T.J. Hockenson Has Tanked His Value
Back in 2022, the Minnesota Vikings swung a trade with the Detroit Lions for T.J. Hockenson. The tight end position became a significant need after oft-injured starter Irv Smith Jr. went down with yet another issue. Hockenson seemed like a sizable upgrade, and at times looked the part, but it’s never been less evident than this season.
T.J. Hockenson has largely been a disappointment for the Vikings in 2025, and his shortcomings this year have been astonishing.
Last season, Hockenson returned to full health after suffering a significant knee injury at the end of 2023. He averaged 11.1 yards per reception but didn’t score a single touchdown across 10 games. Needing a significant bounce back, anything but has been the story this year.
A Down Year for T.J. Hockenson
Despite looking like a cap casualty coming into the year, Hockenson could have made the Minnesota Vikings think twice. Instead, his 12.4 million dead cap number will likely be a welcome reality.
The 28-year-old is averaging a career-low 8.2 yards per reception and generates just 48.9 yards per game. He has two touchdowns this season, but Hockenson has looked lazy, lethargic, and largely disinterested when called upon to provide a consistent source of offense in the passing game.
Minnesota has a pair of wide receivers in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. However, the easiest avenue for a young quarterback like J.J. McCarthy to find underneath options is a high-caliber tight end. While Hockenson once could have been considered that type of player, it would be laughable to consider him as such at this point.
The Vikings don’t have an immediate successor in terms of a pass-catching star at the position. Josh Oliver filled in admirably during Hockenson’s absence last year, but he’s still a blocking-first option. Even with an uncertain level of depth in either Ben Yurosek or Gavin Bartholomew, there is no reason for Minnesota to allocate funds towards Hockenson in 2026.
It’s been an ugly and sad decline for Hockenson since arriving in Minnesota. It’s worth wondering how much the substantial knee injury sapped his effectiveness, but that’s not a reality that can be lived with anymore. Maybe Hockenson will redeem himself a bit down the stretch, but it certainly appears as though the writing is on the wall.
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