Pickett Connection? Former Pitt WR Jordan Addison Declares for 2023 NFL Draft

Former Pitt Panthers and current USC wide receiver Jordan Addison, Kenny Pickett’s favorite collegiate target, will skip the Cotton Bowl and enter the 2023 NFL Draft, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Trojans wide receiver reportedly suffered a minor setback in his ankle injury after the team’s Pac-12 title game loss against the Utah Utes. On the season, Addison played in 11 games and put up 875 yards and 8 touchdowns on 59 receptions with Caleb Williams and Lincoln Riley. However, an ankle injury limited him for portions of the year and left him from reaching his full effectiveness.

Prior to USC, Addison was the 2021 Biletnikoff Award Winner at Pitt. Done alongside now Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, Addison amassed 1593 yards and 17 touchdowns on 100 receptions to put up a spectacular season. That connection proved to be fruitful, as Addison and Pickett guided Pitt to the first ACC Championship in program history. Pickett would be a Heisman finalist.

Prior to the 2022 season, Addison would transfer from Pitt to USC to join Williams and Riley. While his production dipped, much of it can be blamed on his ankle injury that sapped some of his usual effectiveness. A smooth route runner that can win at all three levels, Addison still was an alpha wide receiver and played like one of the best in the nation when healthy.

Addison is believed to be a potential mid-first-round talent in the draft. Coincidentally, that is currently where the Pittsburgh Steelers stand, holding the 14th overall pick. Could a reunion with Pickett be in the cards for Addison? Only time will tell, but it is poised to become a recurring storyline throughout the process and its end.

Currently, in the NFL, there are five duos where college quarterbacks and wide receivers have been linked together. The most prolific of which is Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow, but Derek Carr and Davante Adams, and Jalen Hurts to DeVonta Smith are plenty prolific. Pittsburgh would become the sixth if they reunited Pickett with Addison.