Jordan Addison isn’t sweating anyone else’s paycheck. Not even the one that just landed one draft slot behind him.
The Minnesota Vikings wide receiver addressed reporters Tuesday at training camp, a day after Baltimore Ravens receiver Zay Flowers agreed to a four-year, $140 million extension that includes $108 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Flowers was the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 draft. Addison went one spot later, at No. 23, to Minnesota.
Same class. Same draft weekend. Very different contract timelines right now.
Addison didn’t flinch when the topic came up.
"I'm being where my feet are. I'm just putting in work right now, going through camp, making sure I'm becoming a better receiver and I feel like everything is going to take care of itself." – WR Jordan Addison pic.twitter.com/Fmachk0F9r
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 4, 2026
Per Heavy.com, Addison said he isn’t worried about a new deal for himself right now — he’s locked into 2027 already and wants to let his play do the talking.
Why Addison Isn’t in a Rush
Addison has some financial security the Flowers situation doesn’t fully mirror. Minnesota exercised his fifth-year option back in late April, a move interim general manager Rob Brzezinski framed plainly at the time.
“He’s a really important player for us, an impact player,” Brzezinski said, according to AOL. “We’re definitely exercising the option. For sure.”
That option ties Addison to Minnesota through 2027 at a guaranteed $18 million for that final season, on top of a little over $2 million this year. It’s a solid floor. It’s just not the $35 million-a-year number Flowers just landed, which puts him in a tie with Minnesota’s own Justin Jefferson atop the receiver market.
The gap between the two comes down to production trajectory as much as draft slot. Flowers set career highs with 86 catches, 1,211 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, cementing himself as Lamar Jackson’s clear top target. Addison went the other direction. He finished with career-low numbers — 42 receptions, 610 yards, three touchdowns — across 14 games, missing three more due to a suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
A Rough 2025, and a Path Back
Addison’s dip wasn’t just about the suspension. Minnesota’s offense was in flux for much of the season as J.J. McCarthy dealt with injuries that kept him in and out of the lineup, disrupting any rhythm the passing game might have built. Addison’s lone signature moment came late — a 65-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep that sealed a Christmas Day win over Detroit.
This offseason brought its own turbulence off the field, too, with Addison facing legal issues that were separate from football. The Vikings chose to move forward with him anyway, betting that the talent that produced 175 catches, 2,396 yards and 22 touchdowns across his first three seasons is still the baseline, not the ceiling.
Now Addison is working through a crowded quarterback competition of his own, with Kyler Murray and McCarthy both in the mix for the starting job. Whoever wins it will shape how big a role Addison plays behind Jefferson in 2026.
| Player | Draft Slot (2023) | 2025 Receptions | 2025 Yards | 2025 TDs | Contract Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zay Flowers | No. 22 | 86 | 1,211 | 5 | 4 yrs, $140M extension (2026) |
| Jordan Addison | No. 23 | 42 | 610 | 3 | 5th-year option through 2027 |
What Comes Next
Addison’s camp will have to build a new case before Minnesota commits real money to a second contract, and he seems to understand that. Analysts have pointed to Alec Pierce’s recent extension in Indianapolis as one benchmark for what a future Addison deal could look like if he rebuilds his value — something in the $28 million to $30 million per year range.
Getting there means staying healthy, staying out of off-field trouble and giving Minnesota’s quarterbacks a reliable second option behind Jefferson. For now, Addison says that’s exactly where his focus is.
