EAGAN, Minn. -- If you made a list of the most-discussed parts of the Minnesota Vikings' busy offseason, receiver Jordan Addison's progress wouldn't crack the top 10. The Vikings swapped out their quarterback, overhauled their pass rush, extended Justin Jefferson's contract, signed longtime nemesis Aaron Jones and even drafted a new kicker, among other moves.
All the while, Addison produced one of the most notable springs of any Vikings player during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, taking full advantage of his first NFL offseason to set himself up for a season that exceeds the historic rookie season he fashioned in 2023.
"Jordan Addison had as good of an offseason program as really you can ask for," coach Kevin O'Connell said. "[He is] a guy that had a ton of success in Year 1. And really, from a standpoint of getting a little stronger, getting a little bit more comfortable playing through contact and still playing with that great burst and transition that he has, you saw some real growth there [this spring]."
Another work week in the books.#Skol pic.twitter.com/fKhmhWpgtY
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 1, 2024
Addison was injured and missed nearly all of the Vikings' spring workouts last year after they made him the No. 23 overall pick of the 2023 draft. Perhaps that's why there hasn't been enough said about the season he went on to deliver, much less his capacity for growth ahead of his second year. He was one of four players in modern NFL history to record at least 70 receptions, 900 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns in his rookie season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The others were Bill Groman (1960), Odell Beckham Jr. (2014) and Ja'Marr Chase (2021).
Chase and Addison benefited from 17-game seasons, compared to 16 or 14 in earlier eras, and filtering his production on a per-game basis widens the company they joined from that perspective. They are among 29 players, many of whom did not play full seasons, who have averaged at least four receptions, 50 receiving yards and 0.5 touchdowns per game in the past 64 years, less than one every other season per Elias.
No matter how you judge it, Addison produced a rookie season that was everything the Vikings could have hoped for. Drafted with the idea of providing Jefferson an explosive wingman for years to come, Addison caught four touchdowns of at least 39 yards, and -- if there were any concern about his reliance on the attention Jefferson gets from defenders -- actually elevated his production in the seven games Jefferson missed due to a hamstring injury. Addison's per-game reception totals during that stretch were 43% higher than in games Jefferson played. His yards increased by 32%.
Addison demonstrated a natural instinct for getting open as well as a developed skill for making difficult catches. In fact, he led the team with a catch percentage of 40.9% on tight window passes, defined by NFL Next Gen Stats as throws where a defender was less than 1 yard from the target at the time of the ball's arrival. Perhaps the most memorable was a 60-yard touchdown reception that he ripped from the hands of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward during a Week 7 game.
This spring, Addison returned to the Vikings' practice facility with a specific goal in mind. He wanted to improve his technique and intention when releasing from the line of scrimmage at the snap.
"Last year I wasn't as confident in my releases," he said. "I wasn't being decisive. I didn't have a plan when I was coming up to the line. I was just freelancing trying to make something work."
Under the guidance of receivers coach Keenan McCardell, Addison said he has "taken my game to the next level in one year."
The NFL limits physicality during spring practices, so Addison won't get a chance to fully test his new approach until training camp. Perhaps by then, after an offseason of talk about Jefferson's contract and an outsized focus on the team's plan for the No. 3 receiver, Addison's progress will be evident to all.
