Justin Jefferson: I'll top Davante Adams as NFL's best WR after 2022
Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson believes Las Vegas Raiders pass-catcher Davante Adams is the best wide receiver in the NFL, but thinks it's just a matter of time until he earns that title.
"I'll say after this year I'll be the best receiver in the NFL," Jefferson recently told Complex's Kameron Hay. "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's taken the NFL by storm since the Vikings drafted him 22nd overall in 2020. The LSU product's 3,016 receiving yards lead the league in that span and is also a record by a player in their first two pro seasons.
Meanwhile, Adams tops the NFL in receptions and touchdown catches over the last two seasons. Here's how their numbers stack up since 2020:
| Player | Targets | Catches | Rec. Yds | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | 318 | 238 | 2927 | 29 |
| Jefferson | 292 | 196 | 3016 | 17 |
"I think I have to do it three years in a row for everybody to believe so," added Jefferson, who caught 108 passes for 1,616 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021 en route to earning his second Pro Bowl berth.
"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."
Adams has earned first-team All-Pro berths in each of the last two seasons while playing with reigning back-to-back NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers. The Raiders acquired Adams as part of a blockbuster trade in March.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently published wide receiver rankings made by executives, coaches, and players ahead of the 2022 season. Adams topped the list, while Jefferson ranked fourth behind Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams and Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals.