Tag: Jordan Addison

Kirk Cousins’ best landing spot is to stay put in Minnesota

With free agency looming and plenty of quarterback-needy teams ready to pay out, Kirk Cousins’ best option is to stay at home.

It has to be tempting for any potential starter in a quarterback-desperate league to try and test the market and take home what amounts to multiple bank heists in free agency. Should Kirk Cousins decide to test out free agency there is little doubt that there will be plenty of suitors willing to come in and make him their starting quarterback for the 2024 season and perhaps beyond. The big question is, is that the right move for Cousins beyond his bank account?

No one can blame a player for ultimately picking the team that offers them the most money of course, but at an age where Cousins is likely entering his twilight, his career reflection may be the most important thing for him moving forward. Cousins has plenty of years of production and has had seasons that saw him produce like a top ten quarterback in this league. Last season for Minnesota Cousins was well on his way to having his most productive season yet, and before being injured was a front runner in the MVP race with 18 passing touchdowns and 2,331 yards in just eight games.

Cousins is a clear and established leader within a locker room full of younger talent that includes two young superstar receivers in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Cousins also has an excellent connection and feel with his offensive guru head coach Kevin O’Connell. These things are a bit understated when it comes to being an older quarterback in the league that is looking for success. Going to another team and attempting to spark those same connections within an entirely different culture isn’t easy.

With the Vikings set up to support a Cousins lead offense, and with Cousins coming off a career best hot start, it makes the most sense for both parties to find the reasonable number to allow him to stay home and cement himself as one of the two best quarterbacks in Minnesota Vikings history.

Jordan Addison discusses Kirk Cousins and Caleb Williams as QBs with Vikings

Jordan Addison is being asked about the Vikings’ QB situation. Understandably so.

The Vikings drafted Jordan Addison 23rd from USC last year. He rewarded them with 70 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, despite playing with backup quarterbacks for more than half the season.

He had a great individual season and is now looking ahead to next season. His quarterback in Minnesota could be Kirk Cousins, but the Vikings might have different plans in the draf and NFL free agency. Is Minnesota considering a blockbuster trade for Caleb Williams or another option in the 2024 season for Kevin O’Connell? It will be fascinating to see what the Vikings do. Addison spoke about the subject.

“I don’t even gotta say too much. I think people got an idea with Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson,” Addison told “The Viking Age” podcast on Thursday after host Adam Patrick floated the idea. “It’d be scary.”

In 2022, Addison had 59 catches for 875 yards and 8 TDs at USC as Williams won the Heisman Trophy. Williams, in the 2022 season, threw for 4,537 yards and 45 TDs versus 5 interceptions.

“I just feel like he’s underrated to me,” Addison said of Cousins. “He always got the numbers, he’s a very accurate quarterback, he does great under pressure. Like, we need Kirk back, we need Kirk back.”

(To view the full interview and find out everything Jordan Addison had to say about his very first season with the Vikings, scroll down below or head on over to the Viking Age YouTube channel.)

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Grading the Minnesota Vikings’ 2023 rookie draft class

With their rookie seasons under their belt, let’s revisit the Minnesota Vikings’ 2023 NFL draft and hand out some rookie grades.

The 2023 season for the Minnesota Vikings was the ultimate rollercoaster ride. Not even just week-to-week, but seemingly quarter-by-quarter and even series-to-series. You never knew what you were going to get from this iteration of the Vikings on any given day, and it made for some wild moments.

The season may not have ended the way the team, or the fans, wanted, but that disappointment shouldn’t overshadow the many good things that happened this year, least of all the many great contributions from the team’s rookie class.

There are a number of different ways to build a successful franchise in the NFL, but still the prevailing thought process is that it’s best to utilize the draft to build your base, and to supplement that base through free agency, trades, and the like.

Over the past few years, the Vikings have used the draft well to build up their base, including nabbing arguably the best wide receiver in football just a few short years ago when taking Justin Jefferson.

That success in the NFL draft continued in 2023, with the Vikings getting some major contributions from a number of their selections. Perhaps even more impressive, arguably their best rookie this season came in the form of someone who wasn’t drafted at all – instead being a true diamond-in-the-rough as an undrafted free agent.

With that as our backdrop, let’s revisit the 2023 Minnesota Vikings NFL draft class and hand out some grades now that their first season is officially behind them.

WR Jordan Addison snubbed from being Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist

Minnesota Vikings WR Jordan Addison was snubbed from being a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year

On Thursday morning, the National Football League announced the finalists for all of the major awards. Five players for awards like Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year and Head Coach of the Year.

When it came to Offensive Rookie of the year, the award had five finalists just like every other award, but it had one glaring omission.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison.

Yes, the Vikings first first-round pick at 23rd overall was not a finalist for the award, despite being a force for the Vikings all season, winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month in October and catching 70 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Sure the Vikings’ offense wasn’t as potent as it could have been over the last half of the year because of the torn Achilles tendon suffered by quarterback Kirk Cousins. That doesn’t mean Addison’s rookie year wasn’t any less impressive. Heck, you could argue it was even more impressive due to the circumstances.

He might have been snubbed, but we all know that Addison should be at the NFL Honors ceremony as a finalist for the award.

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Jordan Addison and Ivan Pace recognized for sensational rookie seasons

Jordan Addison and Ivan Pace were recognized for their outstanding rookie seasons by the PFWA Writers.

As we get farther into the offseason, the Minnesota Vikings continue to see accolades for the 2023 NFL season.

