4 Vikings who are locks to make the Pro Bowl in 2023 and 4 who aren’t
By Randy Smith
Lock: T.J. Hockenson – TE
T.J. Hockenson is a bit of an anomaly to be considered a Viking in the Pro Bowl, as he has only been on the team for a few weeks, but like Justin Jefferson, he leads voting for the NFC in his position and is now a member of the purple and gold.
Hockenson, who was with the Lions since 2019, was dealt to Minnesota at the trade deadline this season in a move that hasn’t disappointed anyone.
The former Iowa Hawkeye has become the pass-catching threat at the tight end position that Minnesota was looking for when they selected Irv Smith Jr. several years back, with Smith Jr. often injured, the Vikings had to look into another direction.
Luckily, that other direction was Hockenson, who has quickly become a go-to target for Kirk Cousins and should be considered a lock to make the Pro Bowl. He earned the honors in 2020, but he could see his first appearance in purple in gold this year, as well.
At 25-years-old, Hockenson’s youth can make him a popular name to watch for voting, which may not be able to be said about the next close call.