Jordan Addison Having Significant Impact For Vikings Already

Minnesota Vikings rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison was a bright spot in Thursday’s 34-28 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles. Addison recorded three receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown and appears poised to make a major contribution all season.

The Vikings were facing a crucial 3rd-and-10 while trailing 27-7 in the third quarter. Addison got behind Eagles cornerback Josh Jobe for a 62-yard touchdown. It represented the kickstarter to Minnesota’s comeback efforts.

.@Vikings answer back! On 3rd and 10, Kirk tosses a beauty to @Espn_Jordan who runs it in for the TD. #MINvsPHI on Prime Video
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eMkDgB2kEz pic.twitter.com/9ZR5Mjdb9m

— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2023

It was Addison’s second explosive touchdown in as many contests. Addison caught a 39-yard touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 and is quickly meeting his pre-draft expectations in Minnesota.

Jordan Addison makes a big impact on just his 2nd career catch! #SKOL pic.twitter.com/ApywzmiaVu

— Jaime Eisner (@JaimeEisner) September 10, 2023

The No. 23 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft has now accounted for seven receptions, 133 receiving yards, and a team-high two receiving touchdowns through two games. He is averaging an explosive 19.0 yards per catch.

Addison is off to an excellent start, but the scary part is that the advanced metrics indicate there’s room for growth. Addison has been targeted on 11 occasions, which ranks fourth on the team behind Justin Jefferson (25), T.J. Hockenson (17), and K.J. Osborn (12). Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins has completed 63.6% of the passes he’s thrown in Addison’s direction.

Osborn recorded several drops against the Eagles and failed to take advantage of his opportunities. Through two contests, Osborn has out-snapped Addison 114-76. Addison hasn’t fully taken over as Minnesota’s No. 2 receiver, but that moment is nearing. The former USC and Pittsburgh standout has been significantly more consistent than Osborn. Minnesota’s coaching staff will reward Addison appropriately.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell seems privy to the impact Addison is having. In Week 1, Addison ran routes on 66% of his snaps. On Thursday versus the Eagles, that number climbed to 78 percent, per Pro Football Focus. Expect Addison’s route participation to continue increasing as the weeks progress.

The Vikings entered the 2023 draft in the market for a wide receiver following the release of veteran wideout Adam Thielen. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah specifically targeted Addison because he was searching for a consistent man-coverage beater to compliment Jefferson. Addison is already thriving off the attention Jefferson receives from opposing secondaries. 

Addison’s early-season success is a reminder to analysts and evaluators to stop overcomplicating the pre-draft process. Addison, who had long been viewed as a first-round selection, was a victim of draft season fodder. Addison didn’t test particularly well, having run the 40-yard dash in a slightly disappointing 4.49 seconds. His size also came into question when the Frederick, Maryland native officially measured in at 5-foot-11, 173 pounds. None of that mattered. Addison is every bit of the dynamic receiver he was at Pittsburgh and USC.

Not much has gone right for the 2023 Vikings thus far. Thursday’s defeat dropped them to 0-2 and they now possess an 11% chance of qualifying for the postseason, according to historical data. Addison, who’s been a positive, has been outstanding as a rookie pass-catcher. Look for Addison’s role in Minnesota’s offense to continue growing.