The Minnesota Vikings made a pair of significant moves when they acquired tight end T.J. Hockenson in 2022. They gave the Detroit Lions a second-round draft pick to acquire him and, after the season, made Hockenson the highest-paid tight end in NFL history, signing a four-year, $66 million extension that has him under contract through 2027.
In 10 games with the Vikings after the trade, Hockenson caught 60 passes for 519 yards and three touchdowns, establishing himself as a critical weapon in Minnesota’s passing game. He built on those numbers in 2023. In 15 games, despite injuries that resulted in Hockenson catching passes from four different quarterbacks, he landed 95 receptions for 960 yards and five touchdowns.
Then disaster struck.
