2 contract extensions Vikings needs to make and 1 to avoid

T.J. Hockenson, TE

When the Vikings made the trade to acquire tight end T.J. Hockenson last year, they made an absolute slam dunk of a deal. Getting Hockenson, plus two fourth-round picks in exchange for a second and third rounder now looks like a steal.

In Hockenson's first seven games of the year with Detroit in 2022, he caught just 26 passes for 395 yards and three scores. Then, as a Viking, Hockenson would go on to catch 60 passes for 519 yards and three touchdowns. He was often used and early on in his Vikings tenure, too.

For a team that knew it would eventually lose Adam Thielen and look to move toward a younger replacement, snagging Hockenson at the trade deadline was as genius a move as the Vikings could have made. Plus, they now pair he and Justin Jefferson with Jordan Addison. The youth movement is well on its way in Minnesota.

Hockenson just turned 26 years old at the beginning of the month and is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Vikings would be wise to get an extension done sooner rather than later, as to avoid losing him in free agency next summer. Wrap it up now, and avoid potential disaster later on.

Now, onto the one player Minnesota should absolutely not extend.