Two Vikings recently received high praise from a national NFL writer.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports compiled a list of the top 25 players in the league who are 25 or younger. Benjamin noted that 2024 rookies would not be included, and “past performance, future projection, and, to a lesser degree, positional value” were the metrics used to build this list.
Which Vikings Made the List?
The first Viking entry on the list was offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw at number 23. Regarding Darrisaw, Benjamin offered the following:
One of the most underdiscussed big men in the NFL, the former first-rounder has missed multiple games due to injury each year. When healthy, however, he’s been a top-graded pass blocker, helping pave the way for top-tier Kirk Cousins performances under Kevin O’Connell from 2022-2023.
Darrisaw certainly deserves the recognition. The former first-round pick earned a stellar 82.4 PFF grade in 2023 and has become one of the game’s best pass blockers.
To find the next Viking on the list, a little bit of scrolling is necessary. That is because Benjamin’s number one player in the NFL, who is 25 or younger, is Justin Jefferson. Anyone who has watched Jefferson won’t be surprised, considering the star receiver has already accumulated almost 6,000 receiving yards in just 60 career games. Regarding the Jefferson selection, Benjamin said:
“Jets” missed literally 40% of the 2023 season and still topped 1,000 yards receiving for the fourth time in four years. He remains one of, if not the toughest wideout to guard in all of football, and his effortless explosion turns routine plays into potential home runs. The undeniable face of the Vikings after less than a half-decade of NFL play, Jefferson is already on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
It’s certainly not a stretch to suggest Jefferson is “on a Hall of Fame trajectory.” The receiver only started nine games in 2023 and still finished with 68 catches for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. Only Tyreek Hill averaged more yards per game than Jefferson last season.
In 2021 and 2022, when Jefferson was fully healthy, the receiver put up otherworldly numbers. In 2021, the former LSU Tiger caught 108 passes for 1,616 yards and 10 TDs. In 2022, Jefferson led the league in receptions and receiving yards with 128 and 1,809, respectively.
Thankfully, the Vikings were recently able to lock up their star receiver with a massive contract extension. Jefferson recently signed a four-year extension worth $140 million. This means the receiver will be in the Twin Cities for at least the next five seasons, which marries Jefferson to rookie QB JJ McCarthy.
While Darrisaw and Jefferson were the two players selected, one more Viking snuck into the honorable mentions section. Jordan Addison was among several players listed as an honorable mention. The 2023 first-round pick earned 14 starts as a rookie and finished the season with 70 catches for 911 yards and 10 TDs. The youngster and Jefferson give the Vikings one of the league’s most talented receiver duos.
