4 draft prospects that could help Kirk Cousins perform better in 2019
By Adam Patrick
![(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) Kirk Cousins (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) Kirk Cousins](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fthevikingage-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2016-2F04-2F1067746260-850x560-0e330e907fd1e300f58c96f50d970ee4393bb9eb78fe607acc2948e6ba16bdcf.jpg)
T.J. Hockenson – TE (Iowa)
Tight end has been a position this offseason that has popped up as a sneaky need for the Vikings. Kyle Rudolph and David Morgan are both entering the final years of their contracts and there isn’t much depth behind these two on Minnesota’s current roster.
Hockenson seems like a guy that an old school head coach like Mike Zimmer would fall in love with. He can get down and dirty as a blocker and then he can also juke a defender out of his shoes as a receiver.
He is deceptively fast given his size (6-foot-5, 251 pounds). If he gets the ball in the open field, there’s a good chance he’s taking it to the house.
During his time at Iowa, Hockenson also displayed the ability to gain a bunch of yards after the catch. Something that Rudolph has struggled to do ever since he joined the Vikings in 2011.
The former Iowa tight end would be able to take away some of the predictability of Minnesota’s offense. Due to his impressive abilities as a blocker and as a pass catcher, opposing teams likely wouldn’t be able to determine what type of play the Vikings are running if Hockenson is out on the field.
It’s not hard to imagine the young tight end prospect quickly turning into a favorite target of Kirk Cousins’ if he were to get drafted by Minnesota this year.