Justin Jefferson will be expected to push the wide receiver market past $30MM per year. His Vikings teammate looks to be interested in elevating a stagnant tight end market.
T.J. Hockenson has missed time due to multiple issues during Vikings training camp, but he is also going into a contract year with a team that traded for him at the 2022 deadline. The former top-10 pick wants to reset the tight end market, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter).
A Hockenson extension has been on Minnesota’s radar for a bit, team and player are not close on terms. Considering Hockenson’s ask, that should be expected. But the Vikings want to extend Hockenson, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com notes. The former Lions draftee is going into his fifth-year option season, being set to count $9.24MM on the Vikings’ cap sheet.
Although Hockenson is certainly not considered the game’s top tight end, the market has resided in a strange place due in part to the player who is. Travis Kelce probably could have driven the TE market close to $20MM per year, but he signed a Chiefs-friendly extension during the 2020 offseason. Kelce is tied to a four-year, $57.25MM contract. While the future Hall of Famer addressed the topic this offseason, it does not sound like he will push for a new deal. The top two TE AAVs belong to Darren Waller ($17MM) and George Kittle ($15MM).
Minnesota traded a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-rounder for Hockenson, taking back 2023 and 2024 fourths (the second becoming a fourth due to the Vikings not winning a 2022 playoff game) in the intra-NFC North swap. Hockenson is coming off his best season — an 86-catch, 914-yard, six-touchdown offering split with the two NFC North teams — but emerged as the Vikings’ No. 2 option behind Jefferson down the stretch. A Jefferson extension is on the Vikes’ radar — though, perhaps not this year — and that deal will most definitely top the receiver market. It would be interesting for the Vikings to authorize two market-topping deals at the pass-catching posts.
Then again, the below-market deals Kelce and, going farther back, Rob Gronkowski signed have led to this position falling well behind wideouts. In the not-too-distant future, a tight end will break the $20MM-AAV barrier. Kittle, Kelce, Mark Andrews and Dallas Goedert are all signed through at least 2025, putting Hockenson as the current candidate to raise the ceiling.
Hockenson missed weeks of camp with an ear infection he said affected his equilibrium, Seifert adds, and is now sidelined after complaining of back stiffness. The Iowa product certainly could be labeled a hold-in, though he denied his missed practices are contract-related. Kevin O’Connell echoed that, indicating Hockenson has not brought up the contract matter to him.
“No, that’s not my focus,” Hockenson said of his contract, via Seifert. “My focus is to be out here with these guys on Sept. [10] and be ready for September and be ready for game days on Sunday.”
If no extension commences this year, the Vikings would have the option of franchise-tagging Hockenson in 2024. Although no tight ends received the tag in March, three did in 2022. David Njoku signed an extension, while Dalton Schultz and Mike Gesicki played out their contracts and hit free agency (en route to modest deals).
I was high on Hock early on but based on production I can see why Minnesota is hesitant to make a huge offer. I’m not sure he will ever reach the likes of a Kelce or Kittle so it seems like a big ask to be the one to reset the market. But given his current salary as a top 10 pick I can see how the ask gets to that point. Hope he hits on his potential but seems like Minnesota is in a tough position.
What’s he done to deserve Top Dollar? Answer- Nothing. Another legend in his own mind. Do something, Then ask for money, The way it’s supposed to work.
Just the fact Hockenson thinks he can set the bar for salary tells you the TE position is not as strong in talent as it has been in the past. Of course everyone suspected as much when Tim Tebow was considered a legit TE option in Jagland.
Justin Jefferson is going to reset the market for WR’s, Hock is wanting to reset the market for TE’s, but neither one if a QB and Cousins is not under contract next year. The 2nd string QB is Nick Mullens, so go ahead and pay JJ, pay Hock and leave no money to sign a new QB or to resign Kirk. It doesn’t matter how talented JJ and Hock are if there is no one to throw the ball. $30 million for WR, $20 million for a TE, it’s a good thing that the CAP is going up otherwise this would be completely insane for the Vikings to do.
Do something? Lol He just had almost 1000 yards receiving…….As a TE that isn’t actually a common accurance.
@mattm- You replied to the wrong comment, just so you’re aware
And he’s a moron. So he had ALMOST 1000 yards? What’s that in 17 games an average of a little over 50 Yds a game? Call Canton and have a bust made daddy’s coming home. SMH. Move over Travis Kelce.
Yes it’s like 54 yards a game which is a lot for a TE are you serious? This is especially true when you get traded mid-season. He’s also a monster as a run blocker when he is in a zone blocking system ala Minnesota. Also keep in mind that contracts are always rising this is the history of sports salaries. It has very little to do with who is the best and much more to do with whose contract comes up first. Lastly why the name calling? I
It happens but my bad and apologies to the guy I incorrectly replied to.
Yep, just wanted you to be able to reply to that person if you wanted haha
I love Hock but seriously he isn’t in the same conversation as George Kittle or Darren Waller.. going into the draft he was said to be the second best TE in regards to catching ability behind his Iowa teammate Noah Fant but what set him apart was his elite blocking. He hasn’t done much to warrant the highest paid TE in the game.
Darius Slay had more impact when he was in Detroit and the Lions didn’t want to pay him top dollar. Hock might be in for a big disappointment here.
@crosseyed- It’s a good thing Hock doesn’t have to worry about getting paid by Detroit anymore then, eh? Haha
He wasn’t considered to be behind Fant in catching ability. Fant was considered to be more athletic than Hock.