December 6, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Compulsory Credit: Brace Hemelgarn – USA Today Sports.
No wide receiver has ever won an NFL MVP award. The last non-quarterback to win the award was Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. A defensive player has not taken MVP hardware home since 1986. Lawrence Taylor.
The NFL MVP award is, in fact, a “league’s best quarterback” trophy, but that doesn’t stop Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson from receiving the “Dark Horse”.
Jefferson, 22, has led the NFL in the last two seasons in yards (3,016), coincidentally camping his first two in the league. These 3,016 yards are also the most by a wide receiver through a player’s first two seasons.
So, Jefferson is on a religious path, with former general manager Rick Spielman joining Minnesota in 2020 after Stephen Diggs was traded to Buffalo Bill. Diggs was dissatisfied with his role in the Vikings’ then run-first offense, so Spielman sent him to New York for the state and in return received Jefferson, Kenny Wilkes, Cameron Bynam, Janrius Robinson and Jack Davidson.
Diggs has improved in Buffalo, teaming up perfectly with quarterback Josh Allen – who exploded into superstardom about minutes after Diggs’ arrival. The Vikings got the best-in-the-NFL caliber WR on a cheap deal for five years.
And that “NFL Best” classification isn’t just animal feed from a Vikings website. This is a question that is heading towards the 2022 season worldwide.
NFL.com even listed Jefferson as an incomplete MVP candidate last week. Adam Shane of NFL.com Jefferson, ranked eighth in his MVP packing order, explained, “Minnesota could surprise people with a new head coach this year and a new infusion of new energy. Jefferson is an alpha dog. His influence even surpasses his stylish numbers. “
Jefferson was given a 125-1 odds for the 2022 NFL MVP award, which means the overall chances are an extraordinary longst. Even then, Jefferson was the only wide receiver identified by Shane for the MVP candidacy. Another non-quarterback made the list – Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams.
The Vikings will show everything new in leadership in 2022. The franchise came from Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman, who developed the resources to breathe a sigh of relief and play football. Accordingly, the Jefferson-MVP chatter occurs when Minnesota takes on a different offense, created by new head coach Kevin O’Connell.
O’Connell comes from Super Bowl-winning Rams, the latest installment from the ever-emerging Shawn McVeigh Coaching Tree. If Jefferson somehow wins the MVP award this season, it will be thanks to O’Connell’s playfulness and quarterback Kirk Cousins’ football distribution.
And for those who score at home, the Cousins have an even better chance of winning the MVP, with Jefferson’s 125-1 Maniline best at 50-1.
The Vikings will begin the season with the Green Bay Packers on September 11 in Minneapolis.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers holds the second-best odds (8-1) to win MVP in 2022, which will be his fifth win of the award.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to her daily YouTube channel, VikesNow. She Hosts a podcast With Bryant McKinney, which airs every Wednesday Raun Sai And Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking Fandom dates back to 1996. Listed Criminal Pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos’ and The Doors (Band).
