Lions send tight end T.J. Hockenson to the division rival Vikings in deadline day deal

The Detroit Lions have made the first deal on NFL trade deadline day, sending T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings.

Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson was the subject of trade speculation, which he was trying to keep in proper perspective. On Tuesday, NFL trade deadline day, he was indeed moved.

According to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Lions will send Hockenson, a 2023 fourth-round pick and a 2024 conditional fourth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick.

The deal boils down to the Lions getting a second-round pick for Hockenson.

Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. suffered an ankle injury against the Arizona Cardinal on Sunday, and he’s facing a multi-week absence. So Hockenson will fill that void for the NFC North leaders, and he’s undoubtedly an upgrade over Smith.

The Lions picked up Hockenson’s fifth-year option for 2023 last spring, and he was in line for a contract extension in a rising tight end market. The fact a deal was not done, and serious talks appeared to never have happened, pushed the idea Hockenson was trending away from being part of the long-term plans in Detroit.

The Lions trade T.J. Hockenson, and reset their tight end position

The Lions used a fifth-round pick on tight end James Mitchell in April, and in four games this season he has played 21 offensive snaps. So he’s in line for more playing time with Hockenson gone.

Brock Wright will now become the Lions’ No. 1 tight end. He has six catches for 88 yards this season, but five have come over the last two games highlighted by four catches for 57 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7.

While it’s interesting the Lions are sending Hockenson to the Vikings on a certain level, and fans will want to lament it, trading within the division is no longer an odd concept. The two teams came together on a big trade in this year’s draft, as Detroit moved up from No. 32 overall to No.12 to get wide receiver Jameson Williams.

Hockenson, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 draft, will end his Lions’ career with 186 receptions for 2,068 yards and 15 touchdowns in 47 games. He made the Pro Bowl in 2020.

With the picks added in the Hockenson deal, the Lions now have five of the first 65 picks in the 2023 draft–two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a third-round pick. They have also taken Hockenson’s $9.4 million option for next season off their books.