The Minnesota Vikings should have one of the finest rosters in the NFL in 2025, despite J.J. McCarthy’s status as the likely starting quarterback, which presents substantial uncertainty following a 14-win season.
Minnesota spent significantly in free agency, signing offensive lineman Will Fries ($88 million over five years) and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen ($51 million over three years). In June 2024, the Vikings paid superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson $140 million over four years, becoming him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history.
McCarthy, who plays the game’s most costly position, is on a rookie contract that pays him a total of $22 million over the first four years and provides the Vikings with a salary-controlled team option for a fifth season in 2028.
However, following a costly summer, Minnesota’s front staff must already focus on players who will require significant contracts in the coming years, as no team can afford to pay every star at every position indefinitely. With such context, Trevor Squire of Heavy and Athlon speculated on Monday, May 5, that Jordan Addison is a potential trade possibility.
Squire’s claim that Addison could someday be expendable is at least moderately surprising given Addison’s age, draft value, and track record of production in the NFL thus far.
Addison, 23, has caught 133 receptions for 1,786 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns in his first two seasons (32 games, 29 starts). Furthermore, as a former first-round pick (No. 23 overall), the Vikings have the same fifth-year club option on Addison’s $14 million rookie contract as they do on McCarthy’s deal from one draft later.
However, since joining the team, Addison has been involved in a few incidents in which he has demonstrated poor judgment. Addison pleaded guilty to a minor speeding offense in Minnesota prior of his rookie season for going 140 mph in a 55 mph zone, according to Pro Football Talk. The court chose to drop a charge of careless driving as part of the plea, and Addison paid a $686 penalty.
Addison is still facing with DUI charges from an incident in California in 2024, during which police found the receiver asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle and blocking a lane of traffic outside of Los Angeles International Airport, reports ESPN.
“[Jefferson] is going to be the centerpiece of the offense, but beyond the All-Pro receiver, there are questions,” according to Squire. “Addison is in the third year of his rookie deal, so the Vikings drafted Maryland receiver Tai Felton, who has the potential to usurp Addison’s spot in the future. Felton might see some early playing time if Addison is suspended [due to the suspected DUI incident].”
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