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The Minnesota Vikings announced a major contract decision on a player head coach Kevin O'Connell remains high on.

The Minnesota Vikings were running up against the clock with wide receiver Jordan Addison, whose tenure has featured on-field brilliance mixed with intermittent missteps when not in uniform.

Addison is a former first-round pick. That status often leads to additional opportunities to right the ship than other players with a lesser draft pedigree receive.

For the Vikings, though, the decision was probably clearer than the timeline might suggest.

Vikings Announce Contract Decision on Jordan Addison

Addison, who turned 24 in January, caught 42 passes for 610 yards and 3 touchdowns in 14 games for the Vikings last season.

Addison missed the first two contests while serving a suspension due to an offseason arrest, his second since the Vikings drafted him 23rd overall in 2023. Those off-field transgressions have led to doubts about Addison’s future with the Vikings, including sparking trade speculation.

At the very least, the Vikings are looking to give themselves a longer runway.

“The #Vikings have officially exercised Jordan Addison’s 5th-year option,” the Vikings posted on X on April 27.

Fans in the comments were quick to point out Addison’s off-field troubles, the latest of which includes a trespassing charge that authorities later dropped, per Seifert in January. Some noted that this would be like rewarding Addison rather than holding him accountable.

The decision can be a stepping stone toward extension talks.

“Addison is now set to make $18 million guaranteed in the final year of his rookie deal,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote on April 27. “The No. 23 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Addison has been productive in each of his three seasons, playing alongside one of the league’s top receivers in Justin Jefferson.

“Addison is extension eligible, having completed his third season. The fifth-year option could be a starting point for negotiations on a long-term deal.”

Addison has 175 catches for 2,396 yards and 22 touchdowns for the Vikings in 46 career games.

Kevin O’Connell Put Jordan Addison on Notice

The Vikings’ decision, which ownership announced in March and commented on last week, came with a heads-up reminder for Addison from head coach Kevin O’Connell.

“From a talent standpoint, and his impact, it was really felt immediately when Jordan first arrived here. And what he’s brought to our offense, and his ability to really dynamically complement Justin [Jefferson]. And I view Jordan as one of the top-tier, quote-unquote–if you want to call him–No. 2s in the league, and that is not in any way shape or form negative when we’re talking about that other guy being Justin Jefferson,” O’Connell told reporters on April 20 of the decision.

“He was an incredibly young player when he got into the NFL, and he’s learned some lessons over the years. And I think he understands it’s a critical time in his career. His ability to have an impact, doing what he loves, which is playing football. Loves playing football as much as anybody we have in this organization. We need to make sure that he understands where he’s at now, and the growth, and all those things, and what that equals, and I think he does, and I’m excited to get going with him this year.”

Picking Addison’s option keeps him under team control and can serve as a jumping-off point for extension talks. But it also does not guarantee Addison’s long-term security. That puts the onus on the Vikings’ young star to stay out of trouble.