DETROIT — T.J. Hockenson seemed entirely unbothered in the moment. And why wouldn’t he be? It was September 2022 and the tight end market was booming. Recent extensions for Darren Waller and Dawson Knox, on top of a few other deals completed this past summer, all but guaranteed a rather hefty payday for Hockenson.
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Whether that payday would be in Detroit or elsewhere, though, was always a discussion for a later time.
“If you can make an impact as a player, they’re gonna give you what you need,” Hockenson said then. “The yards are what it is, I’ve proven that I can get open, I’ve proven that I can be a receiver. I’ve proven that when my number’s called, I’ll make a play. … I’m just trying to make an impact on this team, make sure we win, because there’s no doubt about it, when a winning organization comes along, they’ll keep players around and they’ll give them what they want.”
That discussion ended Tuesday, the NFL’s trade deadline. Ten trades were made in total, the most ever on deadline day. Teams were wheeling and dealing, hoping to either strengthen their rosters for a playoff run or stock up for the future. The Lions, as we now know, represent the latter. Detroit traded Hockenson and picks to the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings in exchange for better draft capital in 2023 and beyond.
#Lions have traded TE T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings (pending physical). pic.twitter.com/EsrkfhIpg9
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 1, 2022
“Detroit, I can’t tell you how appreciative I am to this city and fan base for accepting me and my family from the start,” Hockenson wrote on Instagram Tuesday. “All the teammates and coaches that I’ve been with here have helped me every step of the way. Minnesota!!! Man I’m so excited! I can’t wait to be a part of this organization. Been a Midwest kid since Day 1 and can’t wait to be back. LFG!!!”
Considering where this team is at right now, this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has followed. Nobody expected these Lions to make a playoff run, especially in Year 2 of what has been deemed a “teardown” by the owner herself. At 1-6, the Lions simply weren’t in a position to add. That time could come — and needs to come — this offseason. In the meantime, though, the decision to part ways with a productive player like Hockenson felt like the best move for the franchise.
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Coach Dan Campbell hinted Monday at the possibility of movement.
GM Brad Holmes is “looking into anything and everything on both sides,” Campbell said. “That’s what he does, and so I know we’ve got a little time here, and we’ll see if something happens.”
While the Lions are more competitive than they were a year ago, that hasn’t been reflected in the win column. The Lions own the NFL’s worst record, have lost five games in a row and are steamrolling toward a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Hockenson is one of the few assets who is both expendable and holds value in this league. Discussed as one of the safer picks coming out of Iowa in 2019, Hockenson — drafted eighth overall by the Bob Quinn-Matt Patricia regime — flashed moments of brilliance in Detroit. But those moments were often accompanied by injuries and inconsistency.
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Hockenson is one of the better tight ends in this league, to be clear. He’s a talented pass-catcher who can produce when needed. With several starters at wide receiver out versus the Seahawks last month, the Lions fed Hockenson and he returned the favor with eight receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns. That speaks to the kind of production of which Hockenson is capable. But that production was few and far between.
Then there are the obvious talking points. Hockenson’s durability has been an issue over the years, missing four games as a rookie in 2019 and five a year ago. He’s been graded as a below-average run blocker, checking in at 54th out of 69 qualified tight ends this season with a run blocking grade of 48.3, per PFF. Last year, his grade was 45.1. He simply hasn’t been the do-it-all tight end he was billed as coming out of Iowa.
And that’s fine. Hockenson is still plenty capable of helping an NFL team win. Just not this one — and not when you consider what it would take to keep him long-term.
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The compensation for Hockenson is far from a steal, but it’s good enough to justify a move like this. The Lions are getting Minnesota’s second-round pick in 2023. If the season ended today, that would be No. 62, giving this front office four selections among the top 65. The Lions need to hit on the majority of their picks, especially the early ones, so giving yourself more chances to get it right is never a bad thing. Detroit will also receive Minnesota’s 2024 third-round selection.
However, in addition to sending Hockenson to Minnesota, the Lions are shipping off a 2023 fourth-rounder (currently slotted as pick No. 103) and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2024. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that 2024 fourth-rounder has a chance to slide to the fifth round if the Vikings win a playoff game this season. So, perhaps some incentive to root for a division rival come January.
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More than anything, though, this move only further telegraphs Holmes’ vision and timeline for this franchise. “Hard Knocks” put a spotlight on Detroit and created immense hype and buzz for the Lions in 2022, but this team as currently constructed was never going to compete for anything meaningful. The signs have all been there. Limited defensive spending, as the front office held off for the future. The drafting of talented-but-injured players, and the patience required to see those plans through. And now, a move to offload a first-round pick this regime didn’t draft and, quite frankly, didn’t want to pay north of $15 million a year to keep in Detroit.
Trading Hockenson gives this front office and coaching staff a chance to see what it has in some of its young players. Brock Wright should step in as a starter, but keep an eye out for 2022 fifth-round pick James Mitchell. Mitchell caught his first career pass against the Dolphins last week and has been complimented for his blocking ability. The Lions would be wise to get him more involved in the offense. In addition to opening up some playing time, the draft capital gained from this move, along with the roughly $9.4 million the team previously owed Hockenson next season, can now be spent on players who can help accelerate this rebuild. Because at the end of the day, that’s what this is all about.
Unlike the first two years of this rebuild, this upcoming offseason needs to be the one where money is spent and impact talent is added. The Rams’ pick gained from trading Matthew Stafford is looking better and better, giving the Lions two first-rounders to play with. One of those, if Holmes chooses, can be spent on a potential franchise quarterback. That’s a touchy subject here in Detroit, and it’s not meant to discredit Jared Goff’s turnaround season. He has improved in his second year in Detroit and is far from this team’s main problem. But Holmes must decide if he is the long-term answer, and the temptation to grab one of the tier 1 QBs will be there.
Having a quarterback on a rookie deal could result in the Lions parting ways with Goff, which would free up additional cap space to spend in free agency. The other three draft picks slated to be among the top 65 could be spent on defense, which would immediately add to the growing core of young defensive talent like Jeff Okudah, Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Malcolm Rodriguez and others contributing early in their careers.
No matter what happens, after this season, the Lions can no longer operate as if they have all the time in the world to turn this around. There needs to be meaningful progress and a clear sign that this thing is trending in the right direction. For that to happen, and for us to properly evaluate this coaching staff, the roster is in need of a serious influx of talent.
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A move like this gets them closer.
The Lions can’t afford to waste it.
(Photo: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)
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