Vikings land WR Jordan Addison with 1st-round pick

The Minnesota Vikings selected USC wide receiver Jordan Addison in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 24th overall.

Addison blossomed at Pitt, earning the Biletnikoff Award after recording 1,593 yards on 100 receptions for 17 touchdowns in 2021. He opted to take his talents to the West Coast, committing to USC for the 2022 season.

He was named a first-team All-Pac 12 member after recording 875 yards and eight touchdowns in his lone season with the Trojans.

Addison will pair with 2022 Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson among a receiving group that also features K.J. Osborn. The Vikings will have room for competition after they released veteran wideout Adam Thielen after nine seasons.

The USC product is projected to complement Jefferson in a pass-catching group that's searching for more options besides T.J. Hockenson and Dalvin Cook.

Pre-draft profile

A year after breaking out at Pitt, Addison continued his climb toward the NFL with a productive season at USC. No matter where he plays, Addison's proved to be consistent in one area: route running. In fact, it'd be challenging to name a better route-runner in this WR class than him. Addison's capable of running a full route tree and can use a variety of techniques to create separation. His ability to control the pace is marvelous to watch, and his versatility means he's capable of playing outside or in the slot. While he doesn't have true burner speed, Addison can survive thanks to his craftiness. His weight is perhaps the only true concern - it adds doubt to his ability to handle NFL-caliber boundary cornerbacks. While his ceiling may not be as high as other top prospects, his floor means he should be ready for a starting job from Day 1. Addison got it done in the ACC and the Pac-12, and now he's looking to make it three-for-three by thriving at the next level. With his route-running talent, he should be able to find success.