Jordan Addison Joins Elite Company
After a botched first draft pick with Lewis Cine, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was under some sort of pressure much earlier than anticipated when the second draft under his watch rolled around. Rumors of the attempt to trade up for a QB exist, but the Vikes ultimately stayed put to draft wide receiver Jordan Addison.
Jordan Addison Joins Elite Company
A highly productive collegiate receiver, the knock on Addison was the lack of size, but his skill set as a natural playmaker was intriguing, especially paired with Justin Jefferson in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, an offense that features a heavy usage of receivers.
The lack of size has been an issue at times, particularly against physical defenders, but Addison still hit the ground running with his pro-ready talent, and therefore, he put up some fabulous numbers in his debut season.
The rookie became the third player in the Super Bowl era to produce at least 70 receptions, 900 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns, following superstars Ja’Marr Chase and Odell Beckham Jr. The two former LSU prospects combined for six Pro Bowl participations, and only injuries have stopped them.
Addison started the season as a true deep threat, with Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson commanding a lot of attention from defenses. That resulted in a bunch of deep touchdowns. The rookie ranks second in the NFL in touchdown receptions of at least 30 yards (5), only trailing Tyreek Hill.
With the departure of aging wideout Adam Thielen, the Vikes needed to find a replacement, someone who could form a dynamic trio with Jefferson. Addison has been that guy from the get-go. The two have complemented each other wonderfully.
During Jefferson’s lengthy hamstring absence, the Vikings relied on Addison to take over as the team’s WR1, a job he wasn’t expected to have this year, but it worked out pretty well. It took him only eight games with Kirk Cousins to record seven touchdowns, but it was harder for him to find the endzone with his backups throwing him the ball. With Nick Mullens under center, he finally scored again with three TDs in three-and-a-half games with him.
The QB question will be an interesting one in Minnesota as Cousins is scheduled to be a free agent by March, leaving Mullens and rookie Jaren Hall on the roster. Adofo-Mensah now must decide who he trusts to get the ball to the explosive weapons in 2024 and beyond. Cousins could return to U.S. Bank Stadium, but the draft selection of a quarterback with the 11th overall pick (or even higher after a trade) makes sense.
For Addison, the most important aspect is that he has another season at a high level in 2024, proving that he is one of the elite WR2s in the NFL. The rookie turns 22 on January 27, making him the youngest player on Minnesota’s roster.
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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