Vikings Playmaker Tossed on ‘All Overpaid’ Team
T.J. Hockenson has his first full offseason and summer under his belt in two years — and he just so happens to be “overpaid,” according to Bleacher Report.
A Vikings playmaker was listed on the NFL’s “All Overpaid” team, fueling chatter among the public about his contract and overall value to Minnesota.
That outfit found one such player from every NFL position this week, and at tight end, Hockenson unfortunately got the dreaded label.
Bleacher Report Unkind to T.J. Hockenson
Hockenson made an appearance on the BR naughty list.
An Overpaid Viking? That’s T.J. Hockenson, Says Bleacher Report
BR’s Brad Gagnon publishes an “all overpaid” team before each NFL season, and 2025 was no different. He labeled Hockenson with a regrettable term.
Gagnon opined: “At 28, T.J. Hockenson may be trending toward ‘bust’ status. The top-10 pick from 2019 flirted with success in his entry-level tenure with Detroit and flashed at times during his first full campaign with Minnesota, but a major knee injury suffered late that year sunk much of his 2024 season. He returned to play 10 games but averaged just 45.5 yards per outing and didn’t score a single touchdown.”
“In fact, Hockenson has scored just 23 times in his six-year NFL run. He’s gone over 750 yards just twice and has never hit the 1,000-yard plateau, and injuries have again been a factor this offseason for a guy who just hasn’t been consistently durable or a regular playmaker in his career. Meanwhile, the Vikings owe him $16.6 million in 2025, $21.4 million in 2026 and $23.4 million in 2027.”
Gagnon also called Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, a future Hall of Famer, overpaid as a runner-up to Hockenson.
“Kelce’s touchdown total dropped from 12 in 2022 to five in 2023 to three in 2024, and he was held to just six catches for 58 yards in the AFC title game and Super Bowl combined in last year’s playoffs. And in the regular season, his yards-per-target total of 6.2 ranked 30th among 34 qualified tight ends. The Chiefs will need a lot more from him in 2025, especially at a rate of nearly $20 million against the cap,” Gagnon defended the choice.
Factual Errors
Calling Hockenson a ‘bust” is wild by any definition.
He emphatically is not a 1st-Round bust for the Detroit Lions or Vikings. Former Viking safety Lewis Cine was a bust. So was Laquon Treadwell. Hockenson doesn’t live in that territory.
In fact, Hockenson has tabulated over 55 receiving yards per game in Minnesota, along with 8 touchdowns in what amounts to approximately two full seasons. That’s the opposite of a bust; it’s productive and damn near worth his contractual price.
Overpaid Is Highly Debatable
Hockenson earns $16.5 million per season, nominating him as the league’s fourth-wealthiest tight end per average annual value, only trailing George Kittle, Trey McBride, and the aforementioned Kelce.
His major “problem” was the torn ACL from December 2023, suffered thanks to a dirty hit by former teammate and Lions safety Kerby Joseph.
If an ACL tear makes a player overpaid, perhaps Gagnon is on to something. That’s the only way Hockenson could be interpreted as overpaid or a Vikings “bust.”
Off-Ramp if Vikings Were to Agree
For the sake of argument, assume Minnesota agrees with Gagnon, although it almost certainly does not.
Hockenson’s guaranteed money runs out after this season, and if the team were itching to move him via trade or outright roster release, that would be navigable as early as next offseason. The man does not have a bad contract and could, in theory, be offloaded somewhat pain-free, especially via trade, in about six months.
Sauce Gardner Also Got the Overpaid Treatment
At cornerback, Gagnon fingered Gardner. He explained, “We’re honing in on two new contracts from this offseason here, both belonging to young first-round picks who could eventually live up to the huge money on the table but have a lot of work to do.”
“We start with Gardner, who became the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history last month. And yes, the 25-year-old was a legend as a rookie in 2022, but he has fallen off in each of his last two campaigns, with penalties and missed tackles becoming problematic all too often.”
It’s news to most that Gardner has “fallen off.” He logged an 88.6 Pro Football Focus grade in 2023 and 70.2 in 2024.
Gagnon added, “Gardner surrendered 5.3 yards per target as a rookie, 6.0 as a sophomore and 9.3 during his third year in the league. He also has lacked playmaking ability, with just three interceptions in three seasons.”
“There’s plenty of time for him to rebound, but it’s still terrifying that the Jets owe him more than $53 million in guaranteed cash for 2027 and 2028 alone. That’s a long way out.”
Allegedly overpaid Hockenson and his Vikings will suit up for a game against the Chicago Bears in five days. A Monday Night Football affair to get the 2025 party started.
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