One Viking Has Already Created “Buzz” This Summer
In 2023, Jordan Addison perfectly complemented Justin Jefferson in the Minnesota Vikings’ offense. Jefferson held down the fort as WR1 with intense yardage totals, while Addison became the touchdown merchant, tallying 10 as a rookie.
One Viking Has Already Created “Buzz” This Summer
Now, the drum is getting banged even louder for Addison, courtesy of SI.com and Albert Breer.
Breer analyzed several teams following minicamps last week, and the Vikings were spotlighted. He was high on Addison and noted, “Jordan Addison’s growth has created buzz in the Vikings’ facility. With Jefferson away for most of the offseason program, Addison’s progress really showed up — he came back physically stronger in April while maintaining the burst and body control that made him a first-round pick in 2023.”
Minnesota recently extended Jefferson for the long haul, so at least for the next four years, Addison + Jefferson will highlight the top of the WR ticket.
Breer continued, “And without Jefferson around, it was easy to visualize how Addison has the ability to be a real No. 1 down the line, and create a pick-your-poison problem for teams trying to defend the former USC standout, Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson all at once.”
Hockenson will presumably miss the first part of the 2024 regular season, recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in December. That should, in theory, make Addison’s role even more vital.
“Now, if Minnesota can get Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy rolling (and don’t sleep on Darnold, who seems to have built on what he learned playing for Kyle Shanahan last year), then the Vikings really might have a little bit more than most people think,” Breer concluded about Minnesota’s offensive trajectory.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted Addison 14 months ago, and he swiftly fired off a memorable rookie season by establishing instant credibility as a transferrable college-to-pro receiver in the NFL. Addison banked 70 receptions, 911 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns in 2023.
The goal for Vikings football is to strike in the next four years, with Jefferson, Addison, McCarthy, and Hockenson in their respective primes. Therefore, encouraging statements from Breer are all the more welcomed.
Unlike Breer, though, there are some naysayers about Addison’s 2024 forecast. One such voice came from The 33rd Team, a think tank website for NFL analysis, mostly composed of former players, coaches, executives, and scouts. From that website, Marcus Mosher claimed Addison is on tap for a dreaded sophomore slump.
Mosher opined in May, “It feels pretty likely he won’t reach the same numbers in 2024. The most obvious reason is that Kirk Cousins left the Vikings for the Atlanta Falcons. In the eight games Addison played with Cousins, he scored seven touchdowns and averaged 60.3 yards per game. He scored three times in the nine games without him and averaged 47.7 yards per game. J.J. McCarthy could be solid as a rookie, but there is no way he’ll be as productive as Cousins.”
Addison’s lofty rookie season — when he briefly flirted with Offensive Rookie of the Year honors until C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans took over the conversation — was indeed propped up by Cousins, who left for the Atlanta Falcons in March. Addison struggled to develop chemistry with backup passer Joshua Dobbs, mainly because Dobbs couldn’t throw efficiently outside the numbers or target his downfield playmakers.
Ergo, Breer vs. Mosher theories basically boil down to quarterback performance. If Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy light it up, Addison will probably thrive as a sophomore. Dobbisan quarterback play could result in reduced numbers.
Minnesota’s first regular season game is less than 12 weeks away.
Vikings Sitting Pretty in One Big Area
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,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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