Jordan Addison is smiling after latest NFL news and it gives the Vikings a blueprint for his future

It's a massive extension for Williams, who has already missed 18 games in his short career, including multiple suspensions. He's also a "one-year wonder" at receiver with just one season of good numbers, as he caught just 25 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns across 18 games in his first two seasons. He was objectively good in 2024, catching 58 passes for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns.

Giving Williams that kind of extension feels wild on the surface, especially since he's now 13th in new money average annual value.

Jordan Addison's future extension has a blueprint thanks to Jameson Williams

The topic of an Addison extension has been an interesting one to discuss. He's been incredible for the Vikings, putting up significantly better numbers than Williams in one less season. Addison's first two years have resulted in 133 catches for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns. He's been phenomenal for the Vikings ever since he was drafted, including stepping up as the WR1 when Justin Jefferson was out with a hamstring injury

He's been a massive asset for the Vikings over the course of his career. He's the same archetype of players as Jefferson, but not quite the same caliber of player. Because he plays opposite Jefferson, he does get one-on-one coverage consistently and burns it with his nuanced route running.

The Williams extension doesn't just give the Vikings a baseline for an extension; it's another data point that the Vikings can extend Addison and not worry about it. The Lions are now paying Amon-Ra St. Brown, Williams, and quarterback Jared Goff on market-level contract extensions. The Philadelphia Eagles are also doing so with Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. Right now, the Vikings are only paying Jefferson a big contract, and they can make a move to get Addison locked up.

Theoretically, the Vikings could have the following contracts, and it'll be workable under the salary cap.

• J.J. McCarthy: potential $55 million extension in 2027
• Addison: potential $30 million extension in 2027
• Jefferson: potential $45 million extension in 2027

These are massive numbers, but it's important to remember that these are projections if they hit their ceiling, and the salary cap hits won't be the same as their average annual value. The Vikings have a great salary cap guru in Rob Brzezinski, who will mastermind how those contracts work to be flexible on the salary cap for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

The other important element here is that the likelihood of new television deals in 2028 could shoot the salary cap into another stratosphere. Giving out extensions that feel big right now could end up being relatively inexpensive when the big cap hits come about. It's a gamble to pay Williams right now, but it could be cheap in a year or two if he continues this trajectory.

If the Vikings choose not to sign Addison, it will be a surprising one. However, there is the added element of his off-field issues that could give the Vikings pause when it comes to one. He's had two moving violations during his first two offseasons, one of which resulted in a suspension that he is going to serve to start the year. Based on what the coaching staff has said, it doesn't look to be an issue anymore as long as he keeps his nose clean.

When Addison becomes eligible for an extension after the season, don't be surprised when he surpasses what Williams got.

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