Kicking Tires On T.J. Hockenson
February 20th, 2026
Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson.
Joe would like to find out what the heck happened to one of the better young tight ends in the game. Or at least, he was.
Minnesota tight end T.J. Hockenson is looking like a sure-fire cap casualty. When Hockenson played for the Lions, he was a Pro Bowl tight end. That continued when Hockenson was traded to the Vikings in 2022.
Shoot, as recently as 2023, Hockenson, who will turn 29 this summer, had 960 yards receiving, making the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career.
But the past two seasons, after quarterback Kirk Cousins left the Vikings, Hockenson has been a run-of-the-mill player. His production slipped enough that Matt Okada of NFL.com thinks Hockenson will be a free agent cap casualty next month.
Hockenson totaled 155 catches, 1,479 yards and eight touchdowns over 25 games with the Vikings in 2022 and 2023, playing at or near the level that earned him two Pro Bowl selections in Detroit. Unfortunately, over his 25 games since the start of 2024, the veteran tight end has totaled just 92 catches for 893 yards and three touchdowns. Those numbers all fall short of his 2023 production alone. So, while the four-year, $66 million extension he signed just before 2023 initially seemed like a score for the front office, it’s since become a burden. Hockenson carries a $21.3 million cap hit in 2026 — highest at his position across the league — and Minnesota can save $8.9 million by releasing him before June 1 or $16 million if it makes him a post-June 1 cut. Both options are viable, but keeping him on the payroll with an already troubling cap situation and declining production is not ideal.
Joe would certainly interested in the Bucs kicking the tires on Hockenson.
Joe just isn’t overly impressed with the Bucs tight ends. Joe waffles on Cade Otton. He is equal parts frustrating and seemingly misused. Joe thinks Payne Durham is little more than a blocking tight end, same with Ko Kieft who is a crushing blocker and solid special teams guy.
Devin Culp, who Joe likes a lot, is just the opposite. He can stretch the field and that’s about it.
Did Hockenson struggle last year because J.J. McCarthy was behind center for the Vikings? Is Hockenson already over the hill?
February 20th, 2026 at 4:05 am
hockenson was a really impressive TE for 3-4 years or so with detroit and then minn…
however the one thing i do recall, and thought it often…was…”dam this dude’s body takes a real beating”…
i’d see him steadily being hit like cade otton did in some of his most productive games, a couple seasons ago, when both mike and chris were out…
basically hockinson’s body got werked…so yeah he really could possibly be a little bit washed out already…
i saw what i saw from a tv standpoint X fan point , so who knows…
organizational people should know, or get word…
i’m pretty sure mccarthy didn’t help his numbers at all tho
February 20th, 2026 at 6:24 am
Pass.
February 20th, 2026 at 6:35 am
TJ is terrific… I definitely would kick the tires
However, I am still not happy that Todd Bowles is the HC and DC
I can accept the fact he is the HC, but the DC position needs a changing of the tires!!!! SMH
I do not fear the beard aka Rooney Rule like the Glazers do!
February 20th, 2026 at 6:37 am
Hockenson only played in 10 games in 2024 (he missed the first 7 games) where he averaged 4 catches for 45 yards per game and zero TDs. Minnesota won 9 of the 10 games he suited up and he was targeted 6 times per game.
Last year was likely a result of McCarthy and the turnstile at QB. He was only targeted an average of 4 times per game.
Then again, maybe he’s just not the same guy anymore after tearing his ACL in late 2023. If he’s cheap, sure kick the tires. If he costs the same as Otton, I’d try to retain Otton. That said, I’d probably be more interested in kicking the tires on Dallas Goedert or Isaiah Likely.
February 20th, 2026 at 7:52 am
blocking TE in the late rounds….utilize Culp and Durham
February 20th, 2026 at 8:48 am
Todd wants to run more.
30 runs or more guarantee victory.
Todd is a genius.
February 20th, 2026 at 9:48 am
So JT was a stud in2022/2023 – With Kirk Cousins in MIN….Then had some injury time in 2024, missing games which lowered his season totals when Sam Darnold was resurrecting his QB career…& followed that shortened season by inherited JJ McCarthy in 2025 who did not target him at the rate that Cousins or Darnold had in 2022-2024.
I can’t necessarily point a finger & say JT had a drop off…When he doesn’t throw the ball to himself…I believe McCarthy was the problem, as Jordan Addison’s numbers also fell off with JJ under center, while Jefferson continued getting the ball forced his way but barely cracked 1K yds.
