The Minnesota Vikings went into the 2023 NFL Draft with a few needs on the roster. One of their biggest was on the offensive side of the ball, specifically the wide receiver spot. Earlier in the offseason, the Vikings released veteran Adam Thielen, opening up a big hole in their offense.

While Thielen wasn’t nearly as productive as he was earlier in his career, as the last time he broke the 1,000-yard plateau was in 2018, he was still a key part of their game plan offensively. He was a solid No. 2 option behind star Justin Jefferson and had a good rapport with quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Replacing that production won’t be easy, but the Vikings used their first-round pick hoping to address it. At No. 22 overall, Minnesota selected USC wide receiver, Jordan Addison. Addison’s production slipped a little bit in 2022 with the Trojans after winning the Biletnikoff Award playing with Pittsburgh in 2021.

After catching 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns with the Panthers, his numbers dropped to 59 receptions for 875 yards and eight touchdowns. While the production dip could be concerning for some, he brings a lot to the table to like.

Addison is an elite route runner and has scheme versatility. With the Panthers, he operated mostly out of the slot but got experience as a boundary player while with the Trojans. He is also not lacking in confidence based on what NFL Rookie Report on Twitter shared.

In a recent interview, Addison said that he believes he and Jefferson are instantly the best wide receiver duo in the NFL. His new head coach, Kevin O’Connell, said that those two being in the same huddle will be a problem for opposing teams.

Addison also added that he models his game after Buffalo Bills star Stefon Diggs. The pick that was acquired from the Bills in the Diggs trade was the one used on Jefferson, as that deal turned out to be a winner for both sides.

While Addison doesn’t have the experience that Thielen did, he will certainly bring a new element to the offense. No one was truly fearing him as a duo with Jefferson, but teams will have to pay a lot of attention to the USC product as well this year.

Out of all of the wide receivers in this year’s draft class, a strong argument can be made that Addison is the most ready to step into the lineup and produce on Day 1.