The Minnesota Vikings face some hard decisions in the coming months, including one on two-time Pro Bowl tight end TJ Hockenson.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic dove into a handful of possible and/or likely salary cap-cutting moves in front of Minnesota this offseason, as the team must erase $36 million of deficit before the 2026 NFL season begins — and more if it wants to add any talent in free agency.
Hockenson isn’t on the must-go pile, but he won’t likely remain on the roster next year under his current contract structure.
“The Vikings don’t have to part ways with tight end T.J. Hockenson at season’s end,” Lewis wrote. “He is ostensibly under contract for two more seasons, but his cap hit is projected to be around $21 million — the second highest among NFL tight ends in 2026 behind only David Njoku.”
“Minnesota’s cap situation will, at minimum, require a reworking of Hockenson’s figure,” Lewis continued. “The Vikings could also save around $9 million for next season by cutting him.”
TJ Hockenson’s Production Has Declined Over Past 2 Seasons Due to Injuries, QB Play
GettyMinnesota Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson.
Hockenson has been solid on a game-by-game basis since joining the Vikings during the middle of the 2022 campaign, but the past three seasons have each brought their own unique obstacles.
Hockenson earned the second of his two Pro Bowl nods in 2022, during which he played the final half of the year with the Vikings. He put up 95 catches for 960 yards and five scores across 15 games in 2023 until ACL and MCL tears sidelined him.
The tight end wasn’t able to return to the lineup until nearly halfway through the 2024 campaign, playing in just 10 contests that season. This year, Hockenson’s yards per game average (31.1) is at its lowest point since he was a rookie.
Part of that is the offensive line battling injuries all season long. In response, the coaching staff asked Hockenson to stay in and pass block at a higher rate than ever before in his career.
Another component is the quarterback play. Hockenson caught passes from Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold for most of his first two and a half years with the Vikings, but the average QB performance has dipped in eight starts for JJ McCarthy in 2025, as well as five starts for Carson Wentz and one for undrafted rookie Max Brosmer.
Vikings Will Have to Add Pass-Catching TE Alongside Josh Oliver if They Cut Ties With TJ Hockenson
GettyTight end Josh Oliver of the Minnesota Vikings.
A contract restructure for Hockenson is probably the ideal outcome for the team, as McCarthy has shown improvement over his past two outings and a sure-handed tight end target would be a nice luxury as the QB moves into his third season.
In the end, Hockenson’s willingness to negotiate and Minnesota’s value judgments across the roster will determine his future with the franchise.
Josh Oliver is the second tight end on the depth chart. And while his receiving numbers have been reasonable over the past three seasons, particularly in 2023 and 2024, Oliver’s primary role is as a blocker in pass protection and the run game.
Thus, if the Vikings part with Hockenson, the addition of a primary pass-catcher at the position will likely become an offseason necessity.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Vikings May Move on From TJ Hockenson This Offseason: Report appeared first on Heavy Sports.