The Vikings selected wide receiver Jordan Addison out of USC with the 23rd pick of the 2023 NFL draft.
Addison was the fourth receiver drafted in a row after a run on the position began at pick No. 20. He enters a wide receiver room that includes the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Justin Jefferson, who Minnesota took 22nd in the 2020 draft.
After transferring to USC, Addison’s lone season with the Trojans was not nearly as impressive as his 2021 campaign at Pittsburgh. He racked up 100 catches for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore and won the Biletnikoff Award, which honors the most outstanding receiver in college football.
He’s one of several slight pass-catchers in the 2023 class (6’0”, 173 pounds), but his production in college was undeniable. Addison, who is capable of lining up in the slot and outside, is an expert route runner with excellent ball skills.
The departure of Adam Thielen in the offseason and the midseason trade of tight end T.J. Hockenson opened up close to 200 targets in one of the most pass-happy offenses in the NFL. The Vikings passed on more than 64% of their plays a season ago, the third-highest rate in the league, and quarterback Kirk Cousins attempted a career-high 643 passes in Year 1 under coach Kevin O’Connell.
Jordan Addison fantasy football ranking and analysis
Addison figures to slot into a starting spot alongside Jefferson and third-year pro K.J. Osborn, who came on late last year. There’s plenty of potential for Addison to contribute as a rookie — Thielen put up high-end WR2 numbers each of the last two seasons and finished as a WR1 along with Jefferson in 2020.
There’s rumors that running back Dalvin Cook’s time in Minnesota could be coming to an end soon, so there could be even more reason for Cousins to air the ball out to his young, talented group of pass-catchers even more often this year if that is the case. Regardless, Addison landed in a high passing volume offense and will get to learn from one of the league’s best at the position.
