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NFL Insider Projects Vikings to Cut Fan Favorite
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- NFL Insider Projects Vikings to Cut Fan Favorite
Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
This offseason the Minnesota Vikings have a significant amount of serious decisions to make. They can't simply run back the same roster, and even if they wanted to, the available cap space won't let them.
Most importantly Kevin O'Connell needs to figure out the quarterback situation . J.J. McCarthy will be back, but giving him a free pass to the position doesn't make sense.
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One of the most straightforward ways to sort out the lack of cap space is to cut T.J. Hockenson . The fact that the tight end has not been nearly as good makes that plan even more logical.
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TJ Hockenson's time with MN Vikings running out
The Minnesota Vikings finished 9-8 and missed the postseason this year. There were plenty of reasons that Kevin O'Connell's team failed to meet expectations. T.J. Hockenson was among the more disappointing talents on offense though. Now with an opportunity to get out of his deal, Aaron Schatz thinks it's a foregone conclusion.
With little cap space, the Vikings will say goodbye to tight end T.J. Hockenson, who has had injury issues and is coming off two straight years with fewer than 500 receiving yards. He was tied for 33rd among tight ends in ESPN's receiver scores through Week 17. Cutting Hockenson would save the Vikings nearly $9 million in cap space before June 1 and $16 million if designated after June 1.
Right now Hockenson is on a four-year deal that runs through 2027. He has already restructured it once though, and the dead cap hit is much less substantial now. Had he been cut last season, Minnesota would've had nearly $29 million in dead cap. For 2026 that number is $12.465 million.
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The former 8th overall pick was acquired in 2022 after an injury to Irv Smith Jr. It looked like he was an up-and-coming vertical threat, but he has been a talent of diminishing returns. After a 960 yard (and five touchdown) campaign in 2023, he has been hurt and less effective the past two seasons.
Across 25 games the last two seasons, he has compiled just 893 yards and three touchdowns. Josh Oliver , his backup and initially more of a blocking tight end, has been the more impressive player .
Minnesota drafted Gavin Bartholomew last April but he didn't play at all as a rookie. With the 18th overall pick, they could be in prime position to grab TE1 in this draft, Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq , if they so choose.
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With other needs on the roster, there's just no reason for Minnesota to keep Hockenson around. He's making a way too much money while contributing so little.
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