Jordan Addison Has Pretty Nifty OROY Attention
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings welcomed six rookies in the 2023 NFL Draft, evenly distributing the picks around the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
Here is the full haul from general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s second draft as boss:
- R1: Jordan Addison (WR, USC)
- R3: Mekhi Blackmon (CB, USC)
- R4: Jay Ward (S, LSU)
- R5: Jaquelin Roy (DT, LSU)
- R5: Jaren Hall (QB, BYU)
- R7: DeWayne McBride (RB, UAB)
Jordan Addison Has Pretty Nifty OROY Attention
And of those six youngsters, one man is already commanding reasonable Rookie of the Year attention — Jordan Addison. Per oddsmakers, Addison is the seventh-likeliest rookie to bring home the hardware this winter.
The USC alumnus is a lean, mean, target-hungry machine, expecting to receive ample focus in Kevin O’Connell’s 2023 offense. In theory, the days of opposing coordinators stacking coverage on Justin Jefferson to stop the Vikings should be kaput with the addition of Addison.
Per Vegas Insider, these are the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year odds just days after the draft:
- Bijan Robinson (ATL) = +350
- Bryce Young (CAR) = +500
- C.J. Stroud (HOU) = +650
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba = +700
- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) = +900
- Anthony Richardson (IND) = +900
- Jordan Addison (MIN) = +1600
- Quentin Johnston (LAC) = +2000
- Zay Flowers (BAL) = +2000
- Jalin Hyatt (NYG) = +2500
The 21-year-old registered 3,134 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns in three seasons at Pittsburgh and USC. He’s not the biggest playmaker in the NFL, though, checking in at 5’11″ and about 175 pounds. Thankfully, general managers care less about size at the WR spot than ever.
Addison also spoke to reporters upon arriving in Minnesota over the weekend and depicted his toolkit — or artwork per his words, “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.”
Minnesota had long pinpointed Addison during the draft’s build-up as its priority in Round 1, using a ‘Top 30’ visit on the playmaker. When head coach Kevin O’Connell called Addison with the news on draft night, he mentioned, “I told you we’d get you. Somehow, someway.”
O’Connell will likely employ Addison’s talents immediately, especially with beloved Minnesotan Adam Thielen departing for the Carolina Panthers in March. Until the draft, WR3 K.J. Osborn seemed on deck for WR2 duty in September, but now Osborn and Addison will undergo a summer camp battle for the secondary job behind Jefferson.
If Addison snares the OROY accomplishment, he’ll become the sixth Viking to do so (!!) in 62 years: Percy Harvin (2009), Adrian Peterson (2007), Randy Moss (1998), Sammy White (1976), and Chuck Foreman (1973).
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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