Ric on Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver, USC Trojans, and Projecting to the Giants at 25
An extremely productive receiver, Addison is a superb route runner who possesses the skill-set to start at the Z, or in the slot early on in his NFL career.
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An extremely productive receiver, Addison is a superb route runner who possesses the skill-set to start at the Z, or in the slot early on in his NFL career.
25. New York Giants: WR Jordan Addison, USC –The Giants have 10 picks in this year's draft, beginning with the 25th overall pick in the first round. It has been a while since the Giants had a playmaker at wide receiver who can stretch the field vertically, a welcomed addition to the offense.
Lance Zierlein NFL Analyst NFL Comparison Tyler Lockett and I ould agree.
Addison’s football IQ is evident in his ability to read defenses and make adjustments on the fly. He has shown the capability to make protection calls and checks at the line of scrimmage, showcasing his understanding of defensive coverages and how to exploit them. He is also known for his leadership skills, connecting with teammates and gaining their trust, which contributes to his ability to be an effective communicator on the field.
Despite his strengths, there are some concerns surrounding Addison. One notable concern is his size and play strength. At 5'11" and 173 pounds, he has a similar body frame to that of D’Vonta Smith, who has faced durability issues in the NFL due to his size. Addison may need to add more strength to his frame to handle the physicality of the NFL and avoid potential injury concerns.
Ric’s 2023 Evaluation: An extremely productive receiver, Addison is a superb route runner who possesses the skill-set to start at the Z, or in the slot early on in his NFL career. In addition, he is known for having very reliable hands and impressive movement skills, along with the ability to gain yards after the catch. The Maryland native has showcased the ability to line up all over the field during his time at USC and Pittsburgh, inside, outside, even out of the backfield—could certainly be used as a pre-snap motion piece on offense. On deep routes, Addison is tough to guard—he routinely beat defenders with quick cuts and double moves. The biggest concern surrounding Addison is his size/play strength. He owns a very similar body frame to that of D’Vonta Smith, durability issues due to size/frame could be a concern for some NFL teams. However, the overall talent and versatility is evident. Addison has dominated at every level and could emerge into a number one wideout at the next level with some development. He projects as the potential first wideout off the board.
Background: A transfer from Pittsburgh who joined USC once Lincoln Riley became head coach. Measured nine-inch hands, with 31-inch arms and 74.5” wingspan at the NFL Combine; registered 1.56 in the ten-yard split, with 34-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-2 broad jump. In 2021, he was named consensus All-American and the Biletnikoff Award winner as the best receiver in the country (only third Pitt player ever). In high school, played wideout, quarterback and defensive back. Son of Keisha Blackman and Rolando Addison; has six brothers, three sisters. Repped by QB Limited.
Q&A with Jordan Addison
What's been your overall message about what you bring to teams? “First of all, my overall leadership, connecting with everyone in the building and gaining that trust, communicating with any and every one.”
What has been the biggest question about your game that teams are asking you? “Controlling the offense. On film, a lot of times I make protection calls, make a lot of checks at the line -- run to pass and pass to run -- and then I can make any throw. The way we run our offense the wide splits, those are all grown men throws. I'm not throwing any five-yard outs. Those are all big boy balls.”
There are a lot of critics who say the Tennessee offense doesn’t translate to the NFL, what is your response? “I mean, I can't help that defenders can't guard my receivers. My job is to get them the ball. A lot of these questions about one-sided reads, we have pure progressions and routes: it's not my fault that my first read is getting open.”
Strengths
Possesses athleticism and speed to work anywhere on the football field.
Early drive burst regardless of route depth.
Smart use of footwork defeats coverage leverage.
Accelerates through stems for separation to the post.
Good sink and foot agility getting in and out of breaks.
Ability to run complex routes with effectiveness.
Can be a slippery runner after the catch.
Punt return experience in all three seasons.
Weaknesses
Only two touchdown catches over last seven games.
Route timing can be disrupted by handsy corners.
Limited catch radius for off-target throws.
Needs better timing in working back to throws.
Deep-ball tracking can be a little inconsistent.
Unable to create catch space downfield against size.
Average hand strength to finish through contact.
