As the 2022 NFL Trade Deadline approached in early November, what the Minnesota Vikings would do as far as trades made was up in the air with many thinking it would be a quiet deadline for the purple and gold. That ended up not being the case, with the Vikings making one of the first surprise moves at the deadline while completing a trade with the Detroit Lions in a rare swap between divisional opponents.
One of the first moves on trade deadline day saw Minnesota trade for Detroit tight end T.J. Hockenson, bringing in one of the top tight ends in the NFL in exchange for a collection of draft picks including a 2023 second-round selection.
The move was a surprise on many levels, not only with the rare occurrence of a trade between NFC North franchises but for the fact that the Vikings were able to acquire one of the top players at that position who is still at the young age of 25.
That move of trading for Hockenson not only adds to an already talented offense that has led to a strong start to the season for Minnesota, but it proves that the Vikings are officially all in this season while trying to return to the playoffs in 2022.
Trade for Hockenson Shows Minnesota Vikings Are All In
Hockenson Added to Playoff Roster
The addition of Hockenson would bolster any offense and any roster in the NFL, but that acquisition is now thrown into the mix of an offense that is already one of the tops in the NFL and one that is of playoff caliber even before the tight end was added. With the likes of Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and others on the offensive side of the ball, Minnesota already had an impressive amount of talent on the offensive unit.
Now with Hockenson flooding the middle of the field and assisting in the run-blocking game, that addition adds another dangerous target for head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings to utilize week in and week out.
TJ Hockenson in his first game with the #Vikings:
– 9 targets
– 9 catches
– 70 yardsThe last time a Vikings TE had nine receptions in a game was 2018. Making an immediate impact. pic.twitter.com/lNe1rkS2s4
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 6, 2022
Hockenson has made an immediate impact with his new team, playing a similar style to what we saw when he was with the Lions over his first few seasons in the league. In his Vikings debut in Week 9, Hockenson saw plenty of action in purple and gold even with just a few days of preparation before taking the field. The tight end finished the game — a victory over the Washington Commanders in the nation’s capital — with nine catches on nine targets, tallying 70 receiving yards with 7.8 yards per catch and a game-long reception of 19 yards. Those nine receptions marked a season-high for the tight end, coming into his Vikings debut with a season-high reception mark of eight catches with Detroit in Week 4 against Seattle.
Now with even more time to get familiar with the offense and with his new Vikings teammates, Hockenson will continue to see his role increase in Minnesota. And his addition adds to an already dangerous Vikings offense that has been and will continue to be one of the top units in the NFL.
Plan For the Future in Minnesota
The acquisition of Hockenson is not only a valued addition to the Vikings in 2022, but he could remain in Minnesota for the foreseeable future while filling a need in the Vikings offense. Hockenson is only 25 years old and Minnesota can keep him long-term if he would like to remain with the purple and gold. That is an intriguing thought for Vikings fans, having a young dominant tight end to go along with the likes of Jefferson, Cook, and company on that side of the ball in Minnesota.
Ahead of the 2022 season, Hockenson’s fifth-year option was picked up by the Lions which takes him through the 2023 season with the Vikings. Minnesota can sign him long-term if both sides would like that to occur, something that is looking likely given the amount Minnesota gave up to trade for Hockenson.
The trade deadline acquisition of Hockenson was more of a win-now move in the present, but it is also something that could evolve into a long-term relationship between both sides as they try to continue to positive wave into the future. The Vikings are officially all in to try and make a deep playoff run in 2022, and trading for Hockenson further proved that while adding one of the top tight ends in the NFL to one of the top offenses in the league.
