Best at [fill in the blank]
Reflecting on “Senior Superlatives” is one way to make small talk fun at a high school reunion.
What a random way to introduce the second item of this article: 2025 Season Superlatives for the NFL.
Matt Bowen of ESPN on Wednesday delved into 109 different skills and picked the No. 1 player in the league at each, based on tape study and underlying numbers. It’s a catalog of the tippy top right now.
The best touch and timing on passes belongs to Patriots QB Drake Maye. The best deep-ball thrower? Seahawks QB Sam Darnold. The best at bringing down 50-50 balls? Cowboys WR George Pickens. The most physical DL? Rams OLB Jared Verse. And the best closing speed on QBs? Packers DE Micah Parsons.
Let’s just cut to the chase. … The premier route runner in Bowen’s eyes is Vikings WR Justin Jefferson.
Bowen noted Jefferson’s statistical reduction in his evaluation – directly related to Minnesota’s subpar QB play – but the 26-year-old remains the greatest player at setting up and manipulating man coverage.
Jefferson’s mention is a good excuse for us to draw attention to some in-the-weeds numbers that accent the receiver’s dominance in tough circumstances. Firstly, Jefferson is one of 14 wide receivers this year with 100 routes against press coverage, according to Next Gen Stats. He’s run 146 of them, the fourth most behind Cincinnati teammates Tee Higgins (161) and Ja’Marr Chase (151), as well as Pittsburgh’s DK Metcalf (153). On those routes, “Jets” has averaged 2.6 yards of separation – that’s where he really pops.