Mandatory Credits: Imagn Images

Tom Brady gives the ultimate compliment to Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, compares him to teammate Randy Moss

Brady picks Jefferson, compares him to Moss

Mandatory Credits: Imagn Images

Tom Brady knows greatness when he sees it. After all, he’s played with some of the best. The kind of players who change games with a single catch. So, when asked which current receiver he’d love to throw to, the answer carried weight.

Brady’s pick was Justin Jefferson—the 25-year-old wideout from the Minnesota Vikings. Brady hesitates rarely, and naturally, this time too, he didn’t stutter. Jefferson, Brady said, reminds him of one of the best he ever played with: Randy Moss.

𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: Tom Brady says Justin Jefferson reminds him of Randy Moss and says if he could pick any current WR to throw the ball to, it would be Jefferson.

Serious praise for JJettas from the GOAT. pic.twitter.com/gN0Gigm5rz
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 12, 2024

“Great question. A couple of tough choices out there. I know Ja’Marr Chase, what a year he’s having, but I’m saying Justin Jefferson. He can do everything from any spot on the field. He goes deep, he goes short, catch the ball, catch and run for touchdowns. He’s a ridiculous player. He reminds me so much of my former teammate and Viking, Randy Moss.”

You felt that, right? The respect. The certainty. Comparing Jefferson to Moss, Randy Moss, is a statement that doesn’t get thrown around lightly.

Why did Tom Brady pick Justin Jefferson?

Brady didn’t gloss over Ja’Marr Chase, who leads the league in touchdowns and is having a monster season. But for the GOAT, Jefferson is different. His versatility, his ability to wreck defenses from anywhere on the field, makes him a complete receiver. Deep threat, route runner, yards after catch, he checks every box.

Jefferson’s numbers back it up. Two of the top 25 highest single-season receiving yard totals in NFL history. Seven touchdowns this season. An 11-2 record leading the Vikings.

“I’m saying Justin Jefferson. He can do everything from any spot on the field.”@TomBrady on the WR he would love to throw to the most that’s playing right now. pic.twitter.com/H4hoSN6p2G
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) December 12, 2024

The Moss comparison stems deep from how they both dominate. Moss was a physical freak, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. Jefferson’s smaller at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, but he brings the same kind of presence. Their capacity to torch defenses feels eerily similar. Compare their first 73 games:

Randy Moss: 6,045 yards, 58 touchdowns
Justin Jefferson: 7,069 yards, 38 touchdowns

The production speaks for itself. Different styles, same dominance.

No love for Tyreek Hill?

You’d think Tyreek Hill, with his record-breaking speed, might be the obvious choice. He has 22.01 mph on the field this season. But Hill’s relationship with Tom Brady has been… let’s say, complicated.

Hill wasn’t thrilled when Brady called today’s NFL “mediocre.” On The RG3 and The Ones podcast, Hill shot back, saying:

𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: #NFL legend Tom Brady says there's a lot of "Mediocre" football in the NFL today.

He says that players like Ronnie Lott, Ray Lewis and Rodney Harrison would get penalized every game if they played today.pic.twitter.com/TeYyqtVXNr https://t.co/WotZpM6Hik
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 21, 2023

“I wouldn’t say that [it’s mediocre]. I think the NFL is doing a better job at protecting players. It’s safer for guys to play without getting their heads taken off.”

Brady’s pick of Jefferson could be as much about talent as it is about avoiding unnecessary noise.

Jefferson’s legacy is building fast

Jefferson is also the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. A $140 million contract with an average of $35 million a year. Add in his flair for the game—like his signature “Griddy” touchdown dance—and you see why he’s a fan favorite.

This season, Jefferson leads a playoff-bound Vikings team, proving he’s more than just hype. His on-field dominance has become routine, and at only 25, his best days are likely ahead of him.

Image: © Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Justin Jefferson

Randy Moss

Tom Brady

Natasha Bose

I write about sports because, well, it brings in the big bucks! I’m not some lifelong analyst or stats guru, truth being told, you’ve probably never heard of me!—I just know how to research, write, and make things sound good. That’s the job!
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