Some of the Notable Numbers for T.J. Hockenson, the Vikings’ New TE
I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t think Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would pull off a deal of this magnitude. That being said, I can see why he was interested. A top-10 selection just a few seasons ago, Hockenson has solidified himself as one of the game’s best receiving tight ends. With Hockenson in the offense, the Vikings’ passing attack will be able to further stress opposing defenses.
One of the most obvious benefits is that Minnesota now has another weapon to help keep defenses honest. They’re always going to prioritize slowing Justin Jefferson, but it is now more costly do so. Hockenson moves really well, so he’ll be able to do some damage if a defense commits too much to #18.
Moreover, we ought to note that the financial end of things doesn’t look too bad. According to Brad Spielberger of PFF, the team will only need to pay a bit more than $500,000 on this year’s cap. Next year is a different story, but Adofo-Mensah and his staff can worry about that in the offseason.
Currently, T.J. Hockenson has the 8th-best receiving grade among tight ends on PFF. He has 227 snaps inline, 103 in the slot, and 68 out wide. In other words, he can be lined up at a variety of spots. He’s capable of finding success in a role where he is used in a number of different ways.
He has piled up 26 catches, 395 yards, and 3 TDs for the season. The 15.2 yards-per-catch average is impressive, especially considering it has been on a Lions team that isn’t going too far in the 2022 season. 17 of his catches have gone for first downs. The Vikings will be looking for Hockenson to keep moving the chains in their offense.
Irv Smith Jr. is dealing with an injury, but even before the injury he had been struggling. Smith’s 22 catches for 168 yards aren’t particularly impressive. The 7.6 yards per reception average is exactly half of what Hockenson is averaging. It looks like Smith is going to miss quite a bit of time; a recent report said it would be between 8-10 weeks.
For the past two seasons, Hockenson has picked up more than 60 catches. During the 2020 season – his sophomore year – he turned 67 catches into 723 yards and 6 touchdowns. It it notable, though, that he had 7 drops in 2020. He has 3 drops so far in 2022.
Life as a Vikings fan hasn’t been too boring since Kweis Adofo-Mensah took over. Nay, the new GM has made plenty of moves. The most recent one gives the Vikings a chance to have a tremendous WR/TE combo for years to come while also giving them a better shot in 2022.
