ORLANDO — The Minnesota Vikings aren’t letting their deep-threat weapon walk. Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski confirmed Monday at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting that the franchise will officially exercise the fifth-year option on wide receiver Jordan Addison’s rookie contract. The move keeps the 2023 first-round pick in purple and gold through the 2027 season, worth an estimated $17.5 million in fully guaranteed salary for that final year.
Minnesota’s decision comes at a crossroads for the 24-year-old wideout. Addison hit the league with a bang in 2023, racking up 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, but the production slowed during a turbulent 2025 campaign. Last season, Addison finished with 42 catches for 610 yards and three scores through the air across 14 appearances. While those numbers dipped, his big-play ability remained obvious; he scorched the Lions for a 65-yard rushing touchdown in Week 17, reminding the front office of the speed that made him the 23rd overall pick. The team is betting that a stable quarterback situation will reignite the spark he showed during his rookie year.
Off-field headlines have complicated his track record. Addison has faced three arrests since entering the NFL, including a trespassing charge in Tampa this past January that was eventually dropped. Despite the legal noise, the Vikings’ leadership believes the receiver’s talent outweighs the headaches. The stadium atmosphere always shifts when he lines up opposite Justin Jefferson, and the team clearly feels he is too vital to lose during his prime athletic window.
“He’s a really important player for us, an impact player. We’re definitely exercising the option. For sure. The deadline for that is after the draft.”
— Rob Brzezinski, Vikings Executive VP of Football Operations
The commitment to Addison signals a clear strategy for the 2026 season: provide the incoming starter with every possible tool. Minnesota’s quarterback room is currently a crowded house featuring Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. After a frustrating 9-8 finish in 2025, head coach Kevin O’Connell needs a vertical threat to stretch defenses and open underneath routes for Jefferson. Exercising this option ensures that whether it’s the veteran Murray or a healthy McCarthy under center, the Vikings maintain one of the most dangerous receiving duos in the NFC North. All eyes now turn to the May deadline to finalize the paperwork, but the Vikings’ intent is loud and clear.