The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling reports that wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace have been selected to the PFWA Writer’s All-Rookie teams.

Addison made the team alongside the Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua and Pace alongside the Detroit Lions’ Jack Campbell and Rams’ Byron Young.

Addison’s 10 receiving touchdowns rank tied for the 10th-most all-time by a rookie receiver and are the most since Ja’Marr Chase in 2021. When Jefferson went down in week five, Addison was called upon to be the go-to receiver in the offense. Between weeks six and twelve, when Jefferson was out, Addison’s four touchdowns tied for eighth-most by any receiver in the NFL.

Ivan Pace’s 102 combined tackles and 63 solo tackles led all rookie linebackers. It also ranks as the fourth-most tackles in NFL history by an undrafted rookie in their first season, the most since the Atlanta Falcons’ Paul Worrilow in 2013.

Congratulations to both Addison and Pace on their remarkable seasons!

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2023 Minnesota Vikings by The Numbers

The 2023 season for the Minnesota Vikings was one that can’t be forgotten.

Since 2017, there have been 65 teams that have had a winning streak of five or more in a single season. Only ten failed to make the playoffs, including three from 2023: The Denver Broncos, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Minnesota Vikings.

Minnesota’s run is a bit more impressive due to two of the wins being with a quarterback in Josh Dobbs, who was in the building for less than two weeks. Like the other two teams, however, the Vikings were victims of a crushing late-season collapse that took them out of the playoff race. 

Don’t let the ending take away from another memorable season for the Vikings.

What started as a simple quest for answers for the franchise’s future became an adventure for the ages, littered with twists and turns suitable for the Alex Rider series. While the ride ended disappointingly, the numbers from this season may have helped the front office to their answers after all.

To explain, we will split this season into four quarters and explain the numbers that coincide with each quarter to come to a conclusion for the future of the Vikings.

(All statistics are from Pro-Football-Reference via Stathead or rbsdm.com, unless otherwise stated.)

Vikings’ statistical leaders following 2023 season

The Minnesota Vikings had some good individual performances that are highlighted by their 2023 statistical leaders.

After a 7-10 season, the Minnesota Vikings are dealing with their third season in the last four where they missed the playoffs. All hope is not lost for the purple and gold as injuries were the defining factor this season.

The Vikings had four quarterbacks start games for them in 2023 and none of them ended up over 0.500 as a starter. They also had mixed results in terms of success in running the offense.

The defense was similar to the offense in that they saw different levels of success but were more consistent than the offense. They finished 13th in scoring defense and were the catalyst behind multiple Vikings wins.

On an individual level, there were multiple good performances and they are highlighted by the stad leaders in many categories.

Mixed-up CBS Sports analyst thinks Vikings should trade Justin Jefferson because of Bralon Addison

Have you heard of Bralon Addison? CBS Sports’ Kyle Long thinks that the Vikings should trade Justin Jefferson because of his presence

Have you heard of wide receiver Bralon Addison? He played football at Oregon and spent an offseason with the Minnesota Vikings in 2020. He also crossed paths with former NFL offensive lineman and current CBS analyst Kyle Long while they both attended Oregon in 2012.

According to Long, the Vikings should trade wide receiver Justin Jefferson because of the presence of Addison. Unfortunately, he had the wrong Addison. Bralon is under contract with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League. The Vikings selected Jordan Addison in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Long also stated that the Vikings need to trade Jefferson because they didn’t win a Super Bowl. Yes, you heard that correctly. The Vikings, who just dealt with an injury-plagued season, should trade their best player because they didn’t win a Super Bowl.

Pair that with his rationale of Kirk Cousins having a great year despite missing nine games and you have one doozy of a take.

Is there merit to trading Jefferson? Perhaps, especially when you consider he would bring back at least two first-round draft picks and perhaps more. However, the rationale provided by Long just doesn’t add up to a worthwhile reason to trade arguably the best non-quarterback in football.

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2023 season: Minnesota Vikings rookie of the year

Who was the Minnesota Vikings rookie of the year? Our staff made their picks

The 2023 National Football League season is over for the Minnesota Vikings and now it’s time to reflect on what was and what could have been.

The Vikings had quite the roller coaster ride this season. After starting 1-4, they lost wide receiver Justin Jefferson and went on a five-game winning streak and won six out of their next eight games. They ultimately lost their final four to finish the season 7-10.

As we reflect back on the season that was for the Vikings, we as a staff took a look at it in multiple ways by handing out awards in different categories.

Here are our choices for Vikings rookie of the year.

Jordan Addison brings Vikings back within a score vs. Lions

Addison caught his 10th touchdown in his rookie season

The fireworks have begun in Detroit. After a somewhat quiet first three quarters, both teams have put up touchdowns in quick succession, as the Minnesota Vikings got another score on the board with a deep toss from Nick Mullens to wide receiver Jordan Addison.

On the heels of the Amon-Ra St. Brown touchdown by the Lions, the Vikings were quick to respond, as they moved the ball down the field efficiently. Perhaps feeling a bit of desperation fighting for their playoff lives, head coach Kevin O’Connell drew up another shot play, and once again he was rewarded with a touchdown.

It was a simple route for Addison, as he just ran up the seam and blew by his defender. Mullens once again put the ball on the money and hit Addison for the 42-yard touchdown. Minnesota is now back within one score early in the fourth quarter. Minnesota needs a win and some help to get into the playoffs, so they still have some work to do in this one to hold up their end of the bargain.

Stay tuned to Vikings Wire for more live updates on the game.

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