2023 Fan Nation Publisher Mock Draft: Vikings Go Wide Receiver at 23

The Vikings select former USC and Pitt star Jordan Addison in this publisher mock draft.

Ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, Fan Nation's NFL team site publishers got together to conduct a mock draft. Instead of one person making all the picks, this mock features a variety of writers making selections on behalf of the team they cover.

There were some surprises, including Will Levis going to the Jets to sit behind Aaron Rodgers (that trade is still happening, right?) and the Lions taking Bijan Robinson with their second selection of the first round.

You can find the entire mock draft right here.

I had pick No. 23 for the Vikings, and although there were plenty of intriguing options on the board, I went with USC wide receiver Jordan Addison.

Why I picked Addison for the Vikings

The Vikings may want to find their quarterback of the future in this draft, and if Levis had fallen all the way to 23, I would've taken him. I just don't trust Hendon Hooker — taken 29th by the Saints in this mock — to be that guy. Hooker is 25 years old, coming off an ACL injury, and played in a Tennessee offense that had minimal similarities to NFL systems.

I also considered bolstering the Vikings' defense, which was abysmal last season and could use more building blocks. But players like Joey Porter Jr., Brian Branch, Deonte Banks, Nolan Smith, and Calijah Kancey were off the board, so my best defensive options were probably Emmanuel Forbes, Kelee Ringo, Bryan Bresee, and Drew Sanders.

Instead, I decided to take a wide receiver. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Zay Flowers already taken, I went with Addison over Quentin Johnston and Jalin Hyatt. Why? Because I think Addison is both a better prospect and a better fit for the Vikings' offense.

In 2021, Addison won the Biletnikoff Award as college football's top wide receiver after posting a ridiculous 100/1,593/17 receiving line in his second season at Pittsburgh. Then he transferred to USC and continued to shine, going for 59/875/8 in 11 games despite playing through an ankle injury down the stretch. Addison is a highly refined receiver prospect who has elite separation abilities because of his releases and route-running. He's undersized at 5'11", 170 pounds, but he more than makes up for that with an exciting all-around skillset. Addison has good hands, he's a downfield threat, and he has some juice after the catch.

In Minnesota, Addison would become Justin Jefferson's long-term WR partner in Kevin O'Connell's offense. Playing alongside Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson would mean seeing a lot of single coverage, which he is well-equipped to defeat. Addison can step in right away and be an upgrade over the aging Adam Thielen, who was released and landed with the Panthers. Regardless of who is throwing passes for the Vikings in 2024 and beyond, having Jefferson and Addison at receiver would make that person's life much easier.

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