EAGAN, Minn. — Winter weather is here, and the offseason is approaching. For the Minnesota Vikings, that means a lengthy to-do list and many major decisions to mull over.
The quarterback conversation will be at the top of that list. J.J. McCarthy’s performance in the final four games will go a long way toward informing the route the Vikings take. The sample size might be small. McCarthy’s struggles to stay healthy leave the team with few options other than to assess what they see going forward.
Then there are the cap considerations. The Vikings are projected to be more than $35 million in the red for 2026, but they have plenty of levers to pull. Cutting veterans like center Ryan Kelly and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave would smooth over some of the issues. Minnesota could also renegotiate the contracts of players like edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and right tackle Brian O’Neill.
The decisions don’t end there. What is the staff going to look like with many of the coaches in the final year of their contracts? Whom will the Vikings draft? These are all important pieces of the puzzle.
Another vital piece? The potential of an extension for third-year receiver Jordan Addison, who will become eligible for a new deal this offseason.
Addison’s circumstances are fascinating. He won’t turn 24 until January, and his skill set is undeniable. He separates at the top of routes. There is an artistry in his play style, an almost unteachable feel that made his pairing with superstar Justin Jefferson so enticing. In his first two seasons, he totaled 133 receptions for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Jordan Addison’s game has grown significantly in Year 3. pic.twitter.com/zv2IJHY2BB
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 10, 2025
Yet for several reasons, including some of his own making, the tandem has not taken the league by storm.
At a time like this, when the Vikings are staring down some serious roster reworking, it prompts a question. Is paying him a no-brainer? Or, might the franchise benefit more from seeing his contract through and/or parting with him for compensation?
The latter route would have ramifications for the rest of the receiver room and the team overall. Here is a full breakdown of the considerations.
Addison’s play in 2025
Addison’s statistics this season are pretty middling. In 10 games, he has 37 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns. His burst still shows up. He still presses vertically and peels off out-breakers toward the sideline with the best of them.
But he is like all of the Vikings’ pass catchers in a season that has not been up to par with the last few under coach Kevin O’Connell. At times, offensive line injuries have prevented the team from pushing the ball down the field. Quarterback inaccuracies play a key role as well.
When asked about Addison’s season, O’Connell focused on his improved physicality. Addison is often asked to throw his body into defensive backs as a blocker in the run game. He was reticent in the past. This season? Not as much.
“And I think he’s gotten a lot better playing through contact,” O’Connell said. “He’s gotten a lot better at understanding the nuances of the early part of the down as a receiver, running routes that help him later on the down, where his true elite ability and separation skills and quickness can be enhanced.”
The most concerning part of his play has been the drops. Addison recorded seven over his first two seasons, according to Next Gen Stats. He has seven just this year. They’ve come in important spots, too. Versus the Bears in Week 11, Addison couldn’t haul in an over-the-middle attempt midway through the first quarter. In the fourth quarter of that game, he failed to secure a quick out-breaker near the left sideline. Addison dropped two more against the Seahawks in Week 13. Perhaps the timing issues in Minnesota’s passing game have affected Addison’s consistency.
Whatever the case, paying him well into the future requires a certain level of trust.
This brings us to the final layer of Addison’s third NFL season. The NFL suspended him for the first three games after a 2024 DUI citation. He returned in Dublin against the Steelers, then was held out of the first quarter the following week for what O’Connell referred to as “a coach’s decision.” All of this followed an incident in the summer of 2023, when Addison was cited for speeding and reckless driving after he was clocked going 140 mph.
All of these components matter in the calculus of what his value is or should be. That brings us to the cap aspect of this discussion.
Cap considerations
Plenty of elite young receivers have inked extensions in previous offseasons.
Ja’Marr Chase and Jefferson set the bar at around $110 million guaranteed. Garrett Wilson hit the $90 million mark. Amon-Ra St. Brown’s guaranteed money hovers around $77 million. And Jameson Williams joined the party for close to $66 million.
Williams presents the most apples-to-apples comparison. He and Addison are similar in age. Both have been suspended. And neither is his team’s No. 1 receiving option. Williams missed much of his rookie season due to a torn ACL, but here’s how their first three seasons compare:
Player
Games
Catches
Yards
TD
42
170
2,296
22
33
83
1,396
10
With Williams, the Lions did something rare: extending him with two seasons remaining on his rookie contract. The Vikings will almost certainly pick up Addison’s fifth-year option.
Committing to Addison this offseason would be something of a bet. But the Lions’ decision with Williams is an example of the positives that can come with that decision.
Another dynamic the Vikings must weigh is what it means for the rest of the roster to spend aggressively on the receiver position. In 2025, the six teams allocating the most money to receivers are the Bengals, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Bears, Titans and Colts. Paying a premium at the position is not a disqualifier.
In 2022, the Super Bowl-winning Rams spent the fifth most on receivers. A premium might also be more palatable given the position’s role in the offensive identity O’Connell has tried to establish.
The rest of the room
What would be the Vikings’ plan if Addison departed?
It would be one thing if fourth-year receiver Jalen Nailor weren’t a free agent, but he could leave after this season. The Vikings haven’t broached a new contract with him throughout this season. Wide receiver might be the deepest position of all in the forthcoming free-agent class. Still, Nailor, 26, has shown exceptional professionalism this season.
O’Connell has trusted Nailor for years because of his understanding of all of the positions in his offense. He hasn’t dropped a pass in 2025. He also doesn’t complain about his lack of targets. His vertical speed brings value, but he’s not just a burner.
One of the reasons the Vikings traded for Adam Thielen was because of questions about Nailor’s health early in the season. He had suffered a hand injury late in camp. Not only did he recover in time for Week 1, but he’s also been as reliable as any of the team’s skill players.
Knowing Nailor’s free agency was coming, the Vikings drafted Tai Felton late in the third round this past spring. They viewed him as a developmental option. His ability to fill in for Nailor would be a boon for depth next season, but the Vikings might also benefit from a bigger-bodied wideout who is more of a presence in the run game.
The verdict
Minnesota should listen to what other teams offer for Addison, and the asking price should be immense.
Downfield separators don’t grow on trees. Addison was a first-round pick in 2023 for a reason. But the Vikings should also assess their success at drafting and developing receivers and ask themselves whether it’d be worth using cap dollars at other spots. If it comes down to it, an extension near the Williams number makes sense — but not much more.
How different would the Vikings’ offense be with Nailor as the No. 2 versus Addison? Would a premium draft pick and extra cap money to spend elsewhere be more valuable?
Both arguments have legs. This conversation feels essential as an offseason full of tough ones approaches.