NFL Analyst weighs in on Vikings' Justin Jefferson and Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase Debate

NFL Analyst weighs in on Vikings' Justin Jefferson and Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase Debate originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson have the NFL world split over the best wide receiver debate. The two former first-round picks are in their prime and have multiple league and franchise records under their belt.

While the Bengals star achieved a "triple crown" last season, leading the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17), Jefferson is the only player to surpass the 7,000-receiving-yard mark in their first five seasons.

Although Chase charted exceptional numbers last season, Jefferson managed to carry his team to the postseason with an exceptional regular season record. During an episode of the "This is Football" show, NFL analysts Mina Kimes and Kevin Clark shared their take on the better WR debate.

"It was only a debate as of this year. I think before this last year it would have been pretty clearly Jefferson," Kimes said. "But the way they used Chase last year, using him, aligning him different spots, moving him around, expanding his route tree, he was just so dynamic for Cincinnati."

"Jefferson though, to me, is like a perfect wide receiver. Maybe he’d be a little bit bigger if it was perfect but he is so good at literally every aspect of playing the position."

Clark also argued that Chase's rapport with Joe Burrow, his college quarterback at LSU, is a critical factor. The Vikings QB has played with multiple quarterbacks and has stayed consistent.

"He [Chase] has the connection with his college quarterback, who might have the the prettiest arm in football. Like that that matters. Like Jamar Chase is capitalizing on that," he said.

"I'm not a huge Sam Darnold fan. And the fact that Justin Jefferson did what he did last year is spectacular."

Mimes circled back and said that the best wide receiver debate is getting very close. She added that Chase is stronger and arguably more explosive and it has become more of a preference thing for the experts and the fans to make their choice.

There's mutual respect between Jefferson and Chase. Last week, the Bengals WR predicted the four-time Pro Bowler to become the first player to register 2000 receiving yards in a season alongside him.

Jefferson will again have a new quartebrack throwing to him as J.J. McCarthy is set to take the Vikings' QB mantle. The former NFL Offensive Player of the Year has his sight set on the throne. It'd be interesting to see if he manages similar numbers with the rookie quarterback.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.