Vikings: Jordan Addison Ready To Make Life Easier On Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison is set to see tons of targets as a rookie. Have the Minnesota Vikings found a long-term running mate for Justin Jefferson?

The Vikings struck gold at No. 22 in the 2020 NFL Draft when Justin Jefferson fell into their laps toward the end of Round 1. The fifth receiver off the board that year, Jefferson has gone on to create a gap between himself and those taken in front of him. In fact, there’s a legitimate argument that JJetta is the best receiver in the entire NFL.

At the ripe age of 23 years old, the former LSU standout earned first-team All-Pro in 2022 thanks to career highs in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809). Both numbers led the league, and Jefferson’s 1,800+ yards marked only the sixth time a player has ever reached that plateau.

The most impressive part is how much attention Jefferson receives from opposing defenses. He regularly draws the team’s toughest defensive back, and rarely does it matter. The star receiver is frequently open, and even when he cannot shake free, Jefferson finds a way to come down with the football anyway.

The offense has undergone a facelift this offseason as the Vikings look to capitalize on the momentum they gained in 2022. Veteran pass catcher Adam Thielen was released earlier in the offseason, and a split with running back Dalvin Cook is becoming inevitable.

Not to fret, head coach Kevin O’Connell and quarterback Kirk Cousins still have plenty to work with on that side of the ball. Aside from Jefferson returning, the wide receiver room also welcomes back former fifth-round pick K.J. Osborn. While Osborn has never held down a full-time WR2 role in the NFL, he’s proven to be an above-average WR3 for Minnesota.

Vikings: Jordan Addison Ready To Make Life Easier On Justin Jefferson

Thanks to the Vikings going with a wide receiver on Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, Osborn can remain in the same role he has occupied since entering the league. Adam Thielen’s true replacement comes in the form of USC star Jordan Addison.

Addison possesses arguably the best hands in the entire draft class, having cut his drop rate down to an impressive 3.3 percent with the Trojans in 2022. On top of that, the 21-year-old is a technically sound route runner who boasts impeccable footwork and a high-end football IQ.

Before joining USC and earning the WR1 role in a Caleb Williams-led offense, Addison did the same for 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett. Originally a Pitt Panther, the exciting pass catcher made a name for himself around the country by winning the 2021 Biletnikoff Award, given to the country’s top receiver.

Addison was blessed to play with such talent behind center, but the quarterbacks would tell you they were the lucky ones. He is always open and has a knack for working back to the football when his guy is in trouble. Add in the fact that Addison is deceptively agile with the ball in his hands, and it makes for an all-around threat on the boundary and in the slot.

The red flags in Addison’s profile mostly center around his meager size. At 171 pounds, he ranked below the 1st percentile for all receivers taken in the NFL Draft since 1987. Simply put, Addison is a twig in a league full of redwood trees.

Addison did not handle press-man coverage very well in college. Luckily for him, he didn’t see it often, but that will change if the former four-star recruit plans to stick on the boundary full-time. Instead, it would be wise for O’Connell to scheme up Addison from the slot to avoid getting jammed at the line of scrimmage.

Not to say the first-year pass catcher can’t log snaps on the outside, but the Vikings need to mix up his alignment throughout the game to keep defenses off balance. Addison possesses the route running and football intelligence to succeed against a multitude of schemes, so I do not expect his lack of size to derail his career by any means, especially with Justin Jefferson on the same depth chart.

Thielen, even while showing his age, accumulated 107 targets in his final season with Minnesota. With the veteran off to Carolina, that is a large number of vacated snaps in the offense. Osborn could surprise us and beat Addison out in training camp for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, but regardless, all three pass catchers should see considerable time on the field this coming season.

If Addison is as much of a different maker as I anticipate, he will not only seize a starting gig as a rookie but will also be a front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Cousins has no problem spraying the ball all over the field, and Addison’s youth and skillset present a reasonable upgrade for the Vikings over the older Thielen.

Assuming the team can stay healthy and the defense can give them anything, Minnesota will be toward the top of the NFC yet again. Who knows, 12 months from now, the NFL world might be talking about Jefferson and Addison as the premier wide receiver duo in the league. The upside is that immense.