Jordan Addison Listed Among the Favorites to Win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023

Young Vikings Receiver
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Adjusting to the NFL can take a lot of time for some rookies. Sometimes, multiple years go by before players start seeing their hard work turn into production on the field. Because of that, it is always extremely impressive when NFL rookies step onto the field and immediately showcase starter-level production.

Every year, the Offensive Rookie of the Year award is given to the rookie on the offensive side of the ball that showcases the most impressive skillset and production over the course of a season. Heading into the 2023 season, Pro Football Focus has ranked their favorites to win both Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year, and they believe that the Vikings have one of the favorites to land the OROY award when the 2023 season comes to an end.

With the 23rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings added yet another pass-catcher to their offense with the selection of USC wide receiver Jordan Addison. Addison showcased dominant production over two years at Pittsburgh in 2020 and 2021 before transferring to USC for the 2022 season and maintaining steady numbers there as well.

Jordan Addison Offensive Rookie of the Year
Apr 27, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; USC wide receiver Jordan Addison poses for a photo on the NFL Draft Red Carpet before the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Currently, PFF has him as the third favorite to win OROY this season, sitting behind QB Bryce Young and RB Bijan Robinson. Here is what Trevor Sikkema had to say of Addison’s chances of winning the prestigious award in 2023:

The past two Offensive Rookie of the Year winners have been wide receivers: Garrett Wilson and Ja’Marr Chase. Wilson recorded more than 1,110 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns on 83 catches. Chase recorded more than 1,400 yards with 11 receiving touchdowns on 81 catches.

Addison getting that kind of volume would be asking a lot, but he is poised to take over the WR2 position in Minnesota, which bodes well for him being a strong candidate for the award. Addison was the Biletnikoff Award winner in 2021, so he’s no stranger to standout stats. Long-time Vikings receiver Adam Thielen saw 107 targets last season, and a good chunk of that, if not all of it, will go to Addison this upcoming season.

Sikkema makes a couple very intriguing points here. It’s true that Addison is certainly no stranger to high shares of targets in an offense. In his final season at Pittsburgh, he tied with Josh Downs for the third-most targets in all of the FBS by being thrown to 144 times. In that season, he caught 100 passes for 1593 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Everything You Need to Know About New Vikings WR Jordan Addison
Nov 19, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) celebrates his touchdown scored againt the UCLA Bruins during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Granted, playing alongside both Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson probably limits his targets a bit, but again, as Sikkema states, Adam Thielen was targeted 107 times last season. Assuming the offense remains largely as it is now, a big chunk of those targets will be going to Addison this upcoming season.

With the recent history of the award going to receivers, it’s certainly not implausible that Addison could be one of the finalists for the award at the end of the year. That being said, the Vikings receiver could run into the same problem that Jefferson did back in 2020: quarterbacks.

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Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) looks on during warmups before a wild card game against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

In 2020, despite Jefferson recording 1400 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns on 88 catches, the Offensive Rookie of the Year was Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

Three quarterbacks were selected in the top four picks this spring in Young, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson, so we could very well see this award go back to one of these players, especially if any of them lead their teams to the playoffs.

Considering Young plays in the NFC South, and both Richardson and Stroud reside in the AFC South, it cannot be ruled out that at least one of these young QBs could see the playoffs during their rookie years. Additionally, a huge year for Robinson with the Falcons could boost him up the rankings.

That being said, Addison being listed as one of the early favorites speaks to his talent as a player. He will be a bright spot in the Vikings offense this season regardless of if he wins the award or not.

Addison’s odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year currently sit at +1600.

Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.

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