Vikings WR Jordan Addison believes he's taken his 'game to the next level' after stellar rookie year 

Working out Justin Jefferson‘s colossal extension and working through a transition period at quarterback were priorities this offseason for the Minnesota Vikings, and just the same storylines which commanded the headlines.

Meanwhile, one of the Vikings’ most promising future stars was diligently working towards becoming one of the NFL’s top receivers.

Jordan Addison believes he’s done just that as he approaches his second season rife with confidence that he can outperform his stellar rookie showing.

“(I’ve) taken my game to the next level in one year,” Addison said recently, via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.

Reports suggest Addison — in his first full offseason in the NFL — has flourished, blooming under receivers coach Keenan McCardell, who once formed one of league’s top WR combos as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars with Jimmy Smith.

Addison and Jefferson evidently hope for that.

Despite being restricted to only 10 games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury, Jefferson still managed to shine, even with increased attention from defenses. With 10 touchdown receptions, he not only led the Vikings but also all rookies. Additionally, he posted 911 yards on 70 catches.

The No. 23 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft put up impressive numbers catching balls from Kirk Cousins, Josh Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall. Thus, whether it’s J.J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold who begins the season as the Vikings’ new starting QB, one year’s sample size suggests Addison will still produce.

Perhaps his spring performance makes a stronger argument.

This time last year, Addison was recovering from an injury that kept him out of Vikings spring practices. However, this year he’s been impressing everyone at organized team activities and minicamp.

“Jordan Addison had an excellent offseason program, as good as one could hope for,” commented head coach Kevin O’Connell. “He’s a player who achieved a great deal of success in his first year. He has been able to increase his strength and become more comfortable with contact play, while still maintaining his remarkable acceleration and transition. We saw significant development in these areas this spring.”

Addison has been diligently working behind the scenes, away from the limelight. His focus has been on fine-tuning his game, with a specific emphasis on enhancing his technique to further magnify his exceptional skills.

“He confessed, “Last year, my confidence in my releases was lacking. I wasn’t decisive, nor did I have a plan when approaching the line. I was merely improvising, attempting to make something work.”

He accomplished a lot of work in 2023 and is confident that the enhancements he made during the offseason will contribute to an even more successful 2024.