Is the Franchise Tag in T.J. Hockenson’s Future?
K. Joudry
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As the NFL ventures into the slowest portion of the year, the Vikings are working toward locking several of their core players. Justin Jefferson, of course, stands out as the main player looking for an extension, but the talented tight end isn’t too far behind. Indeed, T.J. Hockenson’s future appears to involve wearing purple and gold.
The reality at this point, though, is that nothing has been finalized with the former Lion. He’s currently working with a single year left on his deal, the 5th-year option that emanates from being an opening-round selection back in the 2019 NFL Draft where he was chosen 8th overall.
Left unchanged, Hockenson will have a cap hit just beyond $9.3 million in 2023. A failure to work out an extension before next March would result in free agency, an undesirable outcome when we remember that he came to town via a trade with a division rival.
Are the Vikings in a spot where they’re compelled to extend him? Or, perhaps, is there some team security in the possibility of slapping on the franchise tag?
T.J. Hockenson’s Future with the Vikings
To be sure, Hockenson is a key part of Minnesota’s offense. In a recent piece for CBS, Jeff Kerr nominated the “best duo” for every NFL team. With the Vikings, it’s Jefferson and Hockenson. Take a peak at what the author had to say about Minnesota’s stud TE:
Jefferson led the NFL in catches (128) and yards (1,809) last season, winning the Offensive Player of the Year award. Who is paired with a dynamic player of Jefferson’s caliber? That’s where Hockenson comes in, as he finished with 60 catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns in his 10 games with the Vikings last season after Detroit traded him to Minnesota.
Hockenson is one of the game’s best pass-catching tight ends, ranking third in receptions (214), fifth in receiving yards (2,220) and sixth in receiving touchdowns (16) over the last three years. A full offseason in the Vikings scheme could do wonders for Hockenson as a complement to Jefferson.
Kerr’s point is well taken. Much of the tight end’s value comes from his ability to partner with Jefferson. While the WR1 attacks all levels of the field, the TE1 is tasked with working off of him. Primarily, Hockenson will be doing his damage in the short and intermediate areas but he has the athleticism to occasionally get down the field.
During OTAs, Hockenson discussed his future in Minnesota. He spoke about his contract situation, noting that it’s “no secret” that his contract is “coming up.” He goes on to describe how much he enjoys the city and the fans while indicating that he does “hope to be here for a long time” even as he understands it’s “a business.”
So, the TE1 is enthusiastic about sticking around even as he acknowledges that both sides need to find a mutually-beneficial middle ground.
Clearly, the Vikings value what he brings to the table (otherwise, why trade for him?). Kevin O’Connell will be leaning on the massive pass catcher to re-introduce much-needed balance to the purple offense. How much is too much, though, for the tight end?
The top tight end contracts are coming in at somewhere within the mid-teens on a per-year average. Darren Waller, George Kittle, and Travis Kelce lead the charge in this area. Based on comparables, Hockenson can likely demand a deal somewhere around $15 million per season. More importantly, his guaranteed money can likely exceed $30 million.
If Minnesota is hesitant about sending over that much, then perhaps the franchise tag could come into play. In 2023, the tight end franchise tag is a fairly reasonable $11.345 million. Not insignificant and yet quite manageable, especially since it’s only for a single season. Next year’s TE franchise tag number shouldn’t be too far beyond the current season’s.
Perhaps Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings look at the situation in front of them as being less dire than some fans and analysts. Yes, Hockenson has only been in town for half of a season and his contract carries just one more year. Leaning on the franchise tag does give the team another year of control, though. And, of course, applying the tag could simply be the precursor to ongoing negotiations that lead to the TE1 signing his large extension.
The likeliest outcome is still to see T.J. Hockenson signed to a long-term deal. Trading for him means the team values him highly. However, it’s worth remembering that the team does have some options going forward, a reality that the GM likes having as he continues to create a roster in his own image.
Minnesota currently has a bit below $18 million in cap space.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap and Spotrac helped with this piece.
