to claim that. Jefferson is lucky if he’s even top 5.

  13. I shore hope so. I think we will need a bedder QB than what we have tho.

    Maybe one of our lineman can try throwing?

  14. Hardly a deva. He was answering direct questions; he didn’t go off on Twitter how he thinks he’s the greatest. It would be nice if the author added the questions that the statement was in response to.

  15. What is the definition of “best receiver”? Is it purely stats? ANd if so, do touchdowns mean more than yards or visa-versa.

    I always get a kick out of the “who’s best” conversations, because nobody defines what “best” even means.

  16. ‘I just don’t understand the negativity.’

    People don’t like self-promoters.

    Jefferson hasn’t led the league in any receiving category. Let him accomplish something first.

  17. I think his old friend and former LSU teammate Ja’marr Chase wants to give Justin a run for the money

  18. Cap hell set to destroy Minny with this guy looking for 25 mil per after this season.

  19. Never heard of him before, so I will have to make sure I keep up with him to see if his mouth is writing checks his body cannot cover.

  20. He’s already better than Adams. Adams was fortunate to be on the most protected team, with the most protected QB in NFL history. How many of those TD catches would have been called back, how many of those receiving yards would have been rescinded, how many wins would have been taken away had the zebras not turned a blind eye at the teams blatant penalties that gave them all those accolades?

  21. Jefferson is clearly in the top 10 (5th in 2021, but with Hill moving to Miami, 4th is more like it for 2022).

    1). Kupp
    2). Adams
    3). Samuel
    4). Hill
    5). Jefferson

  22. I wish these players would care more about team goals and team success, but I believe all this self promotion is part of his plan to get big money contract next year an be the best paid receiver in the league.

  23. Most yards from scrimmage since Jefferson entered the NFL:

    1 – Jonathon Taylor RB – 3,639
    2 – Dalvin Cook RB – 3,301
    3 – Derrick Henry RB – 3,232
    4 – Justin Jefferson WR – 3,032
    5 – Alvin Kamara RB – 3,025

  24. I don’t think he’s going to get a 2nd contract in MN, and I hope he doesn’t. He’s gonna be a great, but he’s going to want to break the bank and no WR is worth that.

  25. LSU probably isn’t the only school that offers a Major in Yapping – but they graduate more with this degree.

  26. He’s definitely at least a few spots ahead of JJ Arcega-Whiteside.

  27. JJ could careless that he hasn’t made the playoffs in his two seasons in the league. The Vikings could miss the playoffs again this season and JJ would be happy, as long as he’s the top receiver in the league.

  28. You would think guys like this would be more concerned with their team accomplishing something than their personal stats….

  29. Just because he’s responding to direct questions doesn’t mean he can’t attempt to express some humility.
    Yeah Vikings fans, this guy is going to want to break the bank when his turn comes up.

  30. Do you know who is not even close? Any WR on the packers this year. They dont even have what would be considered an average WR.
    —–
    Which just makes winning the division this year that much sweeter! But at least you can tell yourself we did it with subpar talent…because that always seems to be important to you.

  31. I don’t care if he’s on our rivals team its hard to not like this guy. I want Jameson doing the gritty.

  32. I love this guy!! He talks the talk… AND performs!
    Nothing wrong with that!

  33. starenvy says:
    July 16, 2022 at 1:29 pm

    When you have to proclaim you’re the best at something rather than let others do it it’s because you’re not.

    Good. Because he didn’t proclaim that he is the best. He clearly said that Adams is. He went on to say what his goals were and that if those goals are achieved that he will be the best. He knows that he has to prove it on the field. That’s the point.

  34. “Win. Taht is all that matters. Your stats don’t mean jack unless you win.”

    Actual for a receiver stats mean a lot around contract time. If you win but catch 10 balls for 60 yards in a season. But if you go off for 2000 yards on a mediocre team, JACKPOT.!

  35. Poor choice of words. He’s already well on his way to being another in a long line of self-centered malcontents. Wait and see. You don’t talk this kind of talk and fade into the sunset.

  36. What is it with diva WRs?

    When/if you’re the best your numbers will show it.

  37. Just another AP…. more interested in self proclamation than team goals. Coop is #1 and does his talking on the field! SMH

  38. Deebo Samuel. Cooper Kupp. It would be hard to pass up either of these guys. Jefferson might end up being the best. He does have great hands, and pretty much does everything at an elite level. He must just like to talk. No harm in that. I guess that’s what they do nowadays. At least he can back it up, and he’s a team player.

  39. Jefferson is all class and fun. That is why he is universally loved instead of universally hated like an arrogant liar

  40. How many of those other guys everyone puts ahead of JJ played in an antiquated run run pass punt offense and got >1000 yards every year in spite of it? Ever think of that? Let JJ play in the modern offense O’Connel is implementing this year before you dismiss him.

  41. The reason he says it has to be 3 years in a row is to give an excuse to keep Cooper kupp off the list. He knows kupp smoked every other wr in the game last year and topped it off with a super bowl title while being a huge part of that win and their postseason.

  42. Seems Justin and Ja have some things in common…being loud mouths, and having a very suspect and cringe dance

  43. Justin is talking like he plans on “movin’ on up…to the east side”..

  44. What makes Kupp special is, he’d never tell anyone he’s the best. He just keeps working to make sure he IS the best.

  45. touchback6 says:
    July 16, 2022 at 2:14 pm
    Cap hell set to destroy Minny with this guy looking for 25 mil per after this season.
    ————————
    He still has 2 years left on his rookie deal and a 5th year option… his new contract is 4 years out.

  46. >It’s odd that Cooper Kupp continues to get overlooked. What has changed about his situation to suggest he can’t put up the same type of numbers as he did last year, if not better? | Well… the Rams added another WR1 in Alan Robinson so Stafford will be spreading the ball around more this year than last.

  47. cheeseisfattening says
    Do you know who is not even close? Any WR on the packers this year. They dont even have what would be considered an average WR.
    ——————————-—————————————————
    Yet the Packers are still the better TEAM.

  48. Sorry, but the Kupp is better that both of you, but you can fight it out for maybe 2nd or 3rd!

  49. wardo says:
    July 16, 2022 at 12:33 pm
    Win. Taht is all that matters. Your stats don’t mean jack unless you win.
    //////
    A common mistake by people here. Of course winning matters. But how you going to win unless you control and do your own job? You think the Vikings win if JJ doesn’t put up big numbers? No. JJ doesn’t play D. His job is to be the best WR he can be. And that, my ill informed friends, is what he is talking about, and how the Vikings will win games.

  50. Jefferson will never be higher then 7 or 8 there are lots of guys who can do what he does .

  51. Without Adams on the Packers roster the WR group went from very good to the talent of an expansion team .
    One year with this group and Aaron will force his way out this time .

  52. “It doesn’t matter who the Packer WR’s are. Rodgers can make Pro-Bowlers out of anybody. The biggest difference among the NFCN teams and their expectations for success, is Aaron Rodgers. We learned it the hard way.”
    -Greg Jennings, Javon Walker, James Jones.

  53. He is half right, Adams is a better WR than he is. That about where it ends.

  54. Humility and class appear to be a prerequisite to be a great Ram receiver (Bruce, Holt, Kupp). Not so much for the other 31 teams.

  55. tremoluxman says:
    July 17, 2022 at 6:02 pm
    It ain’t bragging if you can back it up.
    Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    It’s bragging UNTIL you back it up.

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