Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson had one of the most impressive starts to an NFL career in history. In each of his first five seasons, Jefferson recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards, and he holds the record for the most receiving yards through a player’s first five years in league history.
Stats like these raise questions about whether we’re witnessing a potential future candidate for the greatest wide receiver of all time. According to Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss, there’s one aspect of Jefferson’s game that, if he can refine it in the coming years, could put him on the path to being considered the next G.O.A.T.
What Justin Jefferson Must Do To Become the Greatest WR in NFL History
The modern NFL has shifted toward a more offensive and fast-paced game, with rules that protect player health and encourage a more dynamic style of play, while still maintaining its intensity. In this new era of wide receivers coming out of college, the league has seen lighter players like Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, and Jefferson himself thrive.
It is in this context that the Vikings’ wide receiver began building his legacy of on-field dominance. Four All-Pro selections, including two First-Team honors, an Offensive Player of the Year award, and four Pro Bowl appearances, reflect the level of trust Jefferson brings to his quarterbacks.
For Moss, the legendary wide receiver widely regarded as one of the top three in league history, Jefferson is entering the conversation as a contender for the greatest of all time at the position. To get there, Moss believes Jefferson needs to score touchdowns more consistently.
Randy Moss gives Justin Jefferson some high praise, saying he believes he’s arguably on pace to be the “greatest ever”
“For him to go down as the greatest Viking and WR to ever do it, i need to see more of Justin getting in that box… I think Justin Jefferson is on pace to be… pic.twitter.com/urCqhO57Fr
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) July 12, 2025
“I think I need to see more of Justin getting in that box,” Moss said. “I think that our position is not about the yards. The yards is what gets you the likes and the hearts and all of that. But if you want to really be legendary… You got to find ways to get in that end zone and bring the fans out of the stands.”
Jefferson has 40 touchdowns in five seasons, averaging eight per year. For comparison, Jerry Rice, the all-time leader in touchdowns, played for 20 seasons and had 197 receiving touchdowns, averaging 9.85 per year.
If Jefferson maintains his current pace and plays the same 20 seasons as Rice, he would retire with 160 receiving touchdowns, placing him second all-time in that category, ahead of Moss’s 156 but still 37 behind Rice, assuming an exceptionally long career.
JUSTIN JEFFERSON IS LIKE THAT ‼️
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📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/3DI4k6n6nF— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
These are challenging numbers to achieve and highlight Rice’s remarkable legacy, which includes three Super Bowl titles. However, they also serve as a benchmark for Jefferson’s trajectory, allowing for comparisons to the greatest of all time based on his career projections.
“I think Justin Jefferson is on pace to be arguably the greatest ever and definitely the greatest Viking to ever do it,” Moss added. If Jefferson were to help lead Minnesota to its first Super Bowl title, even with second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy under center, his legacy within the franchise would be unquestionable and forever etched into NFL history.
