Vikings Get Their Guy, Pick USC WR

Fans Finalize Prediction
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The first pick in year two of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s tenure as Vikings general manager was a total mystery. Minnesota had many roster holes, and the GM could’ve gone in many different directions.

Someone has to replace Adam Thielen as the counterpart of Justin Jefferson, the cornerback room is unproven, and the defensive line lacks the talent to scare other teams in the NFC.

Vikings Get Their Guy, Pick USC WR

The Vikings were rumored to be a potential team that trades up or down the board, but they stayed put, and the NFC North champion got an excellent reinforcement.

Vikings Get Their Guy, Pick USC WR
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Head coach Kevin O’Connell has a new toy for his offense as the team picked Jordan Addison out of USC. He spent his first two career seasons in Pittsburgh with Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett where his stats were off the charts.

Addison recorded 1,593 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in his sophomore season. 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 new Vikings playmaker is an excellent route runner and a smooth mover. 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.

Similar to when Jefferson came out, Addison can immediately run the full route tree and won’t need much coaching. He should instantly translate to the NFL game and receive offensive snaps starting in Week 1. Where he needs to improve is his release against press coverage when the cornerback can give him a push and be physical with him.

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Addison is not a speedster, but his 4.49 40-yard dash shows decent speed. He can run past defenders, and his opponents must take his deep-threat ability seriously. The new guy in town lacks size. He only weighs 171 pounds but his ability to create separation limits the impact of his weight. In other words, when the defender isn’t close to him, his weight is not an issue.

In the past, he struggled with drops but only had a couple of them in the last campaign. It’s good to know that he is willing to work on his weaknesses. In addition to running routes, he can be used on screens and gadget plays.

One Viking probably didn’t like Addison’s selection. Fourth-year wideout K.J. Osborn was finally in a position to escape the WR3 duties and become the second outside receiver, but those dreams took a big hit. While he might still end up starting in Week 1, Addison is too talented. He will be Jefferson’s counterpart for years to come.

Behind Addison, Osborn, and Jefferson, the Vikings only employ unproven and underwhelming options. Last year’s rookie, Jalen Nailor, had some promising outings at the end of the season. His role might grow, unlike Jalen Reagor’s. The Vikings traded for him last offseason, and he was a disaster on offense. The other guys on the team are Blake Proehl, Brandon Powell, and Trishton Jackson.

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Kirk Cousins should be just as happy as Jefferson and O’Connell. He will now have the option to throw to Jefferson, Addison, and T.J. Hockenson on most plays. He is entering his contract year and, for that reason, wants to play at a high level to secure either a new deal in Minnesota or a big payday somewhere else.

The Vikings got a new WR2, wasting no time to replace Adam Thielen. They picked a speedy player with outstanding route-running ability and great production in college. Adofo-Mensah’s second draft opens with a splash.


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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