Four catches and 112 yards will cement Justin Jefferson as the G.O.A.T. wide receiver through a player's first six seasons.
That's what he must acquire over Minnesota's final three contests in 2025 to jump Jarvis Landry and Randy Moss for the most catches and yards in the first half-dozen years of a player's career.
It's totally feasible but maybe not inevitable due to the nature of Jefferson's sixth campaign.
The 26-year-old phenom has six catches for 37 yards combined the past three weeks. In Year 6 overall, he's averaging 4.7 and 59.4, almost a full catch and 30 fewer yards per game than he managed as a rookie.
And yet, he's close enough to smell the roses of history.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic delved into Jefferson's drought Wednesday and offered some salient reasons as to why the generational talent in the prime of his career hasn't popped the way he did from 2020-24.
Included in his analysis are truths, such as Jefferson's inability to participate in training camp because of a hamstring injury, setting back his rapport with first-year starter J.J. McCarthy, and a few atypical drops. Lewis included some best-guesses as well, namely McCarthy's lack of touch on certain throws that "Jets" generally feasts on, and an apparent synergy shortfall between the two (likely spurred by the above fact).
Lewis also noted the weekly coverage challenge that is unique to Jefferson and is compounded by a young QB who is adapting in real time to the speed of pro defenders and complexities of NFL defenses.
He wrote the following:
Because defenses often design coverages to take Jefferson out of the game with brackets and safeties clouding over the top, finding him requires a more bespoke passing style. Consider the last two matchups, for example. The Washington Commanders have played man coverage on 25 percent of their defensive snaps this season. Their man coverage usage against the Vikings was 4.9 percent, the lowest they've played in any game this year. The Cowboys hadn't played any bracket coverage since Week 2. [Dallas] Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus brought it out of the bag for the matchup with Jefferson.
It's not uncommon for defenses to refute their tendencies when Jefferson is aligned across from them. Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell recently noted the receiver has seen every known coverage during the past few seasons, coinciding with his flight to football's mountaintops. In other words, it's the norm.
But it's also normal for Jefferson to capitalize on defensive slip-ups and make coordinators pay when they do entrust a single person to guard him. As such, the irregularities and missed ops are magnified.
Lewis called attention to a couple instances on Sunday Night Football where a big play for Jefferson didn't materialize because of slight inaccuracy and anticipatory skills that are still under construction.
On one, McCarthy "pumped a fastball just beyond Jefferson's outstretched hands" as the receiver glided to an open patch of grass on a beautifully trademarked crossing route, instead of floating him a friendlier pass. On another, Jefferson gained a step on a cornerback and could have nabbed an in-breaker if McCarthy released the ball at the top of his drop back. It would have been a tight-window throw, which presents some risk, but the type of pass Jefferson is accustomed to catching and racking yards afterward.
There's a multitude of factors contributing to the departure from Jefferson's established numbers, which makes his circumstance entering Week 16 even more impressive: He's knocking on the doorstep of all-time records.
Read Lewis' article analyzing Jefferson's 2025 and his chase for a sixth-straight 1,000-yard season here.
Locking down a degree
By the looks of it, Stephon Gilmore had a PhD in defense.
Now the 13-year NFL cornerback has a liberal studies degree from the University of South Carolina.
The former Viking walked across the ceremony stage Monday in a black gown and mortarboard and garnet and white graduation stole decorated with the Gamecocks logo and the words "Student Athlete."
In doing so, Gilmore fulfilled another one of his goals.
"It was very important to me to go back and have my kids see me graduate," said Gilmore, a father of three who played for six NFL teams after he was drafted 10th overall in 2012. "I left school early, and I always wanted to go back. I've been working on it the last couple of years. I was able to do it all online."
"I'm very determined, and when I set my mind to something, I can definitely get it done," the 2019 AP Defensive Player of the Year added. "I was successful in my football career, but I am happy that I was also successful in the classroom and able to get that degree. That's something no one can take from you.
"If you're a former athlete and thinking about going back, you should definitely go get it," he continued. "It leads to a lot of other options to pursue dreams after football, such as coaching and scouting."
Gilmore technically has not retired from playing football, but he is a free agent and suited up last for Minnesota, posting 56 tackles with nine passes defended and one interception in 15 starts a season ago.
"Gilly Lock" reunited with Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores, who coached him in New England from 2017-18, in 2024 and secured a pick in the final minute of Minnesota's win over the Jets in London. It resembled Flores' favorite call and Gilmore's interception to help the Patriots prevail in Super Bowl LIII.
You can read more about Gilmore's latest achievement in this story from gamecocksonline.com.
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