10 Noteworthy Numbers for Jordan Addison, The Vikings’ 1st-Round Pick
K. Joudry
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In the opening round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings chose Jordan Addison. In so doing, they firmly signalled their commitment to bringing their offense to the next level. Alongside Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn, Addison will give the Vikings a formidable trio to challenge defensive backfields.
Take a look at some of the notable numbers for Jordan Addison.
The Numbers and Jordan Addison
1) Not Drafted for Size
At just 6’0″, 175 pounds, Addison is quite small by NFL standards. Nevertheless, the more important thing will be that he finds separation and finds a way to produce. No one will care about size if he’s consistently making plays.
2) Prioritizing Youth
He’s only 21, so Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is bringing in someone who has the potential to thrive for years to come. Don’t forget that Jefferson is still just 23.
3) Pretty Speedy
Leading up to the draft, Addison ran a 4.49 forty. For reference, Justin Jefferson ran a 4.43. No one will mistake him for Tyreek Hill but the forty time is plenty fast.
4) An Explosive Catch Threat
In 2021, Addison averaged a remarkable 15.9 yards per catch. In 2022, he averaged 14.8 yards per catch. The Vikings likely view Addison as someone capable of taking the top off the defense. Kirk Cousins throws a beautiful deep ball.
5) Productive in College
The USC receiver had just 875 yards last season and 8 TDs, solid but unspectacular numbers. The year prior, he put up 1593 yards and 17 TDs. Taken together, we get the sense that he was wonderfully productive during his collegiate days. Hopefully, that merely foreshadows similar production in the NFL.
6) Slot Flexibility
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah values versatility. Take a peak at the slot snaps over the past three seasons:
- 2020: 294
- 2021: 385
- 2022: 77
Obviously, there was a significant drop off last season, largely due to his 253 snaps out wide. Being able to be moved all over the formation is a good thing, folks.
7) Previous Drop Issues
Last season, Addison only had a pair of drops. However, he had “21 drops [in] his first two seasons at Pittsburgh” (per PFF).
8) Concern About “Schemed Production”
Again, per PFF, there is some concern that some of his touches need to be manufactured: “A lot of schemed production at USC — 23 of his 59 catches came on screens.” For whatever it’s worth, the Vikings didn’t do very well with their screens last season. Improving in this area represents a clear way of pushing their offense up a notch.
9) Underwhelming Athleticism
According to Kent Lee Platte’s RAS Score, Jordan Addison is just an average athlete. The WR comes in with just a 5.90 score.
10) A WR2 or WR3?
This is the question that hangs over the whole thing. Can he unseat K.J. Osborn for the other starting spot alongside Justin Jefferson? Before the draft, Addison met with the Vikings, so it was clear there was interest. However, the team also seems enthused about Osborn. The offseason competition will be one to monitor closely.
Editor’s Note: Information from Sports Reference CFB and PFF helped with this piece.
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