Drastic Changes Coming to Jordan Addison’s Contract with Vikings, if Suspended

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Aug 11, 2024
NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings won their 2024 preseason opener on Saturday, marking the first such win of the Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era, which is now going into its third season. A big part of their success, to this point, can be found in the wide receiver room.

Not only did they adopt the best wide receiver (and teammate) in football, Justin Jefferson. Remember, Jets was gifted to the previous regime by a blind, deaf and dumb Philadelphia Eagles front office.

But in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Kwesi also hit on USC wide receiver Jordan Addison. Sure, he had to be convinced by O’Connell, but let’s not sweat the details.

Unfortunately, after a very impressive rookie season, Addison was arrested in July, on suspicion of DUI. According to reports, he was found asleep behind the wheel of his Rolls Royce, stopped at a traffic light.

Jordan Addison facing serious contract ramifications, if suspended

Minnesota Vikings, Jordan Addison
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

If found guilty, he’s almost guaranteed to be suspended by the NFL for at least three games. But missing games (and game checks) isn’t all that Jordan Addison stands to lose.

According to longtime columnist and local sports insider, Charley Walters (Pioneer Press), if a suspension is handed down by the league, as expected, Addison’s shiny, fully guaranteed 1st round rookie deal may no longer be guaranteed.

Apparently, there is a clause in his rookie contract that flips the rest of his $13.8 million into non-guaranteed money.

It will be interesting whether the Vikings can find a way to push back a court date, scheduled for Oct. 7, until after the season for Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison, charged with two misdemeanors after an arrest in Los Angeles last month. Addison is expected to receive a three-game suspension from the NFL. If Addison is suspended, the remainder of his $13.8 million, four-year contract is expected to go from guaranteed to non-guaranteed.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

Entering his second season, it’s easy to see why. Before Kirk Cousins’ week 8 injury vs Green Bay, Jordan Addison had collected 36 receptions, 482 yards and 7 touchdowns. At that time last season, the now 22-year-old was pacing for over 1,000 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns.

Instead, he ended up short of 1,000 yards, and finished with just 9 touchdown receptions, on the year. By week 9, Jordan and Kirk were just getting on the same page. The sky was literally the limit on Addison’s rookie season, had iron man Cousins not fallen victim to injury for the first time in his career.

Related: JJ McCarthy’s Footwork Holding Him Back from Vikings Starting Job

But nobody needs numbers to see the potential that oozes out of this kid. Just watch him run a route. With pads, without, vs defense or not, you’ll see it. Little brother’s routes may even rival his big brother, No. 18.

What does this mean for Addison and the Minnesota Vikings?

So, what exactly would it mean if Addison’s contract becomes non-guaranteed? In theory, it means that, if a suspension comes down on Jordan Addison, for this DUI arrest, the Vikings could cut him (or trade him) from the roster, without accruing any sort of salary cap penalty.

Would Kwesi Adofo-Mensah really do that, after all that talk the other day about how the Vikings don’t “punish” players? Walters certainly seems to think, they’ll be looking for a possible replacement, after this season. And Charley has plenty of contacts inside TCO Performance Center.

There is little doubt the Vikings, after the season, will seek, via free agency, trade or draft, another top wide receiver because Addison has proven unreliable

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

Who knows where all this ends up. Given Jordan Addison’s immense talent, he’s going to cost even more than Justin Jefferson in a couple of years, when he becomes extension eligible. Because of that, the Minnesota Vikings will be looking for any reason to unload him, if they can get a haul back.

Related: Justin Jefferson Proves He’s That Teammate During Vikings vs Raiders

But no doubt, they’d rather do that a year or two from now, coming off of massive production, on the field, and no more trouble off of it. Only time will tell how it all plays out. In the meantime, it would behoove Jordan to stay out of the headlines, unless it’s for making big time plays for the Minnesota Vikings.

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