Draft Analysis: Jordan Addison

March 8, 2023 /
  • Height: 5’11”
  • Weight: 173 lbs
  • College: USC
  • Tape watched: Utah, UCLA, Duke (2021), Virginia Tech (2021)
  • NFL Comparison: Diontae Johnson

Pros

  • Route Running

The hype in this category surrounding Jordan Addison is real. He is truly a top route runner in the class. His ability to manipulate speed tempo through his route stems is elegant. He is exceptionally smooth at changing speeds, to the point that defenders are consistently late in their speed turns. Addison has a deep understanding of spacing and zones. He will need to improve his functional strength to continue to dominate this aspect of the game in the NFL.

A nice example of how he works tempo in his route stems, and explodes out of his route breaks.
  • Tracking

Addison does a great job finding and adjusting to the football on deep routes. He has great concentration with and without close defenders.

  • Lateral Agility

Jordan Addison has plenty of stop-start juice, with the ability to make defenders miss. He isn’t a deadly RAC threat due to size, but he has plenty of wiggle to force missed tackles.

Midline

  • Speed

Jordan Addison finds himself in unfavorable company with his size to speed ratio. At 171 pounds, Addison 4.49s 40-yard dash is a 3rd percentile weight adjusted speed score. While it isn’t a make or break statistic, it is at very minimum concerning at that size. His play speed did not raise red flags on tape, so this may not be a big deal.

Cons

  • Play Strength

Addison struggles with functional strength through his routes. Defenders consistently squeeze him to the boundary and off his route paths. He also occasionally has to take wide paths around zone defenders, with fear of being re-routed.

Addison completely squeezed to the sideline on a fade route.
Addison needs to work over top of Clark Phillips here. Phillips knocks Addison off his route one arm.
  • Contested Catches

Contact at the catch-point gave Jordan Addison problems. He completed a disappointing percentage of close coverage opportunities.

Overview

Jordan Addison set the NCAA world on fire in 2021. The former Belitnikoff Award winner posted 100 catches, nearly 1,600 yards, and 17 touchdowns. He was a can’t miss first round pick.

Fast forward one USC transfer and a sub 1,000 yard season later, Addison is a fringe first round prospect. He offers teams a savvy route runner with big play capability. His size is an issue at 171 pounds, where the physicality and wear of an NFL season will be magnified. I still expect teams to jump at the opportunity to draft Addison, and can’t see him dropping past the middle of the second round.