Vikings' Justin Jefferson is among the best in the NFL against one type of coverage

Justin Jefferson had another spectacular season in 2024, catching 103 passes for 1,533 yards and ten touchdowns. He was selected First-Team All-Pro for the second time in three years, even with Sam Darnold throwing him passes for the first time.

So it should come as no surprise that Jefferson was one of the league’s best at attacking zone coverage in 2024. PFF listed their top five-highest graded wideouts attacking both zone and man coverage, and Jefferson came in third against zone.

Jefferson ranked fourth in PFF receiving grade against zone coverage in 2023 (90.6) after recording 43 catches for 641 yards and placing third in yards per route run (3.00).

This past season, he was one of two receivers (Amon-Ra St. Brown) to record 100 zone targets, catching 76 passes for 992 yards (third most) and five touchdowns (tied fifth most). He forced nine missed tackles and gained 40 first downs on his way to a 106.8 passer rating when targeted.

Teams know how effective Jefferson is at finding holes in the zone. That leads some defenses to get physical with him at the line, taking him out of the play together by having a cornerback in his face at all times. That’s part of why he wasn’t among the top five in man coverage, as some teams sold their souls to eliminate him.

Look for J.J. McCarthy to find Jefferson against zone and make defenses pay. Perhaps McCarthy can also find the secret sauce that can help Jefferson cook against man coverage in 2025 as well.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Justin Jefferson among the best in the NFL against one coverage

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