Why a Vikings 1st-Round Selection is in Danger of Demotion

Wide receiver Jordan Addison is one of the rare success stories for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s drafting, generally a waste land of missed picks and poor trades. The Vikings 1st-Round selection from 2023 may nevertheless be a demotion candidate.

At the very top of the position is Justin Jefferson — a top receiver in the NFL. Nobody is taking the WR1 crown off Jefferson’s head. Can the same be said for Mr. Addison as it relates to his job as Minnesota’s WR2? The presence of Jauan Jennings makes things dicier for the homegrown young fella who has sometimes gotten into trouble off the field.

Vikings 1st-Round Selection Faces True Challenger for WR2

If the desire is to get more physical and more unpredictable — the coaches say that’s the case, but talk is cheap — then leaning on Jennings makes a lot of sense.

He was referred to as a dirtbag by Kyler Murray at minicamp, a descriptor meant to highlight the grit, ruggedness, and compete within the receiver’s game. He can bulldoze defensive backs in a way that’s unique in the NFL. Accordingly, the Vikings can be a considerably more dangerous team when running the ball when operating out of 11 personnel: 1 running back, 1 tight end, and 3 receivers.

There’s a case to be made, though, for Jennings being the second receiver when Minnesota leans on 12 or 21 personnel. In these formations — ones that feature either a second running back or a second tight end — there are only a pair of receivers.

Jefferson claims one spot. Addison is the assumed option to run alongside Jefferson, but Jennings will have something to say about that seemingly foregone conclusion.

During the 2025 season, Jauan Jennings piled up 643 yards and 9 touchdowns within his 55 catches. Averaging 11.7 yards per catch is good but a touch below his career average of 12.3 yards. His longest catch of the season went for 42 yards and he averaged 3.3 yards after the catch. Jennings offered these statistics within fifteen games and within the context of the 49ers having some passer turmoil.

Meanwhile, Jordan Addison was putting together his most modest season as a pro. The reasons are twofold. To begin, there was his three-game absence due to suspension. He then had to sort through a horrendous quarterback situation, a reality that impacted everybody.

Addison had 42 catches for 610 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 14.5 yards-per-reception average is better than his career average: 13.7 yards. His longest catch went for 81 yards. So, too, did he offer a pair of runs, totalling 81 rushing yards and a touchdown. Like Jennings, Addison averaged 3.3 yards after the catch.

Consider those statistical details alongside what is known about these Vikings.

Recent seasons has featured a pile of 11 personnel. Last year, for instance, Minnesota was in that formation for close to 64% of their plays, coming in at tenth in the NFL. Back in 2024, the Vikings finished off at twenty-second in the NFL with a bit above 57% of the snaps being out of 11 personnel.

Where does the team land in the upcoming season?

If the football gods have mercy on the Vikings — not something that occurs very often — then Kevin O’Connell will finally figure out how to run the football. Doing so effectively will require a consistent commitment to moving the pigskin on the ground. Doing so effectively will be aided by being unpredictable and by blocking well.

Jennings can catch well and be a terrific blocker. Addison has the potential to be a very good receiver and just an average blocker. What that means for each player’s snap count remains to be seen, but insisting that Jennings only displaced Tai Felton on the depth chart can’t be assumed.

Jennings is a great football player who helps a team win even when the ball isn’t in his hand. Can Addison say the same?

Addison, 24, is moving into his fourth season as a pro. The Vikings picked up his 5th-year option, meaning he’s under contract for two more seasons. Jennings is operating on a single-season deal worth a maximum of $13 million.

Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, Sumer Sports, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.