The 2022 NFL trade deadline has delivered at least one major trade on the final day, and it was one that few expected.
The Lions have traded their top tight end, T.J. Hockenson, to the Vikings in exchange for a couple of draft picks. Two draft picks will also head back to Minnesota as a part of the deal.
Detroit came into the season with high hopes of fighting for a wild-card berth, but it fell to 1-6 after a 31-27 Week 8 loss to Miami. The Lions have struggled to stay healthy on offense while their defense has been one of the worst in the NFL.
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Meanwhile, the Vikings have started hot and have posted a 6-1 record this season. They are among the NFC’s best teams and were looking for a tertiary target to join their strong pass-catching corps headlined by Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.
Now, they have that in Hockenson.
But just how much did the Vikings give up for Hockenson? Here’s what to know about the trade involving the two division rivals.
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T.J. Hockenson trade details
Vikings get:
- TE T.J. Hockenson
- 2023 fourth-round pick
- 2024 fourth-round pick (conditional)
Lions get:
- 2023 second-round pick
- 2024 third-round pick
This deal may look odd on paper, as the Lions are giving up a player and two draft picks in exchange for two draft picks.
That said, the Lions’ draft picks both are Day 2 selections while the ones they are giving up come on Day 3. So, in essence, they are significantly upgrading the picks that they are sending away in the Hockenson trade. That will allow them more draft capital with which to continue their rebuild under Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes.
As for the Vikings, this deal makes a lot of sense. Jefferson and Thielen have been excellent targets for the Vikings offense, but the team didn’t have a threatening third target. No. 3 receiver K.J. Osborn has flashed some big-play potential but hasn’t been consistent while tight end Irv Smith Jr. ranked third on the team in receptions with 22, but was averaging just 7.6 yards per reception.
Smith is also dealing with a high-ankle sprain that will keep him out for eight to 10 weeks per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That created a need at tight end that Hockenson, who has 26 catches and is averaging 15.2 yards per reception, can fill.
NFL fans may raise their eyebrows at this intradivisional trade. Indeed, trading between teams within the division isn’t too common, especially when it involves a Pro Bowl talent. In fact, the Lions hadn’t traded a player within the division since 1998, per ESPN Stats and Info.
The Lions had not made an intradivision trade involving a player since 1998, when they traded RB Glyn Milburn to the Packers for a draft pick.
As for the Vikings, Kirk Cousins is 30th in QBR and 33rd in Yards Per Attempt when targeting TE this season (out of 33 qualified QBs). https://t.co/biT08aQWqa pic.twitter.com/H06W73uPop
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 1, 2022
That said, this marks the second time that the Lions and the Vikings have swung a big deal since Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took over as the Vikings’ GM during the 2022 NFL offseason. On Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Vikings traded the 12th overall pick to the Lions (who selected Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams) in exchange for a package built around the 32nd pick.
So, it doesn’t seem like Holmes and the Lions will be afraid to offload talent if it sets the team up for a brighter future.
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T.J. Hockenson contract
Hockenson was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, so he is still playing on his rookie contract. The Vikings will be able to keep him through the 2023 NFL season, as the Lions exercised his fifth-year option in April of 2022.
Hockenson was set to have a cap hit of roughly $6.5 million and cost the Lions about $3.3 million in cash, per Spotrac.com. Now, the Vikings will only be responsible for a small portion of that while they will owe him just under $9.4 million in 2023.
Here is a full breakdown of Hockenson’s contract with the Vikings:
| Year | Base salary | Cap hit | Dead cap hit |
| 2022 | $536,111 | $536,111 | $9,928,111 |
| 2023 | $9,392,000 | $9,392,000 | $9,392,000 |
So, in the end, the Vikings will only have to pay about $10 million to roster Hockenson for one-and-a-half seasons. That’s not bad for the Pro Bowl-caliber player.
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