Jordan Addison is an Explosive Weapon in the 2023 NFL Draft

Jordan Addison is an offensive weapon who will carving up secondaries this next season in the NFL.

My affectionate nickname for this USC wide receiver (WR) is “Pinball,” because of the way he shoots all over the field. Addison lines up out wide, in the slot, he can even release into routes out of the backfield. He’s out there catching passes in the short, medium and deep ranges. He can even take handoffs – – he’s all over the place.

As I said in my September article that was based on his 2021 game film, “Jordan Addison Has That First Round Look.”

What makes Addison so dangerous?

Looking at his 2022 game film, he’s explosive coming off the line of scrimmage on his release. He’s got quick choppy feet he uses to quickly gain route leverage.

He’s a threat from all three route levels, which puts him ahead of Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba (who I love) on the First Round Mock Big Board, as a barn-burning No. 2 receiver at the next level.

While I wouldn’t call him a pure deep home-run hitting threat, he proved against Stanford he can back a secondary onto the warning track.

He’s got phenomenal wiggle getting into his routes at the intermediate route level.

Addison can slam on the brakes at full speed, and change direction like a race car.

This creates huge throwing windows

That sharp change of direction allows him to look practically wide open at times.

Cornerbacks either slip because he changes direction so hard, or he just plain leaves them behind at the breakpoint.

What to expect from Addison

He will make a dynamic No. 2 receiver in the NFL, and if he goes to a playoff caliber between pick No. 20 and the end of the first round, it will make one of these teams that much more dangerous.

If Addison ends up in Minnesota, Buffalo, or Kansas City, look out.

He will own the short to intermediate route levels, and he is so gifted, he brings the added benefit of freeing up other receivers because defenses are forced to pay so much attention to him.

As my scouting mentor taught me, “Stick with the dynamic ones,” and Addison fits that description.

Are there any concerns?

As Tony Razzano said in his book, Secrets of an NFL Scout, the book I learned how to scout from back when I was 17, “There are no 10s.”

Sure there are concerns.

He’s a diminutive receiver with a thin frame. This gets him out-muscled on heavily contested passes and it can get him knocked off his routes by a bully.

The thing of it is – – this doesn’t happen all that often, because most of the time corners can’t keep up with him.

While there are concerns, I’m not worried because, with his aggressive attitude and swagger, things will work out just fine.

He doesn’t show any backdown.

#3 Jordan Addison 6-foot-0, 175 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 80.9% (up from 50.6% on September 23) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of January 24, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Level of competition: High

2022 game film reviewed: UCLA, Notre Dame, Utah, and Stanford (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2021 stats: 100 receptions (145 targets for a catch rate of 69%) 1,593 yards (15.9 avg.), 17 TD, 67-long

2022 stats: 59 receptions (84 targets for a catch rate of 70%) 875 yards (14.8 avg.), 8 TD, 75-long

Note: Suffered an ankle injury vs. Utah he has been rehabbing which kept him out of the Cotton Bowl (additionally missed two regular season games with the injury)

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Diminutive quick darting multi-faceted weapon with long arms and good hands who draws extra attention. Explosive Swiss-Army knife type. Showed quick feet that establishes route leverage right out of the gates and give corners a lot to handle. Shoots into his routes. Can snag bubble screens and take off. Shows his burst and crisp quick change of direction, which establishes separation at the intermediate route level. Decent YAC, not great. Can sneak behind a secondary deep when they least expect it. Struggled on heavily contested passes and he can get knocked off routes once in a while. High Ceiling playmaker.

Final words

NFL cornerbacks are going to have a hard time with this one.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.