The Vikings are undergoing one fairly significant offensive change in 2025.
While the majority of Kevin O'Connell's 14-win unit from 2024 remains intact, Minnesota allowed its QB1, Sam Darnold, to walk in free agency and join the Seahawks. So, with Week 1 of the new season arriving Monday night, J.J. McCarthy now steps in to lead a team that still has realistic NFC North hopes.
There could be some growing pains for McCarthy, a 2024 first-round pick who saw his rookie season end before it really started. Now healed from a knee ailment, the Michigan product gets a huge opportunity as the starter in his first real NFL action. Fortunately for him, McCarthy will have some elite weapons to work with.
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A suspension to solidified WR2 Jordan Addison changed things for Minnesota, even leading to a preseason trade. But still, between Aaron Jones at running back, T.J. Hockenson at tight end and a deep receiver room, the Vikings should be able to get by without Addison.
Here's a look at the Vikings' WR depth chart as Addison sits out the beginning of the 2025 season due to a suspension.
MORE: The Sporting News' 2025 NFL predictions
Vikings WR depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Justin Jefferson |
| 2 | Jordan Addison (suspended) |
| 3 | Adam Thielen |
| 4 | Jalen Nailor |
| 5 | Tai Felton |
No. 1: Justin Jefferson
Jefferson isn't just the Vikings' top weapon; there's an argument to be made that he's the most talented offensive player in the NFL. Still just 26 years old, he's set various statistical records for his career pace at wide receiver, and Jefferson has shown no signs of slowing down.
Immediately, McCarthy will head into his debut NFL season with an ultra-reliable target that can make some magic happen after the catch. Jefferson has posted at least 1,000 receiving yards and five touchdowns in all five seasons of his career thus far, and it'd be fair to expect him to do the same in 2025.
Addison's suspension changed nothing for Jefferson, who will find a way to get his numbers one way or another. His "bad" games are considered fantastic days for the average NFL pass catcher. If McCarthy wants to play things safe in his first NFL season, especially without Addison to start 2025, there's no better player to prioritize than Jefferson.
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No. 2: Jordan Addison (suspended)
Addison was suspended for the first three games of the NFL season for violating the league's substances of abuse policy. He'll miss Minnesota's season-opener against Chicago, then matchups against Atlanta and Cincinnati as well. The suspension was in connection to a 2024 DUI citation.
To begin the 2025 season, the Vikings will be without Jordan Addison. His absence will be felt early, but his return in Week 4 should provide a major boost. Over his first two NFL seasons, Addison has totaled 1,786 receiving yards and established himself as a dangerous red-zone option with 19 touchdowns.
Since being drafted in the first round in 2023, Addison has been the perfect complement to Justin Jefferson’s star power. While there’s still room for his game to grow, he’s already become a reliable and explosive piece of Minnesota’s offense. Kevin McCarthy will miss him in the opening stretch, but the Vikings have made moves to help cover the void.
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No. 3: Adam Thielen
The Vikings' August trade for Thielen was the most notable reunion of the NFL's preseason, as the veteran wide receiver is back with the team with which he spent the first nine seasons of his career.
Minnesota traded a 2026 fifth-round draft pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Panthers in exchange for Thielen, a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. For a 35-year-old wide receiver, that's a decently expensive price to pay, but the Vikings also know they're getting a familiar, reliable player in Thielen.
From 2014-22 in Minnesota, Thielen had six seasons with at least 700 receiving yards. He owns 55 career touchdowns in purple and gold, despite catching passes from various quarterbacks over the years. Thielen isn't quite the 1,300-yard star he was around 2018, but he is just two years removed from his third 1,000-yard season while in Carolina.
Thielen should make for an adequate replacement for Addison to begin the season, as long as he doesn't struggle to jump into the team's offense just days before Week 1. But, like Jefferson, Thielen is an experienced receiver who will only make things easier for McCarthy. As yet another veteran weapon, the 35-year-old should be a steady presence for the Vikings.
Once Addison is back, Thielen's role will likely shrink a bit, but he'll still be an important depth piece as a third starter in 2025.
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No. 4: Jalen Nailor
Originally, Nailor was set to be the player who would benefit most from Addison's absence. The former sixth-round pick out of Michigan State is coming off his best season yet and appeared to have a shot at claiming the WR2 spot early in 2025.
Instead, the Thielen trade means Nailor will remain more of a rotational player this season, barring injuries. While he should see starting time during Addison's three-game suspension, Nailor doesn’t have the same pedigree as the players ranked above him on the depth chart.
However, the Vikings are likely still confident in the abilities of their WR4. In 2024, Nailor played in all 17 games, setting career-highs in receptions (28), yards (414) and touchdowns (6). Especially as a deep threat, don't be surprised if Nailor still gets some key action this season. It just may not come too often, with proven players like Jefferson, Addison and Thielen likely to be more of a priority.
No. 5: Tai Felton
The Vikings also used some significant 2025 draft capital on a wide receiver. Tai Felton was taken by Minnesota in the third round of April's draft, a Maryland product who had 1,124 receiving yards in his senior season.
Felton caught four passes for 46 yards in the preseason. For now, he won't be much more than a depth option. As is the case with Nailor, the Vikings have already successfully built their offense around veteran weapons, and Felton simply won't have a route to consistent playing time unless there are injuries.
Still, Felton should be a nice receiver for the Vikings to develop moving forward, and he can surely learn a thing or two from watching Jefferson go to work each week.