Vikings Rookie Draws ‘Rising Star’ Label
The Vikings already have a star, maybe even the star of the NFL.
Justin Jefferson is not only a superstar on the field but also a rockstar in terms of marketability. He draws crowds into the stadium. He is one of the most popular players among the young generation, and his Griddy, the dance he didn’t invent but helped spread even into pop culture, is the thing kids look up to and try to copy.
Vikings Rookie Draws’ Rising Star’ Label
Another future star in that department could be rookie Jordan Addison. He landed on the NFLPA’s list of ten rising stars among rookies. The list aims to identify players that can reach enough popularity to sell merchandise.
The annual NFLPA Rising Stars list identifies top Rookies and Veterans poised to have breakout seasons, gain fan support and ultimately rank among the top-sellers of all officially licensed player merchandise.
NFLPA
Addison clocked in at the ninth spot among rookies. He could be higher if he weren’t on a team employing Jefferson, his new running mate. Addison has the type of extroverted personality that will make him a popular player in football.
Anthony Richardson is at the top, mainly because of his electric athleticism. He performed at an all-time level at the NFL draft combine, and the Colts selected him fourth overall. His playing style will certainly be fun to watch, even early in his career.
Bijan Robinson, the eighth overall pick of the Atlanta Falcons, ranked second. The running back and teammate of former Vikings first-rounder Cordarelle Patterson has been titled a generational prospect, and if he can live up to the hype, he will also be a popular player.
The rankings consider various factors that contribute to early sales popularity. These factors include on-field performance, early demand for content and marketing from NFLPA partners, fantasy league status, collegiate name, image and likeness deals, the players’ existing reach to a massive audience of fans, participation in Rookie Premiere, product submissions from over 90 NFLPA licensees, support from team fan bases, and emerging talent in strong markets.
NFLPA
First-overall selection Bryce Young is third. The new passer of Vikings legend Adam Thielen had outstanding success at Alabama and wants to bring the same productivity to the pros.
While Addison might be good to make some money, he is also expected to be a fantastic player on the field. He is a smooth route-runner with a refined skillset who should hit the ground running. The footwork and agility are outstanding. He can play inside and outside, which is perfect to play alongside Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn, who can do the same.
One problem could be the minor injury he has been dealing with for a while now, but head coach Kevin O’Connell claimed it is just precautionary to hold him out of practice.
Addison will join Jefferson’s wideout group featuring K.J. Osborn, who is eager to show he can be a WR2 in the NFL. Once Addison is healthy and good to go, which should be the case at training camp in late July, the two players will compete for the second starting gig.
Similar to when Jefferson came out of LSU, Addison can immediately run the full route tree. He should instantly translate to the NFL game and receive offensive snaps starting in Week 1. He needs to improve his release against press coverage when the cornerback can push him and be physical with him.
Someone must take some pressure off of Jefferson in the passing game, and the Vikings are convinced that Addison can be that guy, which is why they drafted him with their valuable 23rd overall pick.
The new Viking recorded 1,593 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in his sophomore season in Pittsburgh. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver before transferring to USC to play with star QB Caleb Williams under head coach Lincoln Riley. His numbers dropped in a completely different spread offense, but he still had 59 catches for 875 yards and 8 touchdowns in 11 games. The Vikings bet on his college production and skill set.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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