Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson is expecting a lot of big plays with the addition of Kyler Murray this offseason.
Justin Jefferson Is Expecting Big Plays With Kyler Murray
Jefferson is excited about the potential of the Vikings offense in 2026. In 2025, Jefferson struggled due to his quarterback play, which featured games between Carson Wentz and J.J. McCarthy, with the Vikings taking a flyer on Murray, who was released this offseason by the Cardinals. Jefferson is pretty much expecting fireworks between him and Murray.
“I’m definitely looking for those big, excited plays,” Jefferson told the media about the addition of Murray. “I’m definitely looking forward to his speed, his quickness, the arm strength he has shown countless times over the years.”
Jefferson believes that the addition of Murray will push McCarthy to want to take his game to the next level and not make things easy on Murray.
“And for J.J., for somebody to enter that room with that type of ability and that type of talent, he’s got to step it up a little bit,” Jefferson said of the Vikings quarterback room. “So, it’s good for him to feel that kind of pressure and to really lock in a little bit and say it’s either now or I’m going to take that back seat again. So, it’s all a competitive mindset when it comes to these types of things. So, it’s all about who’s ready for that moment and who’s ready to take the initiative with those types of things.”
The Vikings drafted McCarthy in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. A knee injury forced McCarthy to sit out his rookie season while Sam Darnold enjoyed a career year in the Vikings offense. Instead of signing Darnold back to a long-term deal, Minnesota decided to roll with McCarthy, and needless to say, it was a rocky experience in the 2025 season. Minnesota didn’t feel comfortable rolling into another season with just McCarthy at the helm, hoping he’d figure it out. The Vikings are in win-now mode with their roster, and after Darnold moved on to win a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, the Vikings have even more pressure on themselves to have a strong 2026 season.
Justin Jefferson’s Down Season in 2025
Jefferson had arguably the worst season of his career in 2025 with 84 catches, 1,048 yards, and only two touchdowns. It was Jefferson’s fault as he caught passes from McCarthy, Max Brosner, and Carson Wentz. It was more than a frustrating season for Jefferson, but he never complained about it.
Jefferson has widely been considered one of the top three receivers in the NFL, but the 2025 season relay caused a debate with the season players like Puka Nacua and Jaxson Smith-Njigba had. However, with Murray in the fold, Jefferson will have a good chance to make a claim for being the best wide receiver in the NFL.
Murray Has a Leg Up in the Quarterback Competition
McCarthy will really need a big push in the offseason to maintain the starting job in Minnesota. Murray is a former top pick and possesses more traits than McCarthy that will make the Vikings offense more dynamic. Kevin O’Connell has done great work with quarterbacks, and Murray will be his latest project if Murray is able to turn his career around in Minnesota.
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