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Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff Writer
EAGAN, Minn. — T.J. Hockenson returned to the Minnesota Vikings’ practice field on Thursday, putting his summer of injuries and illness behind him. His recent contract extension likely provided a boost to his recovery.
Hockenson recently signed a lucrative four-year contract extension, reportedly worth between $66 million and $68.5 million, making it the highest-paid deal for a tight end in NFL history. The average annual value of the contract is around $17.125 million, with $42.5 million guaranteed. These numbers position Hockenson at the top of the tight end market.
“I’m thrilled to focus on playing football,” expressed Hockenson. “I can now move forward and concentrate on winning games without any distractions. That’s what we’re here for.”
This deal marks the end of an unusual summer for Hockenson. He was limited in the Vikings’ contact drills throughout the preseason due to an ear infection affecting his balance. When the infection cleared, Hockenson reported lower back stiffness to the team’s medical staff.
During this time, Hockenson spoke with reporters but remained vague about whether he was holding back due to his contract situation. However, he expressed feeling better on Thursday and emphasized his readiness for the Vikings’ regular-season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 10.
Vikings general manager Kwesi-Adofo-Mensah acknowledged the complexity of the negotiations leading to the deal with Hockenson. However, he denied any sense of favoritism or quid pro quo.
“I understand the business aspect,” stated Adofo-Mensah. “But I didn’t perceive it as such. We went through a process that ultimately resulted in this deal, and we’re excited about it.”
Hockenson proved himself as a key target for quarterback Kirk Cousins last season, following his trade from the Detroit Lions. In 10 games, he recorded 60 receptions for 519 yards and three touchdowns. In the wild-card playoff game against the New York Giants, Hockenson added 10 receptions for 129 yards.
Throughout the year, Hockenson finished second among tight ends in the NFL, totaling 86 receptions for 914 yards in 17 combined games with the Vikings and Lions.
“We believed that acquiring Hockenson would make a significant impact on our offense,” stated Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell. “We witnessed his immediate influence over those 10-11 games. We’ve built upon his role, and during the offseason, we worked on integrating him into our offensive system as a major player.”
In exchange for Hockenson, the Vikings gave up a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 third-round draft pick to the Lions, along with receiving two additional draft picks (a fourth-round pick in 2023 and a conditional pick in 2024).
With Hockenson secured for the long term, the Vikings’ focus now shifts to resolving a pending extension with star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who still has two years remaining on his rookie contract.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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