The Minnesota Vikings have a major decision to make on quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason, but wide receiver Justin Jefferson doesn’t seem to care too much either way.
While Jefferson has acknowledged he would like to have Cousins back under center next year, he doesn’t think it will have much of an effect on who he is as a player.
“It could be Kirk, it could not be Kirk,” Jefferson said, via Grant Gordon of NFL media. “I have no idea, but it doesn’t matter who’s going to be throwing me that ball, you know I’m going to be that same type of player.”
Jefferson pointed out that he caught passes from four different quarterbacks this past season and still managed to catch 68 passes for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games.
“I feel like I’m confident and I have the ability to make plays, no matter if the ball is 100 percent accurate or if it’s a little behind or a little in front or a little off,” added Jefferson. “So I’m always confident in my game, confident that I’m going to play the same no matter who’s going to throw me the ball, but of course, having Kirk out there to be that leader and that captain, to throw that ball with accuracy and precise as he does, it definitely is very valuable and useful being a receiver.”
Jefferson, who played his collegiate football at LSU, was selected by the Vikings with the 22nd overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He burst on to the scene during his rookie campaign, registering 88 grabs for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. He followed that up by hauling in 108 receptions for 1,616 yards and 10 scores in his sophomore year. Then, in 2022, Justin Jefferson led the NFL in catches (128) and receiving yards (1,809) while reaching the end zone eight times.
The 24-year-old is great enough where he does not need an elite quarterback throwing him the football in order to post big numbers.
That being said, Minnesota would still benefit from a healthy Cousins back in its lineup next season. The question is, will the Vikings re-sign Kirk Cousins, or will his age and the fact that he is recovering from a torn Achilles scare them away?
Minnesota went 7-10 and missed the playoffs this year, due much in part to a myriad of injuries.
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