There’s no question that tight end T.J. Hockenson has been an integral part of the Minnesota Vikings offense since he arrived in a trade with the Detroit Lions. Since arriving in Minnesota, Hockenson has accounted for more than 1,400 yards and eight touchdowns in just over a year and a half. Over that time, he has firmly established himself as one of the top five tight ends in the NFL.
However, Hockenson is also coming off a devastating knee injury and entering a situation with significant question marks at quarterback. Hockenson’s production saw a significant dip last season after starting quarterback Kirk Cousins was lost for the season. All that has led one analyst to wonder if the Vikings should do what the Lions did and trade Hockenson to take a swing at a rookie TE.
AtoZ Sports NFL writer Mike Payton had this to say about the situation in a recent piece for the outlet:
Hockenson’s salary in 2025 becomes guaranteed on the 15th of June 2024. If they move him in a trade ahead of then they would have to pay out $10 million in dead cap, but they save a lot of money down the road and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has shown to be someone who likes to save money.
The Vikings could then take their Sam LaPorta shot with Michigan’s Colston Loveland in the 2025 NFL Draft and pair him back up with J.J. McCarthy. He would be on a rookie deal and would be a lot cheaper for the Vikings.
Obviously, the Vikings kept Hockenson past that June date, so he’ll be with the team through 2025. However, the Vikings do have an out in his contract after that season—if they’re willing to take on just over $7 million in dead cap.
As for the idea of pairing quarterback J.J. McCarthy back up with his college tight end, the duo connected on 45 receptions for 649 yards and four touchdowns last season. If Loveland could replicate that production at the pro level, there might be something to the idea.