The Best TE Options for Vikings if T.J. Hockenson Leaves
T.J. Hockenson might be a cut candidate for the Minnesota Vikings if they don’t prefer to restructure his contract this offseason. He’s the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid tight end, and Minnesota barely used him as a pass-catcher in 2025. Suppose the Vikings pull the plug on Hockenson. Well, they’ll need a new tight end. Consider these options the most likely.
The Vikings could face a tight end pivot if Hockenson’s situation changes, and the shortlist of realistic replacements is forming quickly.
Of course, this will all be moot if Hockenson sticks around, but here’s a glance at contingency plans.
Top Tight End Alternatives for Minnesota if Hockenson Moves On
Ranked from good to great, these are the post-Hockenson TE options if applicable.
5. Oscar Delp + a Vet
Most of the rookie tight ends near the top of the 2026 draftboard don’t block very well. And one of Kevin O’Connell’s prerequisites for a TE1 seems to be decent-to-good pass-blocking.
Delp, a Georgia Bulldog, is a compromise. He blocks well compared to his draft classmates, but probably won’t be drafted until Round 4 or later. In this scenario, the Vikings might have to sign a veteran tight end like Cade Otton as insurance, while hoping Delp matures faster than most to flirt with a TE1 role.
Of course, Minnesota doesn’t have a 2026 4th-Rounder right now. That belongs to the Carolina Panthers. O’Connell would have to reach for Delp in Round 3, trade back into Round 4, or hope he slides to Round 5.
Bleacher Report‘s Daniel Harms on Delp: “Oscar Delp is a vertical, seam busting tight end with explosive speed and three down upside for an NFL offense. He’s become a versatile blocker for the Bulldogs offense, and springs multiple runs a game for their offense.”
“Underutilized as a pass catcher, the 6’5″ 245-pound prospect showcases his burst after the catch by reducing pursuit angles by linebackers and defensive backs, regularly.”
4. A Trade for Michael Mayer
The Las Vegas Raiders employ two TE1s: Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. That doesn’t make sense. The Raiders should trade Mayer for a 5th-Round pick or so, enabling him to reach his fullest potential and getting a draft pick back for their troubles.
Mayer isn’t the best blocking tight end imaginable, but he’s also not abysmal. Between Mayer, Josh Oliver, Gavin Bartholomew, and Ben Yurosek, the Vikings’ TE room would be in good hands.
3. Isaiah Likely
Likely, on the other hand, does not run- or pass-block, which may present a problem in Vikings free-agent scouting circles.
Still, the man is sitting on a breakout season for his next team — probably not the Baltimore Ravens, his current employer, that just extended Mark Andrews’s contract.
Likely also splashes big in the clutch, and if Minnesota veers away from its blocking criteria, Likely would be a fantastic passing game target for J.J. McCarthy or the unnamed Vikings QB1 in 2026.
His next contract will likely pay him around $9 million or $10 million per season.
2. Kyle Pitts
Want to know why Pitts was drafted so damn high in 2021? He literally does it all. He’s a freak athlete who catches passes like a top-tier wide receiver and blocks as effectively as George Kittle.
Pitts is the dream for any offense; it’s just that he never took off in Atlanta as a certified killer. Until that night he ruined your night when you played in the fantasy football playoffs in December.
A geographical cure could fix him, however, and teams will line up to pay Pitts next month. The Vikings may not have the money to spend on another Top 10 tight end, but if they do, Pitts is by far the best free-agent option.
His next deal will pay him about $12 million annually.
1. Kenyon Sadiq
Sadiq is trending as the only tight end to fly off the board in Round 1 this April. A product of Oregon, he’s an outstanding pass-catching threat and should see his future NFL team’s lineup in Week 1 of 2026.
At 6’3″ and 245 pounds, Sadiq has a significant advantage in that he is young; he won’t turn 21 until after the season begins. In 42 games at Oregon, he tallied 80 receptions for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns. Further showcasing his athleticism, he also returned kicks for the Ducks in 2023 and 2024.
His complete skill set fuels all buzz surrounding him as a potential 1st-Round pick. Sadiq is a reliable pass-catcher and an effective blocker for both runners and quarterbacks — a rare combination for a young tight end.
While Minnesota has plenty of draft needs, particularly on defense, fans would not be too mad if they took the plunge with Sadiq at No. 18. Or, at the very least, it wouldn’t take very long to warm up to the pick.
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