NFL Draft 2023: 5 worst picks of the first round

Minnesota ignores other needs for another wide receiver (Jordan Addison, No. 23)

The wide receiver class in this year’s NFL Draft is solid but not nearly as strong as it has been in the past. It would make sense for a team that already has one of the best receivers in the NFL to wait until Day 2 to add a pass catcher in order to improve another area of the roster.

No one gave that memo to the Vikings, who spent the 23rd pick on USC’s Jordan Addison, who has been jockeying with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Quentin Johnston for the title of best prospect in the receiver class. Addison does fill a need for Minnesota, which had to release Adam Thielen for salary cap reasons, but there were other concerns that the Vikings ignored for a No. 2 receiver.

The Vikings’ defense was torched down the stretch and had a clear need in the secondary, especially after Patrick Peterson left in free agency, so taking Addison over Joey Porter Jr and Deonte Banks was not great. There was also an unexpected opportunity to grab a future franchise quarterback in Will Levis, who could sit for a year behind Kirk Cousins and take over in 2024, allowing Minnesota to build its roster more efficiently with a quarterback on a rookie contract.

Taking Addison does make the Vikings better but offers the least marginal benefit to the franchise in the long run. There were better options for Minnesota to pursue than taking Addison, who will be a good pro but won’t have as big an impact as a defender or young quarterback could.