Jordan Addison's issues off the field are creating concern about the wide receiver's group reliability.
Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison was arrested on Monday morning with a misdemeanor charge in Tampa, FL. This is Addison’s third run-in with law enforcement since getting drafted in 2023. He’s an efficient player when on the field, but his off-the-field issues create a need at receiver. This could cause the Vikings to select a wide receiver early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Addison has 178 receptions for 2,425 yards and 22 touchdowns in his three-year career. He’s been an elite complement to Justin Jefferson and uses his burning speed to be a constant deep threat. Additionally, he’s been a valuable weapon for young quarterback JJ McCarthy. Without him, the defense can keen in on Jefferson and make Minnesota’s offense one-dimensional.
To make matters worse, Jalen Nailor, the Vikings third leading receiver, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. This question mark, plus Addison’s unreliability, creates a major need for receivers this offseason.
Fortunately for the Vikings, formidable wide receivers are available consistently throughout the draft. It isn’t necessary to select one in the first round; rather, they could wait until day two or three to find someone. That isn’t to say they shouldn’t invest early, because there are elite options, but it’s just another strategy they may use.
Another positive about this year’s prospect pool is the variety of strengths and weaknesses. There are players who thrive as an X, Z, or slot receiver. Additionally, certain players are elite after the catch, have devastating speed, or are twitchy route runners.
Here are some potential options for the Vikings in April.
Makai Lemon
Makai Lemon from USC would be a perfect fit for the Vikings offense. He’s a twitchy, explosive route runner who would complement Jefferson. He’s only 5-foot-11 but plays far bigger than his size and is able to consistently bring in contested catches. The Vikings will likely either need to trade up or hope for an unforeseen draft slide for Lemon to land with them.
Brenen Thompson
Mississippi State’s Brenen Thompson is extremely undersized for a receiver, only being 5-foot-9, 170 LBs, but makes up for it with his unmatched speed and route running. He ran a 10.4 100-meter dash in high school, which translates to his play. He consistently burns defenders deep and is tough to match up against one-on-one. He would be the next great deep threat for the Vikings if Addison is unable to remain on the field.
Zachariah Branch
Zachariah Branch is lightning in a bottle; he’s extremely explosive and is dynamic with the ball in his hands. Georgia didn’t have him run an expansive route tree, which makes some scouts question his route-running ability, but he’s shown flashes of being able to create separation. Branch could be a perfect weapon for an offense needing an explosive playmaker.