All-Time Great CB Wants Nothing to do with Covering Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson is arguably (I guess) the best wide receiver in the National Football League. If he can stay healthy, he’s about to show the world how good he can help make a quarterback look, when he steps on the field week one vs the New York Giants with Sam Darnold as his QB1.

If being honest, every cornerback in the NFL would tell you that it doesn’t much matter who is throwing Justin Jefferson the football, they’d rather not have to cover him, period. Give them anyone else. Just not Jets.

Hall of Fame cornerback wants nothing to do with covering Justin Jefferson

Ask all-time great cornerback, Champ Bailey, who played in 12 Pro Bowls and made 7 All-Pro teams during his all-time 15 year Hall of Fame career. While on the Domonique Foxworth Show (ESPN), Bailey was asked which WR in the league now, he would least like to cover. By this point, you know his answer.

Dom: “Is there a receiver in the game right now that you would least like to cover?”

Bailey: “The kid in Minnesota. He is he is savvy. Like, I watch him run routes… I’m like, I would have to bump him every game, because you sit back… he’s so deceptive. He’s got a long stride, but he’s also super quick. I mean Justin Jefferson’s one of the best in the game right now.”

The Domonique Foxworth Show – ESPN

How good was Champ Bailey?

In his first 10 seasons, as a Denver Bronco, there was no CB in the league better than Champ Bailey. From his rookie season in 1999 through 2007, Bailey recorded at least three interceptions in every single season.

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Champ was first team All-Pro every three years straight from 2004 through 2006. In 2006, he recorded a league high 10 interceptions. The guy was a human defensive highlight reel, right up there with other CB greats of his time, like Charles Woodson and Ty Law. Bailey first all-time in passes defended (203) and 26th all-time in interceptions (52), one behind both Deion Sanders and Law.

Champ Bailey holds the all-time record for passes defended with 203 🔒pic.twitter.com/Nr3FsaFhOT

— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) July 6, 2024

That kid on the Minnesota Vikings

Yet, not even one of the all-time greats at cornerback wants anything to do with guarding Justin Jefferson. And you can’t blame him. As Champ Bailey noted, everything about the way JJ plays wide receiver makes him difficult to guard.

He runs some of the best, most deceptive routes in the game. If you do not get hands on him at the line of scrimmage, there isn’t a CB alive who can stop him from getting open, especially in man coverage.

Related: Key Vikings Defender Back in Action

He’s by far the most dominant wide receiver to wear purple since Randy Moss, who Bailey had his battles with, as a guy who came into the league one year after Moss did. That’s why Justin Jefferson is breaking Randy records that we all thought would hold forever.