Benjamin included a whopping nine receivers in his list of 25 under 25, including two in the top five. Ja’Marr Chase, whom Jefferson teamed with at LSU, came in at No. 3.
Injuries dinged his marks in 2022, and quarterback questions may have done the same in 2023, but if there’s one wideout capable of approaching Justin Jefferson’s sheer big-play sizzle, it’s probably his former LSU teammate. His 1,455-yard debut as Joe Burrow’s No. 1 proved his game-breaking speed.
Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons was No. 2 in Benjamin’s rankings, while Lions tackle Penei Sewell and Jets corner Sauce Gardner were Nos. 4 and 5, respectively.
Three receivers in a row filled out Nos. 6, 7 and 8 with Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb, Miami’s Jaylen Waddle and Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown. The other four receivers were Philadelphia’s DeVonta Smith (No. 15), New Orleans’ Chris Olave (No. 17), New York Jet Garrett Wilson (No. 18) and Los Angeles Ram Puka Nacua (No. 20).
Vikings fans will recognize another name on the list in left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who landed at No. 23. Darrisaw turned 25 on June 2.
One of the most underdiscussed big men in the NFL, the former first-rounder has missed multiple games due to injury each year. When healthy, however, he’s been a top-graded pass blocker, helping pave the way for top-tier Kirk Cousins performances under [Head Coach] Kevin O’Connell from 2022-2023.
The division-rival Lions had the most players on Benjamin’s list with five. In addition to Sewell and St. Brown, Detroit had defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs at Nos. 22, 24 and 25, respectively.
Benjamin wrote that Gibbs’ “juice as a change-of-pace dual threat gives the already-balanced Lions a home-run threat out of the backfield.”
Pro Football Hall of Fame announces 15 recipients of ‘Awards of Excellence’
A former Vikings assistant coach is being recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Monte Kiffin is among 15 recipients of this year’s “Awards of Excellence,” an honor created in 2022 “to recognize significant contributors to the game.”
Kiffin, 84, spent a short stint with the Vikings as a player in 1964 but did not appear in a game. Though his NFL playing career was short-lived, Kiffin went on to enjoy a lengthy coaching career that started at the collegiate level in 1966 (Nebraska).