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10 NFL rookies who could become instant stars in 2020

By Rucker Haringey

Chase Young, Ohio State Buckeyes. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Chase Young, Ohio State Buckeyes. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 13: Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson #2 of the LSU Tigers celebrates as the time is ticking away during the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

8. Justin Jefferson

Minnesota’s decision to ship Stefon Diggs to Buffalo this offseason opens up a lot of targets for their returning receivers in 2020. Jefferson is a guy who can step right in and seize a large percentage of those targets as a rookie.

The former LSU star’s polish and versatility make him a great bet to succeed as a rookie. He’s the rare collegiate prospect who has a proven ability to get open from the slot and the outside. The Vikings will likely deploy him inside as a rookie before settling on his long-term position.

The slot position happens to be where he did the majority of his damage in his final season with the Tigers. He doesn’t have elite foot speed, but he regularly runs by quality defensive backs on film. That will allow him to make a surprising number of big plays right away for Kirk Cousins.

The presence of Adam Thielen on the other side of the formation will allow Jefferson to work against single coverage the vast majority of the time. He’s just too good of a route runner for most nickel corners to handle in a one-on-one matchup. Jefferson isn’t the biggest name wide receiver in this rookie class, but he landed in a great spot to make an immediate impact for his team.

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