EAGAN, Minn. -- An unusual development materialized for the Minnesota Vikings this year, at different times and for different reasons: Three of their best players all entered the season with unsettled contract situations.
We can now add an initial update: All three of them have produced strong individual starts to the 2023 season. Two weeks in, receiver Justin Jefferson leads the NFL in receiving yards. Linebacker Danielle Hunter is tied for the league lead in sacks and quarterback Kirk Cousins ranks No. 6 overall in Total Quarterback Rating (QBR).
Jefferson, Hunter and Cousins were the Vikings' three representatives in ESPN's annual NFL Rank project of the league's top 100 players for 2023.