TJ Hockenson is undoubtedly among the top tight ends in the NFL presently. With his amazing performance in the league, the star player has impressed everyone. He has been with the Minnesota Vikings since last year. Now, reports suggest that the 26-year-old will get to play with the team for a longer period of time.
According to reports, TJ Hockenson has signed a contract extension with the Vikings. The star player has reportedly accepted the terms and conditions and signed the contract extension. Though neither of the parties has disclosed the contract yet, reports suggest that it’s a $68.5 million contract for 4 years. If this is true, then Hockenson will become one of the richest tight ends in the league.
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ESPN journalist Adam Schefter revealed that Hockenson will earn an average yearly salary of $17.125 million after the extension. His 4-year contract is expected to come with a guaranteed $42.5 million, which is the highest for a tight end.
Kwesi Adofo Mensah, the General Manager of the Vikings, recently mentioned how TJ Hockenson is perfect for them. “He fits our culture… He’s the type of player we want in Minnesota. I’m really excited to get it done,” he said.
The Vikings got TJ Hockenson in a trade from the Detroit Lions in 2022. The star tight end exhibited exceptional gameplay and impressed the team in just one year. It’s because of Hockenson’s talent that the team is willing to have him for four more years.
A look at the NFL career of TJ Hockenson
The Detroit Lions drafted TJ Hockenson in his rookie year as the 8th pick in the 1st round. The tight end signed a four-year contract worth $19.8 million with the team. Last year, he joined Kirk Cousins‘ Vikings and contributed quite well to the team.
Throughout his 6-year NFL career, TJ Hockenson has received over 2,597 yards along with more than 246 receptions. The star tight end has also recorded over 18 receiving touchdowns. He has already been to the Pro Bowl twice in his career. During his first season with the Vikings, Hockenson recorded 60 receptions for 519 yards.
Kevin O’Connell, the head coach of the team mentioned that TJ is a “major player” for the Vikings. “Our hopes were that we were acquiring a player that would become a major part of our offense moving forward… We saw the immediate impact over those 10 games… 11 games… It’s really going to look like in our offensive system for a major player like T.J. to be a part of it,” he said.
TJ Hockenson has surely proved his worth in such a short amount of time. The team might not have expected him to become an impact player for the team. However, the NFL star surprised everyone with his talent and skills. Now, the Vikings must be expecting him to perform well this season to lead the team to the Super Bowl.