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(03-06-2026, 03:12 PM)Kentis Wrote: Vikings were definitely showing interest in day 3 TE’s in draft prep! Day 2 may be a bit rich…
I think the Vikings have been, and will continue, taking shots on several late round TEs in the hope that they can get lucky on one, which would allow them to move on from Hockenson. Since they traded for Hockenson, the Vikings have probably brought in close to a dozen late-round, UDFA and FA TEs like Mundt, Muse, Bartholomew, Sims, Yurosek, Tonyan, Knox, Ricci, Nesbit, etc., TE is one of the positions I think you can sometimes get lucky with a late rounder. But it hasn't happened yet.
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(03-06-2026, 03:25 PM)MaroonBells Wrote: I think the Vikings have been, and will continue, taking shots on several late round TEs in the hope that they can get lucky on one, which would allow them to move on from Hockenson. Since they traded for Hockenson, the Vikings have probably brought in close to a dozen late-round, UDFA and FA TEs like Mundt, Muse, Bartholomew, Sims, Yurosek, Tonyan, Knox, Ricci, Nesbit, etc., TE is one of the positions I think you can sometimes get lucky with a late rounder. But it hasn't happened yet.
That's the kind of luck you invest in with pull tabs and scratch off tickets, usually 10 to 20 dollar wins 1 in 5 at best, and that's just making the team. One in hand is better than 8 at checkout.
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I hope hock returns.
ACL injury really messed up his game up.
His feet looked heavy and slow. The strength and bounce wasn't there.
he'll sort it out and fix it in the off season.
I think he'll have a monster year
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I'm hearing rumblings (from my very good friend Adam Schefter and others), that they are now pursuing a restructure rather than a cut as a means to reduce his cap hit.
I think the biggest issue with his drop in production last year was due to three new unfamiliar QB's.
Ask Jefferson.
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(03-07-2026, 10:50 AM)Montana Tom Wrote: I'm hearing rumblings (from my very good friend Adam Schefter and others), that they are now pursuing a restructure rather than a cut as a means to reduce his cap hit.
I think the biggest issue with his drop in production last year was due to three new unfamiliar QB's.
Ask Jefferson.
I kinda buy that, but his hands have never been much of a feature. Back in '23, when we dropped early games largely because KJ, TJ, and Mattison were dropping balls at terrible times (plus one rare, but huge, gaffe from JJ against Philly). TJ has had a consistent issue with securing catches, something that is as infuriating as his good plays are encouraging.
If KOC and the offensive staff still he him as a positive, then so do I...but not at that price.
KOC, JJM, Flores...make a good plan, or you'll be following Kwesi....
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ACL used to always be a 2 year thing - the first year back was typically rehab and subpar performance. It's changed in recent years to an expectation that every guy should be his former self in the first year back. But reality is some guys heal and recover faster than others.
So the hope for TJ is that he more of his old self this year, which is year 2 after the surgery. But his contract definitely needs a rework as he is no way shape or form worthy of being the highest paid TE in the league.
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Slow plodder who’s absolutely not still one of the best TEs in the league, he’s just getting paid like it.
Maybe the money comes down and the speed comes back and the hands get good. Maybe none of that happens and we’re overpaying TJ yet again. I’d rather the team move on.
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(03-07-2026, 07:45 PM)NorseFeathers Wrote: Vikings restructure TE T.J. Hockenson’s contract
NFL Media reports that the Vikings have restructured his contract, creating $5 million in 2026 cap space.
I think this is bigger and better news than most people realize. Hock is still a helluva tight end whose production the last couple seasons was stunted much more by injury and poor QB play than any kind of age-related decline. I mean that's absurd. At 28, he's 3 years younger than Goeddert, 4 years younger than Kittle, 8 years younger than Kelce.
But since he'll be a free agent after this season, it would behoove the Vikings to draft a TE somewhere in the middle rounds. You have to think the Murray rumors may have had an impact here. I hear even Harry is now considering coming back.
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