CBS Sports Predicts a Bold Vikings Roster Cut
The Minnesota Vikings are over the cap by about $50 million right now, so roster cuts are basically inevitable — even for big-name veterans. And according to CBS Sports, tight end T.J. Hockenson could be on his way out.
Hockenson’s 2025 dip came with blocking-heavy usage and shaky QB play, and Minnesota would need a real plan to replace his snaps and targets.
Joel Corry predicted the highest-profile NFL trades and roster cuts for the upcoming offseason this week, and Hockenson got the nod as a cut casualty.
Cutting Hockenson Might Be in Play, but the Vikings Would Need a Replacement
Say it ain’t so on Hockenson.
Corry’s Prediction: A Roster Cut for Hockenson
Hockenson’s cap number is just over $21 million in 2026. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could restructure that, but Corry, a former NFL agent, forecasted a release.
“Hockenson production has significantly declined since having 95 catches for 960 yards with five touchdowns before tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee 15 games into the 2023 season,” he wrote.
“In the two seasons after the knee injury, Hockenson has 92 catches for 893 yards and three touchdowns in 19 games. Hockenson averaged a career-low 29.2 receiving yards per game this season.”
The move would save Minnesota up to $16 million if assigned a post-June 1st designation.
Why the Cut?
Hockenson basically got reassigned in 2025. Minnesota’s offensive line spent the season bleeding bodies, and Kevin O’Connell responded by quietly turning Hockenson into OL support. By midseason, O’Connell admitted the role shift out loud, even as the box score kept telling a misleading story about Hockenson’s receiving production.
That story ended with 51 catches, 438 yards, and three touchdowns — pedestrian numbers that invited lazy conclusions from a few fans. Minnesota’s quarterback carousel certainly didn’t help. J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer never stabilized the passing game, dragging down every receiver not named Jalen Nailor.
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw returned in September from a torn ACL, but something was off. To compensate, Hockenson became the OL insurance policy. Fans noticed Hockenson’s stat dip and jumped to the wrong takeaway: decline.
The overall reality hasn’t moved much. Hockenson turns 28 this season. His skill set still exists. He just needs passing-game targets. Put Hockenson in an offense that treats him like a route-runner instead of drywall, and see what happens.
A to Z Sports‘ Mike Payton even claimed a couple of weeks ago that Hockenson could return to the Detroit Lions, the team that drafted him seven years ago.
He explained, “Right now, the Lions don’t need a second Pro Bowl tight end; they need depth badly. When LaPorta and Brock Wright went down with injuries, the Lions were playing guys like Anthony Firkser and Giovanni Ricci — players you probably won’t see in Detroit again. What Hockenson can bring at this juncture is a pretty good pass-blocking tight end who has the ability to be another target in the pass game.”
“A target that we already know Jared Goff trusts. In fact, he might have trusted him too much in 2021. It was like a security blanket that year. Having built in trust goes a long way. We saw what that looked like when Josh Reynolds got here. Goff and Reynolds just got right back to work like they never stopped playing with each other.”
Replacement Options
In-house, the Vikings would have these TE options if they don’t directly replace Hockenson from free agency or the draft:
— Josh Oliver
— Ben Yurosek
— Gavin Bartholomew
For now, none is a TE1. Therefore, the free-agent market would look like this for Minnesota:
- Austin Hooper
- Cade Otton
- Chig Okonkwo
- Dallas Goedert
- David Njoku
- Isaiah Likely
- Jake Tonges
- Kyle Granson
- Kyle Pitts
- Noah Fant
- Tyler Conklin
- Tyler Higbee
Minnesota could, in theory, also use its 18th overall pick in April’s draft on Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
Other Splashy Cut Theories
In addition to Hockenson, a few more cuts might make sense as the Vikings navigate the nearly $50 million salary cap deficit. Some examples:
- Javon Hargrave (DT)
- Aaron Jones (RB)
- Ryan Kelly (C)
Releasing Hargrave, Hockenson, Jones, and Kelly would free up around $40 million in cap space. It’s also worth noting that Kelly could retire after suffering three concussions in 2025.
Hargrave played decently at times this season, but may not be worth the squeeze in 2026, especially if Minnesota uses a Round 1 pick on a defensive tackle like Clemson’s Peter Woods. And Jones will turn 32 next season, well past the prime of a running back.
Finally, all the cut candidates, Hockenson included, are eligible for contractual restructures. Adofo-Mensah could realistically move money around for any of these men and keep them on the 2026 roster.
Hockenson would have no problem finding an NFL home if CBS Sports has this theory right. He has not hit an age-related wall.
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