Justin Jefferson vowed every team to pass on him in the 2020 draft would pay.
“Every single person that picked a receiver instead of me is going to pay,” Jefferson said on The Zach Gelb Show on CBS Sports Radio.
Through 12 weeks of the regular season, it’s safe to say the Minnesota Vikings‘ rookie is keeping his promise.
He leads all rookies in receiving yards at 918, good for 8th overall in the entire league.
#18 is also second among rookie receivers in receptions and touchdowns.
All of this production is apparently causing a rift in one organization – the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jefferson Causing Rift Inside Philadelphia
The Eagles have been desperately searching for a #1 receiver for what seems like forever.
Philly has not had a 1,000-yard receiver since Jeremy Maclin in 2014 and currently don’t have a receiver in the top-50 in yards this year.
They tried to correct that problem in the 2020 draft by selecting Jalen Reagor out of TCU with the 21st pick.
Reagor was the 4th receiver off the board – Jefferson was the 5th at 22.
So far this year, Reagor has 19 catches for 222 yards and 1 TD.
Jefferson has 52 catches for 918 yards and 6 TDs.
Picking Reagor over Jefferson was a controversial pick at the time, and apparently remains a cause of internal tension in Philadelphia.
According to NFL Insider John Clayton, there is an “internal rift” within the Eagles organization as some wanted to draft Jefferson.
“They’ve done a terrible job as far as drafting wide receivers,” Clayton said. “I was even hearing last week that’s there been internal rifts about drafting Jefferson versus Reagor with some wanting Jefferson, and Jefferson being one of the best rookies in the league this year and Reagor just starting to come around but not doing well.”
Missing on draft picks is nothing new to Howie Roseman and the Eagles.
But this missed draft pick could cause some more drastic changes.
Reagor has not come anywhere close to producing the way Jefferson has.
https://t.co/sfY0A9Rnbe pic.twitter.com/U2KOv0maqH
— Rob Hodge (@RobHodge_) October 4, 2020
Reagor has not even been a let-down this season, Jefferson has just been that good.
Vikings Ecstatic Jefferson Fell
As bad as things are in Philadelphia, they have been just as great in Minnesota.
The Vikings war room on draft night could not hold back the smiles when they realized the LSU product fell into their laps.
Via: Minnesota Vikings
Vikings reaction when they found out Jefferson was available at their pick is amazing !! #SKOL pic.twitter.com/EeyTdIq5Gs
— 𝐸𝒹𝓌𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓈 𝑅𝒪𝒴 🐺 (@AntEdwardsEra) July 27, 2020
Justin is filling the void left by Stefon Diggs better than anybody in Minnesota could have hoped for.
After trading Diggs to the Bills, the Vikings needed a receiver to compliment Adam Thielen
Through 12 games people are beginning to wonder if it’s Thielen who compliments the rookie standout.
“The Griddy” pioneer is well on his way to being in contention for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Most receiving yards over first 11 career games, since NFL merger:
1. Odell Beckham: 1,120
2. Anquan Boldin: 999
3. Justin Jefferson: 918The @Vikings may have their next star WR. pic.twitter.com/7dMwpmKEch
— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) November 30, 2020
Eagles Problems Bigger than One Draft Pick
While Jefferson is getting the headlines, the draft woes have been piling up for Philadelphia.
The receiver position is the most notable because of how poor the Eagles offense has performed without a true receiving threat.
In consecutive drafts, the Eagles have taken JJ Arcega-Whiteside (57) and Jalen Reagor (21).
Notable receivers the Eagles passed on include DK Metcalf (64) and Justin Jefferson (22).
Those two players currently rank 1st and 8th in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,039 and 918 yards, respectively.
As previously mentioned, Reagor has 222 yards, while JJAW has 45 yards (214 yards for his career).
The internal rift has been building for a while now.
Passing on Jefferson may have just been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Justin Jefferson’s been leading the Griddy movement 🔥 @JJettas2 @LAHGRIDDY2x @Wale @Vikings pic.twitter.com/514J9kSfcp
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 30, 2020
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