As the Minnesota Vikings edge closer to the 2023 season, which of their 2024 free agents can they not afford to lose next year?
Now that the Danielle Hunter saga is over (at least for now), the Minnesota Vikings can turn their attention to the 2023 season. However, it’s never too late to begin looking at next year. In 2024, the Vikings will have several players hit free agency and it’s a given that they won’t all be re-signed. However, with the caveat that they continue to perform up to expectations, here are six free agents the team can’t afford to lose next year.
Vikings Player No. 1
T.J. Hockenson, tight end
If Travis Kelce has taught us one thing in the past few years, it pays to have a game-changing tight end. Of course, it also helps to have a good quarterback that can pass the ball.
Kansas City and quarterback Patrick Mahomes leaned on Kelce heavily in 2022. Playing for the first year without Tyreek Hill, Mahomes got some receiving help from JuJu Smith-Schuster and his 78 receptions. However, Mahomes was bailed out more often than not by Kelce.
In his 10th NFL season, Kelce caught a career-high 110 passes for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns (also a career-high). Kelce also led the NFL in red zone receptions with 19 and touchdowns with 10 as Kansas City advanced and won its second Super Bowl in four years.
That brings us to Hockenson. After leaving football Siberia (otherwise known as Detroit) for Minnesota halfway through the 2022 season, Hockenson shined. To be fair, he did get a Pro Bowl invite with the Lions after the 2020 season. There’s no doubt that Hockenson thrived in a steady Vikings offense, however.
Unlike Mahomes and Kelce, Kirk Cousins didn’t need to rely heavily on his tight end, but having the 6’5, 250-pound Hockenson available sure helped. In just 10 games with Minny, he caught 60 passes for 519 yards and three scores. Combined with his Detroit stats, Hockenson had a career year with 86 catches, 914 yards, and six touchdowns. Furthermore, Hockenson finished only about a dozen spots below Kelce in red zone receiving with 10 catches and five touchdowns.
Assuming he stays healthy this year, just imagine what Hockenson’s numbers will look like in a full season with the Vikings. With production like that, Minny would be wise to hold onto him in 2024.