Vikings select WR Jordan Addison at #1-23

It's not silly. It's hard to name 5 WRs in the last 25 years that had the production to warrant a 1st Round pick in hindsight.

USC used him entirely different from Pitt. The argument can be made that Addison is a big reason why Pickett ended up being a 1st Round pick.

That Pitt experience helps in a couple of ways. One, he was Outside a lot. Two, Pickett isn't nearly as much of an off-platform playmaker as Caleb Williams was last season. So he's got experience with a pocket guy. The USC experience shows that he is also good in the Slot and can adjust when his QB goes off-platform. Which hopefully Minnesota lands someone like that in the '24 Draft.

For me the biggest thing is cutting down on those chunks of time each game where the Offense struggles. O'Connell can clearly gameplan to start contests. He appears to struggle to adjust in-game until the 4th Quarter.

Two ways to help him is running the ball more effectively and having an answer when Defenses sell out to stop Jefferson. I expect a 5th Round pick tomorrow will be spent on a Running Back and Minnesota will have a true committee of 3 guys with complimentary skillsets. More 2 TE looks and more Outside Zone Blocking to get guys on the edges instead of so many runs up the gut will help untrack the ground game.

But he's still going to trot out plenty of 3 WR looks. I believe Addison will be more productive than Thielen was last year due to similar route running skills but Jordan having much better ability to consistently separate. That means KJ will still get CB3. That's where he's the most effective, IMO.

And Addison will likely split reps with KJ early on in 2 TE looks. Let's not discount that Oliver and Ham are legitimate targets for short area completions that may see them wide open with Defenders focused on JJ, Addison and Hockenson.

Getting 3+ yards a run. Getting 4-5 yards on an easy pitch and catch to guys Defenses aren't keying on. Having 2 WRs that can consistently separate for intermediate catches on long down and distance plays. That's how you keep the chains moving more consistently. That in turn keeps your Defense on the sideline longer while giving your very good in-game adjustment maker DC time to cook more exotic stunts, blitzes and looks.

Corner remains the most glaring need. But the CBs left are superior to any WRs Minnesota could draft tonight. And you can say the same thing about Free Agency. There are still 3-4 serviceable guys out there unsigned. There are no legit WR2 types left.

I thought Joey Porter Jr would add instant impact just like Addison at an area of bigger need but the League doesn't see him the way I do. And the Draft is far from over.

IF Darius Rush falls to #87 and Kwesi can pick a developmental IDL later like Moro Ojomo or Jalen Redmond I take that haul 10 out of 10 times. Throw in a developmental IOL and boom. This ILB Class stinks. Don't force the pick. Wait for a better group.

And let's see if Kwesi gets any more capital for tonight. Cook and Z can still get moved. The Story of this Draft is far from written.