The Minnesota Vikings‘ upcoming decisions on receivers Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor just became more complicated.
Entering an offseason where Addison was a lock to have his fifth-year option exercised and potentially see a lucrative long-term extension, the 23-year-old wide receiver found himself in trouble with the law again.
Addison was arrested for probable trespassing just months after serving a three-game suspension for a DUI arrest in 2024.
Meanwhile, Nailor, a 2022 sixth-round pick, is a pending free agent and is expected to have a competitive market in free agency.
Appearing in a December interview with Ari Meirov that was released on January 13, Nailor addressed his upcoming free agency.
“Whatever happens after it, happens. I’m just trying to do what I can to put myself and my family in the best situation there is in the near future,” Nailor said, adding that he was focused on the final three games of the regular season to close out his rookie deal in Minnesota.
Nailor’s comments align with an account from Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Emily Leiker, who said Nailor wouldn’t mind returning to Minnesota but appeared content with testing the market first.
The growing concerns around Addison provide only more leverage for Nailor if the Vikings hope to re-sign him before the legal tampering period of free agency in March.
Vikings Insider Expects Jalen Nailor to Test the Market Amid Jordan Addison Crisis
Responding to Leikert’s account of Nailor’s comments at locker room cleanout day, colleague Ben Goessling read through the lines, arguing that Nailor is likely to going to force the Vikings’ hand to compete for him in free agency.
“Yeah, there’s a chance to get a payday there for a guy that was a sixth-round pick,” Goessling said on the “Access Vikings” podcast.
“The fact that, if he’s saying, ‘Yeah, we’re going to see how it plays out,’ it’s a nice way of saying, ‘Yeah, I expect to be on the market, and I’m gonna get paid if I can,’ I mean, you know, this is your shot to do that. So, I don’t think that’s an unreasonable approach to this at all.”
Since Addison arrived in Minnesota, Nailor has served as the third wide receiver and insurance policy on the No. 2 receiver role left vacant at times by Addison.
Nailor has tallied 1,066 career receiving yards and has scored 10 touchdowns in the past two seasons, despite primarily being third and sometimes fourth in the pecking order with T.J. Hockenson also in the fold.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah addressed Addison’s arrest in his end-of-season news conference on January 13, saying “Jordan is unique because 99 percent of the days that Jordan Addison is a Viking, he is a joy to be around. He is incredibly intelligent, confident, [and] responsible.
“Then it’s like all of us; it’s what are you like on those 1 percent of those days? Is it the type of thing that draws attention or not? Obviously, that’s something we have to consider when you’re talking about long-term ramifications of a contract extension and different things like that, or letting somebody like Jalen Nailor leave.”
Should the Vikings Trade Jordan Addison?
GettyJordan Addison #3 of the Minnesota Vikings looks back during a game against the Atlanta Falcons.
There’s no telling if Addison will get another chance in Minnesota, which begs the question of what the Vikings are to do with the star receiver.
He’s just 23 years old and outside of off-field concerns, would be in line to sign a contract on par with some of the top No. 2 wide receivers in the league. Tee Higgins and Jalen Waddle both signed deals worth more than $28 million a year, a figure that Addison could set as his terms in contract negotiations.
However, his off-field behavior may have worn the Vikings thin, and Addison may need a change of scenery.
Unfortunately, trading a player with behavioral issues doesn’t reap the fullest fruit.
Ideally, the Vikings could land a first-round pick in exchange for Addison, who was selected 23rd overall in 2023. That price may be too rich for a team willing to take a chance on them.
The Vikings’ best path forward may be to exercise Addison’s fifth-year option to keep him under team control through the 2027 season. That would allow them more time to execute a trade after the dust settles on his latest misstep.
Vikings Get Bad Jalen Nailor News Amid Jordan Addison Concerns