Jordan Addison is going to be a legitimate threat in the Vikings’ offense in his first season. Drafted 23rd overall in this year’s draft, Addison will have plenty of opportunities to make a name for himself in HC Kevin O’Connell’s effective offensive scheme. This is a scheme, after all, that helped Justin Jefferson make his way into the MVP conversation last year.
Even as a rookie, Addison is significantly pushing K.J. Osborn for the WR2 role. He looks exactly as advertised coming out of USC. Especially after he previously won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best wide receiver at Pitt. Videos coming out of Training Camp showoff his hands and ability to make contested catches, something the coaching staff will expect from him on the goal line. His tape following the first preseason game in Seattle confirmed his ability to be a playmaker:
Was this a catch by Jordan Addison? @Espn_Jordan
📺: #MINvsSEA on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/bBFpXewtKp pic.twitter.com/YGqHMCjmOO— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2023
Addison will likely have significant snaps from the start of the season, especially following the departure of Adam Thielen. Thielen started to show signs of slowing down last year in his age-32 season. However, he still managed to get 107 targets for 70 catches and 716 yards. He was a reliable end zone target for QB Kirk Cousins during his Minnesota tenure. Thielen caught an astounding 30 touchdowns within the past three seasons. Addison crisp routes and ability to make toe-tap sideline catches should help him take over a significant amount of those targets and production.
Yep. That's it.@espn_Jordan pic.twitter.com/XVcHTZzLzU
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 1, 2023
Justin Jefferson, O’Connell, and people throughout the organization are complimenting the rookie’s attitude and commitment to getting better. Adjusting to the NFL is no easy feat. The speed and intensity are miles above what Addison experienced in the nearly defunct Pac-12 conference. Coaches and players seem to think that he’s already comfortable with the adjustment. Reports say that he’s asking the right questions in the meeting room. He’s also integrating the coaching into his reps and proving everyone right on the practice field. Between his preparation and the volume vacancy after the Thielen left for Carolina, Addison is primed to be an absolute stud everywhere on the field, especially as a red zone target.
