Wild Jordan Addison Theory Is Already Out There
It’s more than fine to ponder down-the-road scenarios for sports teams, but this one might be a little too far in advance.
Wild Jordan Addison Theory Is Already Out There
The Minnesota Vikings drafted Jordan Addison 13 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.
But according to The Athletic, the club may already be on a steady march to his departure. That outfit claimed this week that Justin Jefferson’s eventually hefty price tag might prohibit Minnesota from retaining Addison — in four years.
“Jefferson is arguably the best receiver in the league, and Minnesota should certainly extend him. But the cost will tighten money to spend elsewhere, like on last year’s first-round pick, 22-year-old Jordan Addison, when his rookie deal ends,” Randy Mueller wrote this week while analyzing the wide receiver market.
Mueller may actually be right, but most Vikings fans would counter with something like, “Just enjoy the next four years and then see how the chips fall.”
“Of course, if the Vikings’ assessment of J.J. McCarthy proves accurate, a quality quarterback on a five-year rookie contract might be just what the doctor ordered. If I were running the Vikings, I would pay Jefferson and keep churning WR2 at the end of Addison’s deal,” Mueller added.
Jefferson’s extension will likely finalize soon, and he’s expected to break the bank, probably to the tune of $35 million per season. In that vein, it will be difficult to retain additional highly-priced players, but in the meantime, rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s contract will offset Jefferson’s deal. And if McCarthy turns out to be a legitimate franchise quarterback, well, he’ll be handsomely compensated about five years from now and around the time Addison grabs his big contract.
The goal for Vikings football is to strike in the next four years, with Jefferson, Addison, McCarthy, and tight end T.J. Hockenson in their respective primes. Anything post-2027 is probably best reserved for post-2027.
It’s also worth noting that Jefferson will be around 29 when Addison is eligible for an extension. Folks will have to wait to determine if his career is still prosperous by then — or if it’s time to lean into the Addison era for large paychecks.
Forecasting Addison as too expensive four years beforehand feels a bit strange.
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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