After going 13-4 last season, only losing to the New York Giants in the wild card round, the Minnesota Vikings will look to be different offensively this time around.
Four-time Pro Bowl Delvin Cook and No. 2 wide receiver Adam Thilen are gone, and the team must find viable replacements for both of them.
Fortunately, the Vikings can replace Thielen with rookie Jordan Addison, the No. 23 pick in April’s draft.
He looks like he’s in ideal position going forward, especially since he’ll be playing alongside Justin Jefferson, who may be the best receiver in the game today.
He said as much in a quote shared by the NFL on Twitter.
,@espn_jordan And @jjettas2 poised to become a leading pair for @vikings Crime. pic.twitter.com/1jAWoNUg5b
— NFL (@NFL) 27 June 2023
Addison put up 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2021 for the University of Pittsburgh, and after transferring to the University of Southern California, he had 875 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
He was considered one of the better wide receiver prospects in this year’s draft, and scouts think highly of his ability to run routes and make catches in big situations.
If the Vikings are to make the playoffs again this winter, Addison will need to shine in his debut season.
Beyond that, Jefferson could get even more nuclear — he led the NFL in 2022 with 1,809 receiving yards, and some believe he could be on his way to reaching the 2,000-yard mark in a season. Ready to be the first player.
But perhaps the biggest thing Minnesota needs to improve is their defense, as last season they ranked just 28th in points allowed and 31st in total yards allowed.
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Vikings RB reveals what Dalvin Cook means to his career