The Minnesota Vikings made a big splash on Tuesday less than four hours before the trade deadline in acquiring T.J. Hockenson from the Detroit Lions.
The move didn’t come without its cost, as the Vikings turned their second-round pick in 2022 and third-round pick in 2023 into fourth-round picks.
The newest member of the #Vikings: TJ Hockenson.
A huge deal, with the #Vikings sending a 2023 2nd rounder and a 2024 fourth rounder for Hockenson, a 2023 fourth rounder and a 2024 conditional fourth rounder. pic.twitter.com/ryxNrHzGP8— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 1, 2022
The move itself is right out of the playbook thus far of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, as Hockenson is a talented player with team control through 2023, a theme that was evident in acquiring Jalen Reagor and Ross Blacklock.
The news about this trade was widespread and mostly positive towards the Vikings who are taking this competitive rebuild very seriously while also making a run toward a potential division title and Super Bowl.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah just improved Minnesota's receiving and blocking with one trade. T.J. Hockenson is going to be a great fit on the #Vikings for years to come.
— JV (@JVSwaps) November 1, 2022
T.J. Hockenson is one of the only two-way TEs in the NFL basically.
Is he elite at blocking or receiving? Probably not, but the #Lions barely got anything back for him. They get a 2 and 3, but also send back two 4s and the #Vikings picks will be later in each round.
Weird trade.— Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL) November 1, 2022
T.J. Hockenson's cap hit is less than $600,000 for the rest of this season, so the Vikings don't need to do anything to fit him under the cap.
He's under contract next season for $9.4 million on the fifth-year option. The Vikings could potentially extend him this offseason.
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) November 1, 2022
Bonus points for the T.J. Hockenson move because he looks like an actual Viking.
— Minnesota Left Winger 🔴🟢🚩🏴 (@dare_2_b_darren) November 1, 2022
@DWolfsonKSTP said don't be surprised it's a TE before Trade Deadline.
Honestly I thought a Mike Gesicki but T.J. Hockenson is blockbuster trade.
Now are @Vikings done??
— Kyle Ostoyic (@OstoyicKyle) November 1, 2022
Always been a big fan of T.J. Hockenson, thats a hell of a move #skol
— Jack Leverentz (@Bossman_10K) November 1, 2022
He was a 1st round pick a few years ago.
Also: big game on 10/2/22 vs Seattle
"T.J. Hockenson had eight receptions and set career highs with 179 yards receiving and two touchdowns, the second of which helped the Lions (1-3) pull within three with 5:26 remaining."— 🇺🇦☮️🇺🇸💉x5 NewMexJeff (@Milw_Mac_Guy) November 1, 2022
#SKOL Vikings Offense just got a whole lot scarier with the addition of TE T.J. Hockenson. Vikings now have a ton of weapons!
— Alex (@ProSportsTake) November 1, 2022
T.J. Hockenson has the 8th-highest receiving grade among tight ends on PFF.
He currently has 26 catches, 395 yards, and 3 TDs.
The 15.2 YPC is above Jefferson, Thielen, and Osborn.
— KJ (@VikingsGazette) November 1, 2022
Why does everyone think the Lions won the T.J Hockenson trade?
They took him with the 8th pick in the 2019 draft. They passed on better players.
Their return is less than they invested.
— Triple Play Fantasy (@TripPlayFantasy) November 1, 2022
Idc if Hockenson hasn’t played that good this season KOC definitely gonna turn him around 😮💨
— ️️ ️️️️️️️️️ ️️ ️️ ️️ ️️ ️️️️️️️️️ (@JJetsSZN) November 1, 2022
T.J. Hockenson's hair is just gonna look so perfect as a Viking.
— Chris Ramirez (@CRamirezCalif) November 1, 2022
T.J. Hockenson?! Nice.
— Sean West (@seanrwest) November 1, 2022
T.J. Hockenson a great pickup for Minnesota, gives them the middle of the field threat.
— Rollin In Winners (@FreePicks24) November 1, 2022
I can't believe the Detroit Lions traded T.J. Hockenson — a 25-year-old near-stud skill player — to the Minnesota Vikings…a freakin' divisional rival.
Lions gonna Lion.
— Alan Goldsher (@AlanGoldsher) November 1, 2022
The Detroit #Lions are trading tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota #Vikings. This just shows why this organization is the worst in the #NFL and maybe all of sports
— Bryan Yates (@NFLStandYates) November 1, 2022
T.j hockenson? Yeah super bowl FOR SURE
— jos🅱️ (@JosBTheGreat) November 1, 2022
Rich Hill Trade Chart points*:
MN gets: Hockenson, 2023 R4 (38 points), 2024 R4 (32)
DET gets: 2023 R2 (91), 2024 R3 (50)
*2024 estimates
Vikes relinquish 71 points.
Upshot: Vikes acquired Hockenson for equivalent of No. 69 overall pick.
Steal for exactly what they needed.
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) November 1, 2022
It’s fair for people to critique the draft capital and future cap implications of a move. But the Vikings are 6-1 and their football team got better today so that is neat and I’m happy.
— Forester93 (@Forester932) November 1, 2022
I *loved* Hockenson coming out of Iowa. He's a very good in-line tight end with the versatility to make your offense much more multiple and explosive, similar to George Kittle in Shanahan's offense. Excellent pick up just to move down from a 2nd to a 4th. https://t.co/4h5HZRTn3i
— Nick Olson (@NickOlsonNFL) November 1, 2022
