Why the Vikings should draft T.J. Hockenson in the first round
By Chris Schad
Reasons to draft Hockenson:
Coming into the season, many draftniks were excited to see what fellow Iowa tight end Noah Fant could do. With a 6-foot-4, 249-pound frame and measurable that sit atop this year’s draft class, Fant was a stud that was primed to break into the first round even if he didn’t have a spectacular season at Iowa.
But as the season went along, Fant demanded more attention from opposing defenses, which opened the door for Hockenson to shine. In his redshirt sophomore season last fall, Hockenson exploded and actually led the Hawkeyes in receiving (760 yards) while catching more passes (49) than Fant (39).
Another reason why this may have occurred is that Hockenson is a superior blocker to Fant. In a piece by The Draft Network’s Benjamin Solak, he stated how Hockenson not only has elite receiving ability, but his 6-foot-4, 251-pound frame plays better as a run blocker, which keeps him on the field more than Fant.
Mix in Hockenson’s performance at the combine and Mockdraftable sees a more productive version of Tyler Conklin, who the Vikings took in the fifth round last season. It’s safe to say that Hockenson could carve out a steady role in the Vikings offense much quicker than Conklin did last season and with the ability to fill multiple roles as a pass catcher and blocker, it should make him an attractive commodity in the first round.