The Minnesota Vikings made a major move to bring in tight end T.J. Hockenson at the 2022 trade deadline by swapping second and third-round picks for Hockenson and two fourth-round picks. They doubled down on that investment by signing him to a record contract for a tight end.
Hockenson was having a great season before tearing his ACL in week 16 against the Detroit Lions. Hockenson had 95 receptions for 960 yards and five touchdowns before he went down with injury.
Could the Minnesota Vikings move on from T.J. Hockenson?
A to Z Sports' Mike Payton believes that the Vikings should consider moving on from Hockenson if he has a down season because they are "in a rebuild."
It might not happen any time soon, but the Vikings could make a move as early as after the 2024 season if Hockenson has a bad year. Hockenson's salary in 2025 becomes guaranteed on the 15th of June 2024. If they move him in a trade ahead of then they would have to pay out $10 million in dead cap, but they save a lot of money down the road and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has shown to be someone who likes to save money.
The Vikings could then take their Sam LaPorta shot with Michigan's Colston Loveland in the 2025 NFL Draft and pair him back up with J.J. McCarthy. He would be on a rookie deal and would be a lot cheaper for the Vikings. Cheaper is good since Jordan Addison is probably going to get paid big in the near future.
There are multiple things wrong with what Payton says. First off, Hockenson's 2025 salary fully guaranteed on March 18th, not on June 15th. Moving on from him doesn't make any financial sense.
Secondly, the idea of Adofo-Mensah liking to "save money" doesn't mesh with what he did in extending both Hockenson and wide receiver Justin Jefferson. He paid both of them top-of-the-market money. Adofo-Mensah will pay big money for players who are worth it.
Lastly, the idea that the Vikings can just "find a Sam LaPorta" is asinine. Tight ends often don't break out until year three or four due to the difficult nature of the position. It's one of the many reasons why the Vikings traded for Hockenson in the first place. He was a sure thing and the cost wasn't very high to acquire a top-five tight end in the NFL.
Also, why would the Vikings move on from one of their best offensive weapons with J.J. McCarthy about to take the helm? You want to support your young quarterback with great players around him, not take them away.
None of this makes one iota of sense and the Vikings shouldn't entertain it for a second.
