Jordan Addison Already Has Vengeance on the Brain
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings had a choice last Thursday night: pick an offensive playmaker or a defensive asset like Joey Porter Jr. or Deonte Banks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Without trading back, a tactic many expected general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to employ, Minnesota stayed pat and sent the name Jordan Addison to the podium in Round 1 of the event.
Jordan Addison Already Has Vengeance on the Brain
In doing so, the Vikings landed a weapon already hellbent on vengeance. Those [paraphrased] words are from his lips.
Upon arriving in Eagan last weekend, Addison greeted the team’s front office and coaching staff, promising to make the group proud of the draft pick. He said, “I’m so excited to be here. I’m ready to work. This is where I want to be at. I’m glad I’m here. Three receivers went before me. That’s all the fuel I needed. I’m ready to go.”
The Vikings did extensive homework on Addison during the draft’s build-up and even told the Trojan they’d choose him if the draftboard allowed it. Addison was there at No. 23, and Adofo-Mensah pressed the button. Promises kept.
On the fuel, three wide receivers — in a row — were selected by other teams, evidently irking Addison to the point of taking notes. First, the Seattle Seahawks scooped Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Minutes later, the Los Angeles Chargers pounced on Quentin Johnston from TCU. And right before Addison to Minnesota, the Baltimore Ravens opted for Boston College’s Zay Flowers.
Knowing his own skillset intimately, Addison wasn’t impressed and will now turn the motivation inward to make Seattle, Los Angeles, and Baltimore sorry for their actions. Spoken like a true wide receiver, indeed.
At 5’11” and 170 pounds, Addison isn’t overly physical and certainly isn’t a big-bodied bruiser receiver. But the Vikings don’t need those traits in the 2023-and-beyond offense. Minnesota needs a workhorse WR who can relieve Justin Jefferson on Sundays when opposing defensive coordinators tempt fate by selling out to stop the league’s best wideout. Then, Addison, in theory, will be ready with his fuel.
The 21-year-old tabulated 3,134 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns in three seasons at Pittsburgh and USC. Addison also said to reporters about his craft last weekend, “When I’m running my routes, I like to look at it like I’m an artist. And I’m going out there painting pictures.”
Fuel and artwork.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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