What Could a T.J. Hockenson Contract Extension Look Like?
Josh Frey
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One topic of discussion for the Minnesota Vikings 2023 offseason has been the contract of tight end T.J. Hockenson. After acquiring him via trade at the deadline of the 2022 season, he became a major part of the Vikings offense almost immediately throughout the remaining 10 games of the regular season.
There already has been chatter regarding the Vikings potentially extending the tight end, so there is reason to believe a Hockenson contract extension could happen sooner rather than later. Exactly how much money will Hockenson get, though? By taking a look at some of the recent tight end contracts, perhaps we can figure that out today.
David Njoku
Last May, David Njoku signed a four-year/$54.75 million contract to stay with the Cleveland Browns until 2025 that included $28 million in total guarantees. This seems like it could be the baseline for a Hockenson extension, meaning there’s probably a very small chance that Hockenson makes less than this in his next deal.
Njoku has struggled with injuries in recent years, but he only has one season of 600+ receiving yards in his career. Meanwhile, Hockenson recorded 60 receptions, 519 receiving yards, and 3 TDs just in the 10 games he played in Minnesota during 2022.
Darren Waller
Currently, Darren Waller holds the highest AAV for a tight end in the NFL. Just before the 2022 season began, Waller signed a three-year/$51 million contract to remain a Las Vegas Raider until the end of the 2026 season. The contract also guarantees a total of $22 million.
Waller recorded over 1000 yards receiving in both the 2019 and 2020 seasons, and he also had 107 receptions in 2020. Since then, injuries have gotten the better of him as he played 11 games in 2021 and just nine in 2022. In those nine games during 2022, he recorded 28 receptions for 388 yards and 2 TDs, but be sure, he’s getting paid to put up the 1000 yards that he did three years ago.
Prediction for Hockenson Contract Extension
Currently, Hockenson is set to hit unrestricted free agency after his rookie contract ends following the 2023 season. If Hockenson were to perform at the level he did for the Vikings in 2022 once again next season, there’s a chance that he could approach the highest contract at the position on the open market.
However, Hockenson also has a bit of an injury history behind him. He missed four games in 2019 and five games in 2021. If those were to pop up again in 2023, that could impact his value in free agency. Because of that, securing an extension with the Vikings probably makes the most sense for both sides.
As for the actual contract, if we look at Njoku’s deal as the baseline while also assuming he won’t quite get a deal in the George Kittle/Darren Waller range, I have a prediction.
Considering Hockenson will turn 26 years old in 2023, it makes sense to give him a contract that gets him into his early 30s, and then re-evaluate. Because of that, I am of the belief that Hockenson’s deal with be for four years and garner $56 million.
However, fans should be prepared for this contract to approach anywhere from that $56-60 million range if the contract is four years long. Hockenson served as the de facto WR2 for the Vikings in 2022, and that ability could prove to be invaluable heading into 2023. The tight end is worth every penny of a contract in that range.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.