Addison has the potential to be a starting wide receiver in the NFL early in his career. His refined route running, reliable hands, and versatility make him a threat in various roles and alignments on offense. However, he will need to continue to develop his strength, deep-ball tracking, and catch radius to reach his full potential. If he can address these areas of improvement, Addison has the talent and versatility to emerge as a top option at the Z or in the slot position for an NFL team. With his production, football IQ, and leadership skills, he projects as a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Ric’s 2022 One-Liner:
An extremely productive receiver, the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner can start early in the NFL thanks to his refined route running, great hands, and impressive movement skills; that said, his size, play strength, and good-not-great speed will limit him at the next level. Jordan Addison projects as a starter at Z or from the slot early in his career. He can be a top option with further development.
Ric’s 2022 Evaluation:
The early stages of the 2021 college football season featured excellent play from the Pittsburgh offense. While Kenny Pickett, the program’s quarterback and a 2022 first-round pick, played a large role in the team’s success, Jordan Addison built upon a strong 2020 freshman season and became the Biletnikoff Award winner in 2021. An above-average athlete, Addison boasts a flexible frame, exciting linear and lateral burst, and impressive change of direction ability. His speed, while not a rare or special trait, is notable and enables him to win deep at times. Moreover, Addison is a refined route runner who understands space and blind spots. He wins his releases with hesitation, quickness, footwork, and burst. Once into his route, he exhibits advanced route salesmanship - including jab steps, head fakes, body language, speed adjustment, and directional manipulation - to force defensive backs into false steps and early hip turns. He then makes sharp, sudden cuts back to back with great hip sink and without losing speed. As a result, he is a dangerous option on double moves and any sharp-breaking routes. He capitalizes on defenders’ mistakes. Addison uses his hands, burst, and leg drive to beat physical coverage. Additionally, he is a reliable hands catcher who has the body control, timing, ball tracking, and catch radius to adjust to errant passes. He does not shy away from contact at the catch point and even shields the ball despite his smaller frame. He is a threat to win contested catches if the pass is thrown well. After the catch, Addison is creative and shifty. His flexibility, feet, salesmanship before cuts, and burst make him a dangerous ball carrier. He has solid contact balance. Despite his various positive traits, Addison’s draft profile is not unblemished. First and foremost, his listed 175 pounds is small for any NFL position. Naturally, then, his play strength is somewhat underwhelming. He is regularly overpowered and shows little effort as a blocker. Contact in his route slows or stifles him. Further, he fails to consistently use his hands as a route runner and, in doing so, invites physical coverage. He struggles to break tackles once he is wrapped up. What’s more, Addison’s speed precludes him from being a true deep threat. Although he is an excellent route runner, the Pittsburgh standout sometimes fails to sink his hips and employ salesmanship. He can be boxed out at the catch point.
Background:
Jordan Addison is coming to Southern California from Pitt, as one of the best receivers in the nation. In 2021, he was named the Biletnikoff Award winner as the best receiver in the country, becoming the third Pitt player to do so. Addison had over fifteen hundred receiving yards and seventeen touchdowns. Even in 2020, Jordan Addison was a major player for Pitt where he was a Freshman All American. At Tuscarora High School, Addison was incredibly versatile playing receiver, quarterback, and defensive back. Addison was born January 27, 2002 to Keisha Blackman and Rolando Addison. Jordan has six brothers and three sisters. Now at USC, Addison will be a key contributor and receiving threat for the Trojans.
Quotes:
"Yeah, I mean, we've worked hard through our careers as coaches, my career as a coach, to do things with integrity. I think we've largely done that throughout my career. I think if you ask people that have been around us, been in the inner workings with us, they know how we go about our business. When someone challenges that with no facts and just only emotion, yeah, I mean, I think you take it personally. Absolutely you do. I understand this is an emotional time, it's an emotional game with a lot of emotional people. We recruited Jordan just like we did every other transfer. Jordan got in the transfer portal. Jordan came on a visit to USC. Despite all the negative things that were put out magically by somebody, he's a kid that's all about ball. All he wanted to do in his entire official visit was talk ball. We literally missed like several of the meals, entertainment we had scheduled so we could watch more film and talk more ball. That's all he's about. I think he's really been misrepresented throughout this whole thing. Hopefully as this year goes on people get to see the quality of young man that he is. He's done a great job for us so far. He's been a great member of this team. Seems extremely happy to be in L.A. and playing for USC."
- USC HC Lincoln Riley on WR Jordan Addison
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