Popular Viking Forecasted for Slump in 2024
The Minnesota Vikings have grand plans on tap for many young players in 2024, and wide receiver Jordan Addison is not excluded.
Popular Viking Forecasted for Slump in 2024
However, not everyone believes Addison will repeat his rookie majesty from 2023.
One such voice comes 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 believes Addison is on tap for a dreaded sophomore slump.
Mosher opined this week, “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.
So, the working theory here is that, without Cousins, Addison’s production could dip as it did with Dobbs and Jaren Hall in 2023.
Mosher added, “It’s also worth noting that most of Addison’s production came when Justin Jefferson was out of the lineup because of a hamstring injury. Once Jefferson returned, Addison saw a major dip in his production. While we can assume Addison will be a better player in 2024, it’s easy to see how his receiving numbers might not increase.”
If Mosher’s prognostication came true, it would be terrible news for Minnesota, a club that will showcase a new quarterback in 2024 — either veteran Sam Darnold or rookie J.J. McCarthy. After Jefferson and Addison on the current depth chart, it’s slim pickings for anyone to pick up the slack in the event of an Addison slump.
Thankfully, though, this is just one man’s opinion, and Addison could avoid a downturn altogether if Darnold or McCarthy is the real deal out of the gate.
Mosher also forecasted Devon Achane (RB, Miami Dolphins), Kobie Turner (DT, Los Angeles Rams), and Sam LaPorta (TE, Detroit Lions) for sophomore slumps.
Only two other players in the Super Bowl have notched Addison’s level of rookie production in the Super Bowl era:
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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