TJ Hockenson

We don't save much by cutting him IIRC but that's still probably the move. It's not working here, maybe he'll do better somewhere else.

I think a lot of Hockenson’s issues are due to his inability to chip and then get out in a route quick enough and those routes I don’t think are very well designed, more just like emergency outlets. He kind of ended up in a situation where he often halfassed the chip, then was the outlet for the pressure he let go through, and wasn’t fast enough to be the outlet.

I think if you get Darrisaw and O’Neill healthy, you will see his production return to normal.

I think if you get better QB play, that forces defenses to cover more, and requires less chipping, that’ll also help things.

In general, I think KOC should ask for less chipping. Have him commit to blocking or commit to running a route.

I expect they’ll resign him and lower his cap hit. I think there's enough holes on the team that you got to resign one of your own, and he'll be one of them and maybe they'll seek one out in the draft, but you don't want to pigeon hole yourself.

Hockenson has become soft since his injury and never been the same.  He did perform better last season and I realize that injury hits guys differently whether physically or mentally.

IMO, Oliver is more consistent than Hockenson and he's a better blocker.

I am also looking forward to Bart being healthy and seeing what he can do as he is a pass catching TE that could replace Hockenson.  Frankly, Hock's bar has been lowered so much that I could see Bart being a solid fit in this offense this year, even if Hockenson remains.

In the draft, I love this guy that could be scooped up in the laster rounds of the draft or as an UDFA from Wisconsin/Indiana and that's Riley Nowakowski.  He's played FB and TE and is a great blocker and can be that guy reminiscent of Kleinsasser.

medaille wrote:

I think if you get Darrisaw and O’Neill healthy, you will see his production return to normal.

I expect they’ll resign him and lower his cap hit.  I think there's enough holes on the team that you got to resign one of your own, and he'll be one of them and maybe they'll seek one out in the draft, but you don't want to pigeon hole yourself.

It's a bit gray as to how much of his production decline is age/injury vs how they had to use him (especially last season). I suspect it's almost equal both. 

I dont know how open to a re-structure he is or isnt...I know it's not helping things out in these situations having the QB position on the Vikings being one of the bigger QB question marks in the entire league.

seems that every one of the starters that catch passes showed a decrease in production last year vs previous seasons, more dropped passes, more passes off finger tips, etc etc etc. I think much of Hocks issues last year were related to the QB situation more than his game declining. All that said, if we can see similar production from a FA and can save cap money in the process.... might as well jump. I would still expect Hock to go onto another team and have a very nice year with a more established QB, perhaps KC if Kelce hangs it up.

I think we have to keep him, and I think the two sides will agree to a number that works for both sides. He's still one of the better TEs in the league, and if he goes, there's a gaping hole at pass-catching TE that could only be filled by a 1st round draft pick, and I don't think anyone wants to use a precious 1st round pick on a TE.

MaroonBells wrote:
I think we have to keep him, and I think the two sides will agree to a number that works for both sides. He's still one of the better TEs in the league, and if he goes, there's a gaping hole at pass-catching TE that could only be filled by a 1st round draft pick, and I don't think anyone wants to use a precious 1st round pick on a TE.

not a first,  but I think  we should be strongly considering a TE in our pile of day 2 picks this year.  We may have somebody ready to step up,  but I would like to know that we have better depth there for the future.  and a S,  and a CB x2, and IOL, and IDL, and MLB.... and and and :P  and what the hell,  lets grab another developmental QB on day 3.

JimmyinSD wrote:

not a first,  but I think  we should be strongly considering a TE in our pile of day 2 picks this year.  We may have somebody ready to step up,  but I would like to know that we have better depth there for the future.  and a S,  and a CB x2, and IOL, and IDL, and MLB.... and and and :P  and what the hell,  lets grab another developmental QB on day 3.

Vikings were definitely showing interest in day 3 TE’s in draft prep! Day 2 may be a bit rich…

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.

Put me in the 'keep TJ' camp. Just restructure. He's got plenty of juice yet.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

TJ is back

Canthony wrote:
TJ is back

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.

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.

MaroonBells wrote:

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.

I was under the belief that Hock is under contract for 2027, though he's going to have an even bigger cap number in 2027 (and 2028). Over-the-cap hasn't posted his restructured contract numbers yet, but I believe the restructure will add about $7m to 2027  and to 2028 cap numbers (2028 is a void year)