Vikings Could Part Ways With $14 Million Star Based on NFL Draft

The Minnesota Vikings should have one of the best rosters in the NFL in 2025, even despite J.J. McCarthy as the likely starting quarterback offering significant uncertainty on the heels of a 14-win campaign.

Minnesota spent relatively big in free agency, making acquisitions like offensive guard Will Fries ($88 million over five years) and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen ($51 million over three years). The Vikings also paid superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson a total of $140 million over four years in June 2024, which made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history at the time.

The organization was able to make those moves in large part because McCarthy, who plays the game’s most expensive position, is on a rookie contract that pays him a total of just $22 million over the first four years and affords the Vikings a salary-controlled team option for a fifth season in 2028.

But after an expensive offseason, Minnesota’s front office must already turn its attention toward players who will command large contracts in the next couple of years to come, as no team can pay every star at every position in perpetuity. With that as the relevant context, Trevor Squire of Heavy and Athlon suggested on Monday, May 5, that Jordan Addison is a potential trade candidate

Jordan Addison Could Prove Replaceable After Vikings Added Tai Felton in NFL Draft

Getty| Wide receiver Jordan Addison of the Minnesota Vikings.

Squire’s assertion that Addison could eventually find himself expendable is at least mildly shocking considering Addison’s age, draft value and history of production over his short time in the NFL to this point.

Addison, 23 years old, has caught 133 passes for 1,786 receiving yards and 19 TDs over his first two seasons (32 games played, 29 starts). Plus, as a former first-rounder (No. 23 overall), the Vikings hold the same fifth-year club option on Addison’s $14 million rookie contract as they do on the deal McCarthy signed one draft later.

That said, Addison has also been part of a couple of incidents since joining the team, in which he has displayed poor judgement. Addison plead guilty to a misdemeanor speeding charge in Minnesota ahead of his rookie campaign for traveling 140 mph in a 55 mph zone, per Pro Football Talk. The court decided to drop a charge of reckless driving as part of the plea, and Addison paid a $686 penalty.

Addison is still dealing 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, per ESPN.

“[Jefferson] is going to be the centerpiece of the offense, but beyond the All-Pro receiver, there are questions,” Squire wrote. “Addison is in the third year of his rookie contract, which led the Vikings to draft Maryland receiver Tai Felton, who has upside to take Addison’s spot eventually. Felton could have a chance to see some early playing time if Addison is suspended [due to the alleged DUI incident].”

Jalen Nailor More Likely to Face Immediate Threat to Role With Vikings Than Jordan Addison

Getty| Wide receiver Jalen Nailor of the Minnesota Vikings.

But despite what the future may hold for Addison a year or two down the road, the player whose job Felton more immediately threatens is that of wideout Jalen Nailor.

Nailor became the Vikings’ No. 3 option in the receivers room last season, putting up career-highs across the board of 28 catches, 414 receiving yards and six TDs.

That said, the former sixth-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract and therefore could find himself as a trade and/or cut candidate should Felton excel during training camp.