3 Vikings Are Considered Elite by Fellow NFL Players
Josh Frey
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For the first time ever, the NFL Players Association voted for the Players’ All-Pro teams. Those results have been known since January, but now, the NFLPA has released the top 5 vote getters at each position. On the list, there are 3 Vikings that were named among the best at their positions in 2022. Those three players are WR Justin Jefferson, TE T.J. Hockenson, and RT Brian O’Neill. Hockenson and O’Neill were both named the fourth-best at their respective positions while Jefferson earned the honor of WR1 in the vote.
Justin Jefferson
There’s very little that can be said of Justin Jefferson that hasn’t already been stated. The Vikings third-year receiver entered the 2022 season with a goal of being the best wide receiver in the NFL, and according the NFLPA All-Pro vote, he accomplished the goal.
Jefferson finished the 2022 season as the NFL leader in both receptions and receiving yards, becoming the youngest player in NFL history to accomplish that. He recorded 128 receptions, 1809 receiving yards, and 8 receiving touchdowns. He also added 4 rushes for 24 yards and another touchdown.
T.J. Hockenson
T.J. Hockenson was acquired via trade midway through the season, and he was a very welcome addition to the Vikings offense. Minnesota sent their 2023 second-round pick and 2024 third-round pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Hockenson, a 2023 fourth-round pick, and a conditional 2024 pick (fourth or fifth round) at the trade deadline.
In the 10 games that Hockenson played with the Vikings in 2022, he recorded 60 receptions for 519 receiving yards and 3 TDs. In total, Hockenson’s season ended with career-highs in both receptions (86) and receiving yards (914). He also tied a career-high with 6 TDs on the season. As aforementioned, he finished fourth in the voting, behind only Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Mark Andrews.
Now, the former 8th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft is up for a contract extension, and he certainly has earned a big payday for his performance this season. We’ll soon see if Minnesota will pull the trigger and lock him in as a Viking for years to come.
Brian O’Neill
Brian O’Neill signed a lucrative contract extension prior to the 2021 season, inking a 5-year/$92.5 million deal to make him the second-highest paid right tackle in the NFL at the time.
O’Neill hasn’t disappointed since signing that deal, and despite his 2022 season ending abruptly due to a partially torn Achilles, he remained one of the very best at right tackle throughout the season. The only players voted above him by the NFLPA were Lane Johnson, Tristan Wirfs, and Penei Sewell.
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.