A Vikings Position Has an Early Logjam
Of all the Vikings positions, none contain more fascination than quarterback (predictably). What of tight end?
Rolling into 2026, Minnesota boasts a pair of well-paid veterans at the top of the position: TE1 T.J. Hockenson alongside TE2 Josh Oliver. There’s then the true logjam of options for the final spot. All of Ben Yurosek, Ben Sims, Gavin Bartholomew, and Bryson Nesbit are competing for what appears to be just one or two openings in 2026. If anyone else gets added — a likely outcome with free agency, the draft, and UDFA dalliances still to come — then things get even tougher at that spot.
Tight End as the Vikings Position that’s Very Competitive
For good reason, a lot of the focus has been on Minnesota’s quarterback riddle, the status of Brian Flores, and how Minnesota is going to get the finances in order.
Flying underneath all of that is the stuffed-to-the-gills tight end spot.
Mr. Hockenson remains in town as the well-paid top option. He’s coming off a disappointing 2025 that saw him improve as the year progressed. In all likelihood, Hockenson’s more promising play flows over from McCarthy figuring out how to get out of his own way. The pair demonstrated strong chemistry at different points, but it remains to be seen if the pricey tight end will get the chance to stick around due to his beefy deal.
Behind Hockenson in the lineup is Josh Oliver.
Prior to the 2025 season, I had the pleasure of meeting Oliver at training camp. He’s a massive person within a sport that’s built for massive people. Not too many players can stand out among NFL athletes; Oliver is among the rare few. Partner the build with his compete plus a work ethic and there’s no wonder that he’s getting paid nice money to specialize in bullying football defenders.
What’s in store for all of the options operating behind the established veterans?
Start off with Mr. Yurosek, the one who has been leaned on most commonly to be the TE3. He got added as an undrafted talent before impressing in the offseason competition. By definition, a third option needs to be a menace as a blocker. He can be impressive as a blocker but will need to become more rugged to hold onto his spot.
A large part of the reason why Yurosek is standing on shaky ground is due to the status of Mr. Sims. He, too, was an undrafted add by the Vikings. The difference there is that Sims journeyed over to Wisconsin after getting cut in 2023. Once Green Bay moved on in 2025, the Vikings returned the favor by bringing the tight end back to the Twin Cities.
Don’t be at all surprised if Sims is here to stay. The Vikings like him.
There’s then Bartholomew, the injured rookie who got drafted in the 6th Round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Getting scooped up with a precious pick means optimism exists about what he can do, but a full year missed stings.
Finally, consider the status of Bryson Nesbit, the depth option who got re-signed to come back to compete in 2026. Carving out a spot on the 53-man roster appears to be an uphill battle. The basic reality, though, is that all a player can ask for is a chance. Nesbit now has a full offseason to capitalize on the chance in front of him. What he does with it is now on him.
Oddly enough, the only player from within the crowded Vikings position to be assured of a spot in 2026 is Josh Oliver. He got signed to an extension coming into the year and did nothing to show that he’s undeserving of his job moving forward. Oliver remains a handful when it comes to displacing defenders.
Hockenson is a true toss up since cutting him clears out close to $9 million. Best guess on this end is that he remains, but that’s just an educated guess. Were Hockenson to be cut, the tight end spot gets a whole lot more interesting since the team will either need to task Josh Oliver with catching more (something he could do) and/or lean on one of the other options.
Oh, and another thing: previously, the Vikings had Nick Vannett on the team in 2025, albeit on the practice squad. The veteran is rugged and possesses good size, so a reunion shouldn’t be discounted as a possibility.
