The trade deadline is heating up!
Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson has been traded from the Lions to the Vikings, a rare divisional swap.
The compensation is nice. Lions get a 2023 second and a 2024 third for Hockenson while giving up two fourths. The Lions had picked up Hockenson’s fifth-year option back in April, so Minnesota gets an extra year of the former eighth overall pick.
It’s been a very disappointing season for the 2022 Detroit Lions. It’s the Hard Knocks effect, hype up a team, set expectations too high, and falter.
Hockenson’s been solid this year. Had a monster game in Week 4 with eight catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks. Rest of the games are average, 3-4 catches a game in an up-and-down offense led by Jared Goff.
Now he goes to the Vikings and joins a very good offense. With Irv Smith going to injured reserve today, he’ll be the immediate starter. They got a very good wide receiver trio with Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and K.J. Osborn. Add that to a tandem of Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison at running back with Kirk Cousins leading the way, AND new head coach Kevin O’Connell, this first place Vikings team is ready to win now.
So for the Lions, they give up on a very good young foundational piece that would’ve been a perfect guy to build around, and get some good picks. Vikings get a year and a half of a star tight end.
Football Nerds 