The Jordan Addison Question Begins to Take Center Stage
This offseason, the matter of Jordan Addison’s impending contract will get whisked to the front of the line, and along the way, the Minnesota Vikings must decide whether to exercise his fifth-year rookie option. According to NFL.com, the answer to that question is yes.
The Vikings must decide whether to commit early to Addison or let the situation linger.
Believe it or not, it’s time to ponder Addison’s next deal, even if it feels like he just joined the team as a rookie in 2023.
Addison’s Contract Extension Is Now Fair Game
The here and now will be time for Minnesota to lock in Addison’s fifth-year option.
NFL.com Says Yes to Addison’s Fifth Year
Marc Ross sized up the state of play for all 1st-Rounders from the 2023 NFL Draft, and on Addison, he recommended the fifth-year extension.
Ross explained, “Exercise the option? Yes. We can’t ignore his absence during a three-game suspension to start the season, and there have been some inconsistencies to his game, but Addison has often been a playmaker in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.”
“Yes, his totals have decreased in each of his three seasons, but the entire offense took a step back in 2025 due to poor QB play, and he did set a new career high in yards per catch (14.5). It’d be smart to keep key pieces together for the foreseeable future in hopes of getting the most out of J.J. McCarthy — or whoever lines up under center.”
The Vikings may indeed continue the Addison era in Minnesota, mainly because he’s one of the few draft picks to pan out over the last four years.
Addison’s Production
Minnesota’s quarterback play disappointed, well, everyone this season, including the wide receivers and tight ends who experienced career lows.
Addison wasn’t immune.
He hauled in 42 catches for 610 yards and 3 touchdowns. That’s high-end WR3 production, with the caveat that Addison missed three games due to a suspension — that was his fault. The electric wideout is basically guaranteed to rebound and finally hit 1,000 yards in a season when his team’s quarterback situation stabilizes, but that’s a waiting game for now.
FantasyLife‘s Sam Wallace noted this week on Addison from a fantasy football standpoint, “If you are not looking to trade for draft capital, trading for players is the other option. Someone like Jordan Addison, for example, is only 23 years old and an objectively talented player.”
“The Vikings offense hasn’t looked as strong this season as it has in years past, but if you’re a believer in the overall offense/coaching staff (which I am), then he becomes a prime trade target for a team looking to blow it up.”
How Much for an Eventual Extension?
Addison-themed extension talk will start this offseason per a usual timing schedule, but a deal may not be reached until this time next year. The Vikings may want to make sure Addison has the youthful tomfoolery out of his system and see a rebound season in 2026 after just 610 yards in 2025.
Still, Addison will ask for top dollar, probably a contract worth $30 million annually. That’s the going rate with the current salary cap for someone with his toolkit, and to think Addison will give anybody a discount because of his legal shenanigans is silly. The NFL doesn’t work like that, and agents, especially, don’t give discounts.
If the Vikings hang onto Addison, it will likely cost three years and $90 million or four years and $120 million. Otherwise, he will tell Minnesota no thanks and find a team that will pony up the cash.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis opined last month on Addison’s upcoming extension, “Plenty of elite young receivers have inked extensions in previous offseasons. Ja’Marr Chase and Jefferson set the bar at around $110 million guaranteed. Garrett Wilson hit the $90 million mark. Amon-Ra St. Brown’s guaranteed money hovers around $77 million.”
“And Jameson Williams joined the party for close to $66 million. Williams presents the most apples-to-apples comparison. He and Addison are similar in age. Both have been suspended. And neither is his team’s No. 1 receiving option.”
Is He Worth the Risk?
Now — the big question: Is Addison worth it?
He’s been in legal trouble twice since Minnesota drafted him in 2023, and during the trip to London last autumn, he skipped a team meeting and got benched for a quarter by the coaching staff. Addison is always up to something a little nefarious; there are examples in each season of his pro career.
Thankfully, Minnesota has mitigated most of his transgressions, and each time has signaled its support for the young wideout.
This version of Vikings leadership will likely bite the bullet and pay Addison, assuming it doesn’t spend top dollar on a quarterback this offseason, like landing Kyler Murray, or something similar, via trade.
Adofo-Mensah can’t let his single blue-chip draft pick leave.
Addison will turn 24 in about three weeks.
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