Addison has become a topic of conversation off the field.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O'Connell rescheduled their end of the year press conference for Tuesday, January 13th. Adofo-Mensah was asked about the potential departure of blossoming wide receiver Jalen Nailor following a solid season, as he will fetch a contract comparable to KJ Osborn. The general manager spoke about wide receiver Jordan Addison and the potential to exercise his fifth-year option.
Following the press conference, the news broke about Addison's latest brush with the law as he was arrested for trespassing. It couldn't come at a worse time for the former first-round pick. Here is what Adofo-Mensah said about Addison in the press conference:
"Jordan is unique because 99% of the days that Jordan Addison is a Viking, he's a joy to be around," Adofo-Mensah said Tuesday. "He's incredibly intelligent, confident, responsible. And then it's like all of us: What are you like on those 1% of days? Is it the type of thing that draws attention or not? Obviously, that's something we have to consider when you're talking about long-term ramifications of a contract extension and different things like that, or letting somebody like Jalen Nailor leave."
In July 2023, he was cited and later pleaded guilty to driving 140 mph on a Twin Cities freeway. In June 2024, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Los Angeles, which he later pleaded no contest to a lesser charge. He was also benched for the first quarter of Minnesota's Week 5 game in London after missing a team walkthrough.
The issues are on and off the field now for Addison. The benching in London was because the receiver went ghost for the walkthrough. You have to imagine the Vikings front office is now weighing the risk and reward of extending a player with such a checkered past.
Addison is in an incredible position on the field. With Justin Jefferson drawing the attention from defenses and secondaries unable to allocate more resources to defending him while facing the team's second-best cornerbacks, Addison is in a spot that many receivers would envy. Not to mention, it is in O'Connell's system.
This isn't to say Addison can't turn his life around, but the clock is ticking, and it is a shame to watch a talented player toss away his opportunity to be an impact player in the NFL. If there are no issues off the field, there is no question Addison would ink a lucrative extension.
The question becomes: can the receiver turn it around?