Former Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson is in the final season of a four-year, $19.82 million rookie contract.
The former first-round pick was traded last season, as the Lions decided to move on from a player who did not live up to expectations based on where he was drafted.
While productive, the team likely expected Hockenson to secure additional yards after the catch and stay on the field more, as the talented tight end often battled injuries.
According to The Athletic, "Hockenson wants to reset the market with a historic contract extension for tight ends.The two-time Pro Bowler has missed most of training camp with an ear infection and back soreness."
Hockenson, 26, joined the Vikings via a midseason trade last year.
In 10 games with the Vikings last season, the former Hawkeyes tight end recorded 60 receptions for 519 yards and three touchdowns.
Hockenson has participated in individual drills during training camp, but has not participated in team periods for the past three weeks.
Could Hockenson be seeking north of $17 million annually?
Darren Waller's average salary of $17 million is tops in the NFL currently, followed by George Kittle ($15 million), Travis Kelce ($14.3 million), Dallas Goedert ($14.2 million) and Mark Andrews ($14 million), according to Bring Me The Sports.
"Some of his side field work kind of popped up to cause some lower back stiffness," Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell recently explained to reporters, who wondered if his limited participation was due to contract issues. "But, he has not indicated to me one time that it is about his contract."
Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Ahead of schedule in rehab
Hockenson (knee) is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn right ACL and MCL, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. Hockenson suffered his knee injury the day after Christmas.
Sam LaPorta signed a 4 Years, $9,465,990 contract with the Detroit Lions on June 15, 2023. The contract runs through the 2027 season and has an average annual value of $2,366,498. It also came with a $3,884,356 signing bonus and $7,517,173 guaranteed. LaPorta was represented by JB Sports in negotiations.
The Chariton, Iowa, native and former Iowa Hawkeyes tight end was acquired Tuesday by the Minnesota Vikings in a trade with the Detroit Lions that is pending Hockenson's passing of a physical. The deal involved Minnesota sending a 2023 second-round pick and 2024 third-round pick to Detroit to land the No.
Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson said he is trying to keep his head up about Lions safety Kerby Joseph going low and colliding with Hockenson's right knee during a Dec. 24 play that tore two of his ligaments.
— Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson underwent successful surgery to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) today, the team announced Monday. The surgery was led by Dr. Neal ElAttrache from the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, California.
Which NFL tight ends will make the most in 2024? Waller has company on the list of the top-paid tight ends in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings' T.J. Hockenson is second among the highest-paid NFL TEs with an average salary of $16.5 million per year. He's followed by the San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle, at $15 million.
The Lions ultimately decided to pull the trigger, dealing Hockenson and a pair of fourth-round picks in consecutive drafts (2023, 2024 conditional) to the division rival Minnesota Vikings for a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick.
“The Vikings and tight end T.J. Hockenson have been working on an extension, but both sides are far apart, per league sources. Hockenson wants to reset the market with a historic contract extension for tight ends,” Russini wrote via X (formerly Twitter).
No players were directly traded for T.J. Hockenson, but so far, the players most closely connected are receiver Rashee Rice, picked by the Chiefs, and Chamarri Conner, also picked by the Chiefs. This also opened space for the Lions to draft TE Sam LaPorta at 34th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
A source told Schefter that the average annual value of the deal is $17.125 million and that Hockenson will make $42.5 million guaranteed -- both the highest for a tight end in NFL history.
0. Eagan, Minn. Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell greets linebacker Marcus Davenport, No. 0 of the Minnesota Vikings, before a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on August 10, 2023, in Seattle, Wash.
On Thursday, the Vikings signed tight end T.J. Hockenson to a new deal, a four-year extension. It reportedly re-sets the market, putting him at $17.125 million per year. As usual, the devil (and the truth) is in the details. And the details show that the deal does not reset the market at the position.
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