What a moment it was when the Minnesota Vikings convinced their division rivals Detroit Lions to trade tight end T.J. Hockenson to them in 2022. It was a move that stunned fans, as many thought the Lions had made the Vikings better, but it hasn't turned into something special, unlike what Minnesota had thought it would be.
Bleacher Report writer Brad Gagnon put together a list of the All-Overpaid Team in the NFL at each position. Hockenson found his name on the list as he is currently under a four-year, $66 million deal with $40.2 million guaranteed. Gagnon is close to giving Hockenson the dreaded "B" word label.
"At 28, T.J. Hockenson may be trending toward "bust" status.
The top-10 pick from 2019 flirted with success in his entry-level tenure with Detroit and flashed at times during his first full campaign with Minnesota, but a major knee injury suffered late that year sunk much of his 2024 season. He returned to play 10 games but averaged just 45.5 yards per outing and didn't score a single touchdown.
In fact, Hockenson has scored just 23 times in his six-year NFL run. He's gone over 750 yards just twice and has never hit the 1,000-yard plateau, and injuries have again been a factor this offseason for a guy who just hasn't been consistently durable or a regular playmaker in his career.
Meanwhile, the Vikings owe him $16.6 million in 2025, $21.4 million in 2026 and $23.4 million in 2027."
Can Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson turn it around in 2025?
Every young quarterback's safety blanket in the passing game is their tight end. Hockenson can be exactly that for Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
It hasn't been all bad for Hockenson in Minnesota, as he had a career-high 960 yards in 2023. In fact, he has been a Pro Bowler twice in his career, which really begs the question as to whether he is truly a bust.
Last year, he averaged 11.1 yards per reception and caught 54.8% of his passes. Both of those numbers were higher than his 2023 numbers.
For Hockenson, it's all about staying healthy and being a reliable target for McCarthy. He's proven to be a top 10 tight end in the NFL when he can stay on the field.
It's a big season for Hockenson as he has a chance to silence the critics and be the guy Minnesota traded for three years ago.