NFL Draft: Jordan Addison, USC wide receiver, selected in first round by Minnesota Vikings

As a junior at USC last season, Addison had 59 receptions for 875 yards and eight touchdowns

USC wide receiver Jordan Addison was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night. He was the 23rd overall pick and the third receiver selected. 

As a junior for the USC Trojans last season, Addison had 59 receptions for 875 yards and eight touchdowns.

Sports Illustrated's evaluation of Addison: The early stages of the 2021 college football season featured excellent play from the Pittsburgh offense with Addison. While Kenny Pickett, the program’s quarterback and a 2022 first-round pick, played a large role in the team’s success, Addison built upon a strong 2020 freshman season and became the Biletnikoff Award winner in 2021. In 2022, Addison played at USC.

An above-average athlete, Addison boasts a flexible frame, exciting linear and lateral burst, and impressive change of direction ability. His speed, while not a rare or special trait, is notable and enables him to win deep at times. Moreover, Addison is a refined route runner who understands space and blind spots. He wins his releases with hesitation, quickness, footwork, and burst. Once into his route, he exhibits advanced route salesmanship - including jab steps, head fakes, body language, speed adjustment, and directional manipulation - to force defensive backs into false steps and early hip turns. He then makes sharp, sudden cuts back to back with great hip sink and without losing speed. As a result, he is a dangerous option on double moves and any sharp-breaking routes. 

He capitalizes on defenders’ mistakes. Addison uses his hands, burst, and leg drive to beat physical coverage. Additionally, he is a reliable hands catcher who has the body control, timing, ball tracking, and catch radius to adjust to errant passes. He does not shy away from contact at the catch point and even shields the ball despite his smaller frame. He is a threat to win contested catches if the pass is thrown well. After the catch, Addison is creative and shifty. His flexibility, feet, salesmanship before cuts, and burst make him a dangerous ball carrier. He has solid contact balance. 

Despite his various positive traits, Addison’s draft profile is not unblemished. First and foremost, his listed 175 pounds is small for any NFL position. Naturally, then, his play strength is somewhat underwhelming. He is regularly overpowered and shows little effort as a blocker. Contact in his route slows or stifles him. Further, he fails to consistently use his hands as a route runner and, in doing so, invites physical coverage. He struggles to break tackles once he is wrapped up. What’s more, Addison’s speed precludes him from being a true deep threat. Although he is an excellent route runner, he sometimes fails to sink his hips and employ salesmanship. He can be boxed out at the catch point.