The Minnesota Vikings have a history of taking talented wide receivers in the back end of the first round and experts love the fit of Jordan Addison in this offense.
The latest of those is ESPN’s Matt Bowen. A former NFL player in his own right, Bowen believes the volume Addison will get in Minnesota will be immediate.
Addison should see immediate target volume playing opposite Justin Jefferson in Kevin O’Connell’s heavily schemed route tree. Addison brings serious separation speed at the top of his routes, but the Vikings will also use motion, movement and formation savviness to give the rookie free access off the ball. O’Connell can get Addison into the route quicker there, while also creating open voids for him against zone looks. And with slot/outside versatility, Addison’s detailed route tree fits well in Minnesota’s staple three-WR sets.
Over three collegiate seasons (two at Pitt, one at USC), Addison compiled 3,134 yards and 29 TDs. With Adam Thielen off to Carolina, there are targets available in Minnesota.
The Vikings had a need for a wide receiver opposite of Jefferson with Thielen moving on to Carolina for the 2023 season. Addison will be the explosive separator in the underneath and intermediate areas that the Vikings missed last season.