Jordan Addison’s draft inventory regular after his transfer to USC

This time final 12 months, Jordan Addison had cemented himself as the most effective, if not the highest, huge receiver in faculty soccer. Compiling 100 receptions, 1,593 yards, 17 touchdowns alongside the Biletnikoff Award will deliver that sort of reward, particularly for a large receiver at Pittsburgh. The Panthers are high quality, however you’re dreaming should you consider they’re amongst faculty soccer’s elite, or in any tier close to that. And with the switch portal, it was by no means simpler for Addison to stage up. The not-so-under-the-table recruitment by USC head coach Lincoln Riley to deliver Addison to Los Angeles occurred with Hollywood pink carpet NIL package deal to associate with it.

Addison’s NFL draft inventory stays regular

Addison is now a bit of greater than three weeks away from listening to his identify referred to as in the course of the first spherical of the NFL Draft. Even when he transferred to Division-III Juniata, who went 0-10 in 2022 and gave up essentially the most factors amongst D-III’s winless squads, Addison would nonetheless be one of many first 32 names referred to as to the professionals. Statistically, his one season as a Trojan wasn’t practically as productive, solely hauling in 59 catches for 875 yards and eight touchdowns. Addison was an enormous fish in an aquarium as a substitute of a king salmon in a bath. His quarterback, Caleb Williams, received the Heisman Trophy. The query stays, did the transfer from the East Coast to the West Coast truly profit Addison’s draft inventory? If it did, it’s clear he didn’t shoot up any draft boards.

The indifference in answering that query is a direct reason behind Addison’s dip in manufacturing, one that was anticipated by sharing the ball with different elite playmakers on USC and an elevated focus from opponents on taking him away. The expertise at defensive again is about the identical within the Pac-12 because the ACC, higher than the Huge 12, however inferior to the SEC or Huge Ten. At 5-foot-11, 173 kilos, Addison’s measurement all the time would’ve made him extra of a slot receiver on the subsequent stage, in order that received’t have an effect on his draft inventory. Everybody’s on the lookout for the following Tyreek Hill. And Addison is the very best shot of that on this draft.

In accordance with ESPN’s draft projection, Addison is the second-best huge receiver within the draft behind TCU’s Quentin Johnston, and is one in every of 4 projected to be chosen within the first spherical — with Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Boston Faculty’s Zay Flowers rounding out the group. Johnston’s rise was an enormous a part of the explanation the Horned Frogs reached the nationwide title sport. As the favourite goal of Heisman finalist Max Duggan, he torched Huge 12 defenses all 12 months lengthy. Smith-Njigba performed with Marvin Harrison Jr. and nonetheless discovered methods to face out, whereas Flowers was on a staff that didn’t make a bowl sport. Faculty priority does affect draft inventory, however is more likely to influence Addison the least out of the highest group of pass-catchers.

Did the transfer west matter?

Probably the most underrated a part of Addison’s transfer from Pitt to USC was that he took an opportunity. He most likely would’ve dominated at Heinz Subject once more and may’ve contended for the Biletnikoff once more. It could’ve made him appear stagnant past 2022. although. The drastic drop in manufacturing doesn’t look interesting and NFL scouts ought to care about that. It’s not exhausting to think about some placing zero weight on that issue. What they noticed on tape, on the NFL Mix, and at exercises about how he suits into an NFL offense that received’t cater to simply his skills ever, issues way more. And he was anointed a prospect with unteachable qualities that’ll make him profitable within the NFL in the course of the fall of 2021. And he’s executed nothing to alter that, solely including the sexiness of USC to his resume. I like Primanti Bros. as a lot as anybody, however Pittsburgh is nowhere close to as enticing.

Sitting at No. 15 on ESPN’s draft board is a precarious place to be. Addison might rise into the highest 10 or drop into the mid-20s. Each are properly inside attain. And meaning he didn’t vault himself into uncommon air together with his 12 months at USC and turn out to be one of many highest-drafted huge receivers of the final a number of years, like Amari Cooper and Sammy Watkins. Nothing Addison did beneath Riley’s watch made him fumble that bag. If something, it’s successful that he didn’t stumble as loads can go mistaken in an 11-month span. If he’s nonetheless round at No. 18, pairing Addison up with Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown with the Lions? That appears like a stout trio that ought to vault Detroit again to the postseason.