Return from T.J. Hockenson trade finally finalized for the Lions

When the Detroit Lions sent tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings at the 2022 trade deadline, the full, complete return on the deal would not be known until the 2024 draft was over. After some contingencies were or weren't met and the draft orders were locked in, here's where the picks the Lions got in the deal sat.

• 2023 Second-Round Pick (No. 55 overall)
• 2024 Third-Round Pick (No. 73)

The Lions sent their 2023 fourth-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick this year to Minnesota with Hockenson. If the Vikings had won a playoff game, in either of the last two seasons?, that conditional fourth-rounder would have become a fifth-rounder. They did not, so it did not.

Lions' return from T.J. Hockenson trade is now finalized

The Lions traded down from No. 55 to No. 63 in the 2023 draft, then again to No. 68 overall. In the two trade downs, here's what they received.

QB Hendon Hooker (No. 68 overall)
No. 122 overall (fourth round, then used to trade up for Brodric Martin)
No. 139 overall (fifth round, used to trade up for Martin)
No. 249 overall (seventh round, sent to Eagles in D'Andre Swift trade)

The Lions also traded pick 168 in the 2023 draft to move up and take Martin.

So the Lions got Hooker and whatever portion of Martin in the first part of the return from the Hockenson trade.

The Lions of course did not use the 73rd overall pick in the just-completed draft, using it as part of the deal to trade up and get Terrion Arnold. They also got a 2025 seventh-round pick from the Cowboys, while giving up picks 29 and 73. So the return in the deal, as a direct tentacle of the Hockenson trade, is clear.

Terrion Arnold
2025 seventh-round pick

So the Lions got Hooker, Martin, Arnold and 2025 seventh-round pick combining draft capital they had with draft capital from the Hockenson trade.

More importantly than what the trade return ever becomes in contributing players, since they got replacing him so right (Sam LaPorta), the Lions avoided paying Hockenson the significant contract extension (four years, $66 million) the Vikings did.