Competition Between Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn Should Make Both Better
When the Vikings took USC wide receiver Jordan Addison in the first round of this year's draft, it was easy to pencil him into the No. 2 role previously held by Adam Thielen. Just don't count out K.J. Osborn, the fourth-year wideout entering a contract year after two strong seasons as the No. 3 behind Justin Jefferson and Thielen. Osborn is a highly-motivated player who isn't going to give up that job without a fight.
"It's competition," wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell said. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
Osborn undoubtedly knew there was a possibility that the Vikings would use their top pick on a replacement for Thielen. The former fifth-round pick is coming off consecutive 650-yard seasons, but the team still needed another starting-caliber option to step into Kevin O'Connell's offense.
This offseason, the Vikings need Osborn to emerge as a leader and help show Addison the ropes, while simultaneously competing against him for the second spot on the depth chart. It's a tricky balance, but it's part of being a great teammate in this league.
"I think K.J. understands the NFL, and I want my whole room to understand the NFL," McCardell said. "Because every day, you guys are competing, every day you're being evaluated. Now that we bring in a high-round draft pick, it just puts more fuel to his fire to show people who he is. One thing that I told him, I said 'You know what? We let Adam go out the building, now you have to take on the leadership part of that. Now you, as a pro, even though you're competing against the No. 1 draft pick, you have to teach him and bring him along.' He has the wherewithal to lead that way, bring him along, as well as be a successful playmaker for us. That's what I love about him."
Having to prove himself is nothing new for Osborn. Coming out of high school, he wasn't ranked as one of the top 200 receivers in his class. He ended up playing at Buffalo, transferred to Miami after a big junior season, and was taken by the Vikings in the fifth round in 2020. Then, after not playing on offense at all as a rookie, he broke out with a 50-650-7 line in his second season.
This year, Osborn is headed into the final year of his rookie contract. That means it's once again time to prove himself right and secure his future in the NFL beyond this season.
"It's not just the draft, it's the NFL, they're always looking to replace you," Osborn said. "To me, it's about respect. I want to earn my respect. It's not about the draft, it's not about anything. I was a fifth-round pick, I was a two-star recruit, I came from the MAC. If they drafted somebody, didn't draft somebody, I want to prove myself right. My standard is higher than any fan or any coach in this building for myself. I always got a chip on my shoulder."
To be clear, Addison and Osborn will see the field together quite a bit when the Vikings are in 11 personnel (three wide receivers). But only one can play when the Vikings go with multiple tight ends or use fullback C.J. Ham, and the competition for that job during training camp should make both players better.
McCardell is thrilled to have landed Addison, who he said was the guy he wanted in this draft. The 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner at Pitt is a refined route-runner with the tools to be a future star in the league.
"He's a quiet, confident guy," McCardell said. "When you have a receiver that's confident and as quiet of a demeanor that he has, you can't help but know that he's going to be successful. He's a guy that understands how to play the position."
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