With easy-to-see needs elsewhere, it was surprising when the Minnesota Vikings took wide receiver Jordan Addison in the first round (No. 23 overall) of the 2023 draft. But history says teams should draft good players without too much concern for need, and it has worked out well as Addison tied for the fourth-most receiving touchdowns in the league over the 2023 and 2024 seasons (19).
However, in back-to-back offseasons, 2023 and 2024, Addison ran into legal trouble for violations related to driving. The second offense led to the NFL suspending him for the first three games this season.
Along with losing a few game checks this season, it was easy to wonder if Addison's suspension would impact his future with the Vikings from a contractual standpoint. Now in his third season, the team has a decision to make about his fifth-year option by roughly May 1 of 2026. Lower than usual production in a slightly truncated third season, if it happened, could naturally impact his market value when it comes time for a contract extension.
Minnesota Vikings' plan for Jordan Addison has been revealed
On Tuesday's edition of SKOR North's "Purple Daily", Darren Wolfson of KSTP talked about Addison's return and the looming idea of a contract extension.
"He is a No. 1 receiver, but here, No. 2. Wait until you see the contract extension, [Addison] will sign. The Vikings have in their minds this idea that they are going to pay Addison. Now could that change, could that shift? Sure. They feel like they hit on a first-round pick."
”The idea is in a pass first offense in many ways, that you want two dynamic receivers. Jordan Addison can get one of those Garrett Wilson-type contracts. If not more. Terry McLaurin, $30 million a year-plus. He is that good. He would be a No. 1 on so many different teams."
Back in July, the New York Jets signed Garrett Wilson to a four-year, $130 million contract extension. That made him the fifth-highest paid wide receiver in the league by APY ($32.5 million per year), and overall, Wilson's deal looks like an easy comp for the kind of deal Addison could get.
Wolfson referenced Terry McLaurin's new three-year, $87 million deal ($29 million per year). As the Washington Commanders avoided the $30 million per year mark, it seemed they were hesitant to give him. Addison's agent would surely push for a $30 million a year deal.
As Wolfson noted, things can and do change when it comes to big contracts. But as of now, the Vikings intend to keep Addison around with a market value-level contract extension when the time comes. But it's not an urgent or imminent matter just yet, with 2026 and 2027 via his fifth-year option left in the team's control contractually.