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Vikings Rumors Buzz around a T.J. Hockenson Roster Cut, Kirk Cousins, Klint Kubiak
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- Vikings Rumors Buzz around a T.J. Hockenson Roster Cut, Kirk Cousins, Klint Kubiak
Brad Rempel
The Minnesota Vikings are officially into the offseason , a long reset that stretches eight months before anything tangible football is played on Sundays. Minnesota will hope to right the wrongs for a playoff-less season that somehow resulted in a winning record.
This batch is more cap math than anything— one big-name cut idea, one veteran QB storyline, and one OC rumor worth tracking.
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Vikings Territory will track the offseason rumors as they surface, starting now. Minnesota doesn't have much cap flexibility, but it does have extra draft capital, which dictates what's realistic for team-building in 2026.
Three Vikings Rumors Driving the Early Offseason Cycle
The second Purple Rumor Mill batch of the offseason is live. You can read the first here .
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) loses his helmet after converting a first down at EverBank Stadium on Nov 10, 2024, absorbing contact in the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The physical play underscored Hockenson's willingness to fight through traffic as Minnesota leaned on him to sustain drives. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
Rumor: T.J. Hockenson could be a cap casualty this offseason.
In a wide-ranging offseason preview covering all 32 teams, ESPN's Aaron Schatz outlined a blunt path forward for one Viking.
He wrote , "Big prediction for the offseason: 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."
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"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."
Minnesota extended Hockenson in the summer of 2023, and the structure of that deal always pointed toward the 2026 offseason as a financial check-in.. Schatz's projection leans into that reality and treats this moment as the likely off-ramp.
On the field, the numbers were modest in 2025. Hockenson finished 2025 with 51 catches for 438 yards and three touchdowns, well below his usual output. Quarterback instability from J.J. McCarthy , Carson Wentz , and Max Brosmer played a role, but it wasn't the only factor working against him.
The offensive line sustained significant injuries throughout the season, forcing the coaching staff to repurpose Hockenson. Kevin O'Connell acknowledged midseason that Hockenson's role had changed, and Hockenson increasingly served as a pass protector and run blocker rather than a featured passing-game target.
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Christian Darrisaw returned from a torn ACL early in the year, though the line never fully stabilized. To compensate, O'Connell often deployed Hockenson as a sixth lineman, a usage pattern that quietly uprooted Hockenson's receiving production.
The underlying ability hasn't disappeared. Hockenson is still 28, and there's a productive receiving tight end in there. If Minnesota follows Schatz's projection and moves on, his next stop would be a team that treats him like a real tight end, not just a pseudo lineman.
Rumor: The Falcons and Kirk Cousins are nearing a divorce.
Atlanta and Cousins' representation agreed to restructure his deal this week, a maneuver that Pro Football Talk 's Mike Florio claimed was a path toward his release.
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Florio explained Tuesday , "In two months, Kirk Cousins will be waving goodbye to Atlanta. His contract modification was part of a quid pro quo aimed at securing his early release during free agency. It will happen with a post-June 1 designation, splitting the $35 million in dead cap money over two years."
"The movement of the bulk of Cousins's 2026 salary to 2027 gives the team a lower cap number to carry until the release officially hits the financial books on June 2. The $67.9 million guarantee that vests on March 13 ensures that they'll release him between the start of the league year on March 11 and the close of business on March 12."
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) goes through warmups at Bank of America Stadium on Sep 21, 2025, loosening up before kickoff in Charlotte. Cousins' pregame routine drew attention as Atlanta prepared for a divisional matchup, with the veteran signaling readiness while surveying the field during early drills. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
If Florio is correct, Cousins would rocket to the top of the Vikings' list of QB2 options in 2026, mainly because of his familiarity with the offense — and the first time since his rookie contract that Cousins can be signed for cheap .
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Rumor: Former Vikings OC Klint Kubiak will interview in Atlanta.
Remember Klint Kubiak? The Vikings' 2021 offensive coordinator who extracted the very best from Kirk Cousins? He might get a head coaching job.
SI.com' s Garrett Chapman wrote Monday, "According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, Atlanta has requested to speak with Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver for their head coach vacancy. The Falcons can speak with Weaver right away, pending approval from the Dolphins , but they only have a short window on Kubiak since his team is in the postseason."
"Since the Seahawks are the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and thus in a bye week, teams are allowed to make requests for interviews. It should be expected that he will get several requests this week. Kubiak, who is in his first season with the Seahawks, has enjoyed an exceptional season. His offense finished No. 3 in points per game and No. 8 in total yards. Sam Darnold had another fantastic season, completing 67.7 percent of his passes for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as the Seahawks finished atop the NFC at 14-3."
New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak reacts along the sideline at Caesars Superdome on Sep 8, 2024, during pregame moments ahead of the matchup with the Carolina Panthers. Kubiak's animated demeanor reflected early-game intensity as New Orleans finalized preparations and reviewed offensive adjustments before kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Kubiak has since completed the interview in Atlanta and did the same for the Ravens ' open head coach job.
The son of Gary will get a trial for some team's top job before too long. Maybe even this month.
