Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Even Justin Jefferson doesn't think Kirk Cousins is a top-five QB

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 7/7/23

It’s been long-debated whether Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is one of the NFL’s top signal-callers.

While the four-time Pro Bowler surely has some advocates in his corner, his No. 1 receiver Justin Jefferson isn’t one of them. In a recent interview with Brazilian journalist Danilo Lacalle, Jefferson was asked to name the top five QBs in the NFL right now, and Cousins wasn’t one of them.

Top 5 Quarterbacks da NFL para o Justin Jefferson + cara mais difícil de enfrentar. pic.twitter.com/nc7FhYy0t8
— Danilo Lacalle (@danlacalle) July 1, 2023

Since taking over as the Vikings starting QB in 2018, Cousins ranks second in completion percentage (67.8), fourth in touchdowns (153), and fifth in passing yards (20,934) and passer rating (100.9) over that span, per StatMuse.

Of Jefferson’s top five QBs — Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen — only Mahomes has more passing yards, and only Mahomes and Rodgers have more touchdowns than Cousins over the last five seasons.

Cousins has a 46-33-1 record and has led Minnesota to the playoffs twice, making it as far as the NFC divisional round.

All of the Kirk criticism has to stop!! I understand y’all hate the dad swag but come on his numbers are right with y’all’s MVP candidates https://t.co/GOuT4DqwP8
— JJETS✈️ (@JJettas2) December 29, 2022

While Cousins’ omission from Jefferson’s list may or may not be a big deal, the third-year receiver has been quick to defend his quarterback against criticism from the national media.

Jefferson stated Cousins was on par with most of the league MVP candidates back in December, and he even defended Cousins to Jim Rome after his rookie year, stating, “If you look at the numbers, he’s top of the league. … I don’t really understand why he gets so much criticism.”

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