Eagles vs Minnesota: 10 Vikings to watch (other than Justin Jefferson)

The Philadelphia Eagles have their hands full with the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2.

It’s funny how things work out. You’ve heard the story so many times that you’re probably sick of it (and can recite it in your sleep). It never gets old though, and it bears repeating for the sake of this story. Once upon a time, during 2020’s NFL Draft to be exact, the Philadelphia Eagles made a gross error in judgment. Rather than take Justin Jefferson with the 21st-overall selection, they chose Jalen Reagor.

We’ve seen clips of Vikings leadership laughing at Philly for the decision. Jefferson vowed that everyone who passed on him would regret doing so. He’s kept his promise, and there isn’t an Eagles fan in the Delaware Valley or anywhere else on Planet Earth that doesn’t know how things worked out.

In two seasons that equate to 28 regular-season games with 24 starts, Jalen Reagor caught 64 passes that resulted in 695 yards and three trips to the end zone. He also has 35 punt returns, 321 return yards as a special-teamer, and another touchdown on his professional resume. Meanwhile, Justin Jefferson was racking up 196 receptions, 3,016 receiving yards, 17 TDs, and two Pro Bowl appearances during a 33-game run with the Vikes.

As fate would have it, they’re now teammates. The Eagles traded Reagor to Minnesota on August 31st in exchange for a 2023 seventh-round pick and a 2024 conditional fourth-round pick that can be downgraded to a fifth-rounder.

In the end, maybe things worked out as they should. Had Philly taken Jefferson, they probably don’t take DeVonta Smith a year later in 2021’s draft. They definitely don’t end up with A.J. Brown in 2022, so we won’t complain too much.

Perhaps the best part of this story is the Eagles meet the Vikings in Week 2 of the 2022-2023 NFL season. That should be fun. We’ll continue this story then. Everyone will, no doubt, have their eyes on Jefferson. Here are ten other Vikings you’ll want to watch as well.