NFL.com projects Jordan Addison's rookie season stats

Jordan Addison became the fourth receiver to come off the board in April’s NFL Draft after the Minnesota Vikings selected him with the 23rd overall selection.

The former USC star wideout joins a supporting cast which includes star receiver Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn and tight end T.J. Hockenson. With an abundance of mouths to feed in Minnesota’s offense, Addison will have to find ways to get the attention of quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Chad Reuter of NFL.com certainly believes he will, based on his projected stat line for Addison in his rookie campaign. Reuter, making his projections for the notable offensive rookies, has Addison going for 950 yards on 70 receptions and seven touchdowns. That would leave Addison just shy of the 1,000-yard mark, an achievement reached by 22 receivers this past season.

Reuter believes the best-case scenario for Addison is becoming the perfect compliment to Jefferson, who paced the NFL last season with 1,809 receiving yards.

“Addison becomes an excellent complement to Justin Jefferson,” Reuter wrote. “He produces strong numbers winning with suddenness in his routes and agility after the catch, taking pressure off Jefferson as defenses must play both outside receivers straight up.”

The worst-case scenario, according to Reuter, is that Addison’s slim 175-pound frame catches up to him against NFL defenses.

“Addison’s slight frame causes him issues at the line of scrimmage and at the catch-point against savvy, strong NFL defenders. The Kirk Cousins-led offense takes a step back in 2023.” Reuter wrote.

Reuter’s projection of 950 yards would place him just behind the Baltimore Ravens’ Zay Flowers among receivers, whom the draft analyst has racking up 1,050 yards on 85 receptions and eight touchdowns.

Jordan Addison making an impact during training camp, preseason

As for his small stature being an issue in the NFL, Addison has proved during training camp his ability to make contested catches — something he seldom did in his lone season at USC. Of his 81 total targets last season, just 17 were contested.

“I want to see greatness at the catch point,” Cousins recently said, via ESPN. “In this league, you’re going to make contested catches. Coverage is going to be tight. I’m going to have to throw it in tight windows… You’ve got to show me, with somebody draped over you or someone about to come hit you, that you will have strong hands and make that catch. That’s what Justin does well, that’s what Adam [Thielen] does well, that’s what K.J. does well [and] T.J. [Hockenson].

“It’s not for the faint of heart. And you have to have strong hands… I think you can have all the athleticism in the world. But with how good the guys are covering you, if you’re not really strong at the catch point, it’s going to be hard to consistently be successful. That’s what I see from Jordan, is he’s pretty natural at the catch point, which is exciting.”