Another Hawkeye tight end just got paid.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, T.J. Hockenson just landed the richest deal for a tight end in NFL history from the Minnesota Vikings.
According to Schefter, Hockenson signed a four-year, $68.5 million contract extension. The annual average value of the deal is reportedly $17.125 million and the guaranteed money is $42.5 million. Both of those marks are the highest for a tight end in NFL history.
After being dealt midseason, Hockenson quickly became one of Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins’ favorite targets. He reeled in 60 receptions for 519 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games with the Vikings last season.
Today is a g̶o̶o̶d̶ great day.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 31, 2023
The 6-foot-5, 248 pound tight end’s 86 receptions over the entirety of the 2022 season ranked second among tight ends last season. Hockenson registered 914 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 17 combined games with Minnesota and Detroit.
“He fits our culture. He’s the type of player we want in Minnesota. I’m really excited to get it done,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said of Hockenson.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell sounded off on the extension as well.
“Our hopes were that we were acquiring a player that would become a major part of our offense moving forward. We saw the immediate impact over those 10 games, 11 games. We’ve been able to build on T.J.’s role here, and really have a great process in the offseason of what it’s really going to look like in our offensive system for a major player like T.J. to be a part of it,” O’Connell said.
Chalk it up as another notch in the belt for the Iowa Hawkeyes’ claim to “TEU.”
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