Cris Carter says Justin Jefferson is best Vikings WR ever
MINNEAPOLIS (BVM) – No one has more receiving yards (12,383) or receiving touchdowns (110) in Minnesota Vikings history than Cris Carter. But as far as Carter is concerned, his time atop the Vikings’ all-time receiving record books is limited.
On Thanksgiving Day, Justin Jefferson surpassed another Vikings legend – Randy Moss, who ranks second in franchise history for most receiving yards (9,316) and receiving touchdowns (92) – for the most receiving yards in a player’s first three NFL seasons. It’s one of many records Jefferson already holds, and it’s why Carter already ranks the third-year pro as the best Vikings wide receiver of all time, even ahead of two Pro Football Hall of Famers.
“I will take the third position,” Carter said when asked to rank himself, Moss and Jefferson on the Up and Adams show. “I will make Randy Moss second and that’s a high, high second because I do believe that Justin does a few things better than him: catching the ball in traffic, his ability to get in and out of his breaks, the variety of his routes and he goes in motion a lot more than Randy ever went in motion.
“Randy Moss is a bad dude, a first-ballot Hall of Famer so it’s not to talk bad about Randy, but it lets you know how good Justin Jefferson is.”
didn’t think this would happen today…⁰⁰HOFer Cris Carter just ranked Justin Jefferson above him AND @RandyMoss in all-time @Vikings receivers 🤯🤯⁰⁰📺: @FanDuelTV | @heykayadams | @criscarter80 | @JJettas2 pic.twitter.com/wfMyUsAPAc
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 12, 2022
Jefferson helped prove Carter’s point on Sunday when he set a franchise record for the most receiving yards in a game with 223 yards during a 34-23 loss to the Detroit Lions. When it’s all said and done, Jefferson will likely have every Vikings receiving record if Minnesota is able to keep him around.
Despite having multiple games still to play in Year 3, Jefferson’s 4,516 career receiving yards (and counting) are the most through a player’s first three NFL seasons. The former LSU standout has put up a minimum of 1,400 receiving yards and six touchdowns in each season and will earn his third All-Pro nod in as many tries at season’s end.
NFL Films shot of the catch seen around the world – #Vikings Justin Jefferson with the play of the season.pic.twitter.com/Z5OLr98jGA
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 15, 2022
Jefferson is already 10th on Minnesota’s all-time receiving list with 46 games played while everybody ahead of him has played at least 70 games in a Vikings’ jersey. The former runner-up for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year will likely have to play in Minnesota for at least the next half decade to surpass Carter’s and Moss’ lofty marks, but if anybody can do it, a unicorn can.
“I do believe that him and Randy Moss are neck and neck, but Justin can do so many things at an elite level, that it is what it is,” Carter said. “When you see a unicorn, you tell people, ‘Hey, man, that’s a unicorn.’”
Receiving yards per game leaders in NFL history:
1. Justin Jefferson, 95.4
2. Julio Jones, 89.3
3. Calvin Johnson, 86.1
4. Antonio Brown, 84.2
5. Michael Thomas, 83.8He's really HIM 😤 #skol pic.twitter.com/VVDXFM6yCK
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) December 7, 2022