I still would target Pitts as a UFA as soon as the dinner bell rings or resign Otton…vs the wait & see game to determine if JT will become available.
February 20th, 2026 at 9:52 am
Tj has had a mix of injuries and then last year poor QB play. Even Jefferson had an off year with those QBs last year.
That being said, Im not sure adding an aging TE who seems passed his prime is the answer.
The under utilized Otton had more catches and more yards than TJ.
February 20th, 2026 at 9:56 am
Oh, let’s go sign a slow receiver
February 20th, 2026 at 11:10 am
It’s not Bowles’ fault that Culp doesn’t play more.
February 20th, 2026 at 11:14 am
Sounds good offense offense offense.
February 20th, 2026 at 11:19 am
If your rationale for a ball club signing a free agent in 2026 is only backed up by stats from 2023 you aren’t helping anyone at all. With all the other needs on defense a free agent tight end is the last thing they need. If you’re gonna sign someone mediocre Licht can definitely do mediocre tight ends especially ones that can’t block or he can find you a guy who can block but do absolutely nothing else.
February 20th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Just draft a really good large and tall TE who can block
February 20th, 2026 at 2:24 pm
Im interested in some vets that could be had cheaply or could be cut. Cole Kmet could be one guy but Freiermuth I think is unhappy in Pittsburgh given he hasnt been involved much in the offense. Sounds frustrated. He is a good TE and might come cheap via trade market. Putt has Smith and Washington already at TE.
February 20th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
Any free agent TE that wears gloves and I’m all in.
lol.
February 20th, 2026 at 6:26 pm
I’d take T.J. Hockenson in a second. The guy can catch and block. If he’s available, they should absolutely try to get him – but I think he’ll be extremely expensive.
February 20th, 2026 at 7:39 pm
It won’t hurt to at least talk to him.
But, I don’t think we’re using our current TEs properly. Or enough.
Cade can catch the ball and put up yards/points. He gets the dropsies occasionally, but all TEs/WRs do. His blocking has steadily improved, but he has a ways to go.
Ko was the man we needed helping our O-line block last year, but he was injured so it fell to Cade.
You can’t fault Cade for low recieving numbers, when he spent better than half the season blocking with the O-line.
Devin and Payne barely saw the field at all last year. But, both have shown ability on those rare occasions they’ve actually gotten on to the field these past couple of years.
Hockenson has had an impressive career up until the past couple of years. The injuries combined with his age have me a little concerned.
I’d like to see what Payne and Devin can really do, although Hockenson could be a great addition. A contract with performance incentives, versus just throwing a chunk of change at him.
February 20th, 2026 at 9:57 pm
I said before I wouldn’t mind Pitts but after thinking about it we should pass on him. We need TEs who can block and catch. Kmet might be available via trade but his cap hit is pretty high. I would really like for the Bucs to pull off the trade for Mayer from the Raiders.
February 20th, 2026 at 10:15 pm
I like him but at what price. He’s not with Joe on his take with Otton. Couple drops and 1 turnover the other Joe complains about was not and the refs screwed us on that call. Otton carried the offense a few season ago when injuries hit and was used properly. Use him properly and watch JOE and a few others stop bellyaching. Besides some depth pieces on offense , defense needs all the attention and resources.
February 20th, 2026 at 10:36 pm
Always liked Hockenson, anbd under different circumstances he seems like he could be a good fit for this offense, but for $20 mil….?
February 20th, 2026 at 10:38 pm
@#1BucsFan ⬆️, I agree with you. Joe bellyaching over Otton. Dude has a couple of drops and gets hated on, meanwhile It’s never pointed out Evan usually has that many and some of them Touchdowns. Not a word penned about it.
February 21st, 2026 at 9:25 am
The dude will be 29 this summer, so he has some miles on him but would be great with a bit of a pay cut for sure. And I think our new OC would use him more effectively than our TEs have been used the past couple years. This past season with all the O line injuries was an anomaly that definitely affected tight end production. Hard to say if Griz wasn’t looking to use tight ends or just couldn’t use them in passing situations because they were too busy helping block.
People can rag on Griz all they want but having your first year trying to call plays with a patchwork offensive line is not the ideal situation to learn and grow. LOL
Brady = G.O.A.T.
Griz = scapegoat
February 22nd, 2026 at 10:46 pm
Otton has good chemistry with Mayfield and has had dominating games. With all their needs on defense and offensive line, it doesn’t make sense to try to upgrade here when you already have a good TE and some decent backups.