Even though T.J. Hockenson didn’t do anything, his future market value for his next contract just got a lot richer. When the Cleveland Browns used the franchise tag on tight end David Njoku and the Miami Dolphins did the same with Mike Gesicki and the Cowboys followed suit with Dalton Schultz, it raised the roof for what Hockenson will get on his next contract.
The Lions don’t have to worry about that next contract for Hockenson for at least one more year, of course. Hockenson still has one more season on his rookie deal, plus a club option for the fifth year that is almost certain to be exercised soon.
However, the trio of tags means three more tight ends are going to earn over $10 million in 2022. Gesicki, Njoku and Schultz will all earn the same franchise tag figure of $10.931 million for one season. It’s a figure based on the average of the top salaries at the position.
