Justin Jefferson isn’t a top-five wide receiver in the NFL, according to ESPN Radio host Keyshawn Johnson. On Monday’s episode of Keyshawn, J’Will and Max, the former receiver ranked who he believes are the five best receivers in the league and he went with Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, Ja’Marr Chase, Stefon Diggs and A.J. Brown.
How does one snub the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year who led the league with 128 receptions and 1,809 receiving yards in 2022-23, and who has more receiving yards (4,825) through three years than any player in NFL history?
“Look, you can’t have everybody on the list. When I look at the list … if I would’ve pushed it to six, then Jefferson’s on the list. But for my liking, I like these guys,” Johnson said. “Doesn’t mean that Justin Jefferson isn’t fire. It just means when I’m building a team and I’m looking at this, it’s what I’m looking for. That’s all. It has nothing to do with ‘he’s not good.’ It has nothing to do with that.”
If he was hoping to draw ire from the listening audience, he got the job done. Among those angry with his top five was Hall of Fame Vikings receiver Cris Carter, who tweeted that it’s “time to turn the channel.”
#CmonMan a top five wide receivers list in the @NFL and Justin Jefferson does not make the list @KeyJayandMax time to turn the channel .
— Cris Carter (@criscarter80) June 26, 2023
“I actually agree. Your top four all have to be on that list,” Johnson’s co-host Max Kellerman said. “And then the fifth spot could be A.J. Brown, could be Justin Jefferson. I’d say it comes down to those two for me. You could take your pick.”
Kellerman justified his position by arguing that Jefferson’s skills wouldn’t transfer to another team or offensive scheme as well as Hill, Adams, Chase, Diggs and Brown.
“Their skills are [more transferable] in my eyes,” Johnson agreed. “And I also look at it as, is he ever going to disappear? Does this guy disappear at times? Yeah, you put up eye-popping numbers because they’re throwing you the football 100 times. But will you ever disappear? A lot of these guys on this list, they don’t really disappear. And Jefferson doesn’t disappear either.”
A subplot within the debate is who is better between Chase and Jefferson.
“If I had them on the same team, Ja’Marr Chase would be my 1,” said Kellerman.
Chase, with just two years under his belt in the NFL, has totaled 168 receptions for 2,501 yards and 22 touchdowns. In three seasons, Jefferson has totaled 324 receptions for 4,825 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Chase and Jefferson were both catching passes from Joe Burrow during LSU’s run to the national title in 2019, and both posted eye-popping numbers.
- Jefferson in 2019: 111 catches for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns
- Chase in 2019: 84 catches for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns
“I love these lists because somebody’s going to always be mad,” Johnson concluded.
