NFL Insider Projects Vikings to Cut Fan Favorite

The Minnesota Vikings finished 9-8 and missed the postseason this year. There were plenty of reasons that Kevin O’Connell’s team failed to meet expectations.

That means, this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings have some franchise-altering decisions to make. The most important task on Kevin O’Connell’s offseason to-do list is at quarterback.

Obviously, J.J. McCarthy will be back, but the 2024 No. 10 overall draft pick didn’t exactly stake his claim to Minnesota’s QB1 job going into camp.

But even beyond quarterback, the Vikings can’t simply run back the same roster in 2026, and even if they wanted to, they don’t have the available cap space to do so.

Which means cuts are coming, and some of the names may surprise many fans. For example, one of the most straightforward ways to sort out their current cap conundrum is to cut T.J. Hockenson.

TJ Hockenson’s time with MN Vikings running out

The fact Hockenson is coming off one of the most disappointing back-to-back seasons of his career makes it that much easier. That’s why ESPN’s Aaron Schatz sees the MN Vikings tight end of 3+ seasons wearing a different uniform in 2026.

With little cap space, the Vikings will say goodbye to tight end T.J. Hockenson, who has had injury issues and is coming off two straight years with fewer than 500 receiving yards. He was tied for 33rd among tight ends in ESPN’s receiver scores through Week 17. Cutting Hockenson would save the Vikings nearly $9 million in cap space before June 1 and $16 million if designated after June 1.

Aaron Schatz – ESPN

Hockenson is currently playing on a four-year deal that runs through 2027, which he already restructured once. And the cap penalty for cutting him drops from 29 million last season to $12.5 million in 2026.

The Minnesota Vikings acquired the former 8th overall pick back in 2022, after an injury to Irv Smith Jr forced them to look elsewhere at tight end. Hockenson immediately made an impact when he arrived, too.

Would the Vikings miss Hockenson all that much?

He caught 60 passes for 519 yards and 3 touchdowns in just 10 games, after arriving midseason in 2022. The next year, Hockenson put up 960 yards and five touchdowns.

Let’s talk TJ HOCKENSON..

– Missed 7 games due to injury in 24
– 0 TDs & < 500 yards receiving

BUT due a big bounce back!

🔸2.61 YPRR (3rd in NFL)
🔹35.6% TPRR (1st in NFL)
🔸Fully healthy & Security blanket for JJ McCarthy
🔹TE2 & TE4 in 2022 & 2023

pic.twitter.com/gupu466I2g

— The Dynasty Grill (@FFDynastyGrill) June 17, 2025

But in the two years since, the former Iowa superstar has fallen off a cliff. Over 25 games the last two seasons, TJ Hockenson has compiled just 893 total yards and three touchdowns.

Minnesota drafted Gavin Bartholomew last April but he didn’t play at all as a rookie, due to injury. With the 18th overall pick, they could be in prime position to grab TE1 in this draft.

Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq could be there for them at that spot, should the Vikings choose to go that route. With other needs on the roster, there may not be a reason to keep the 28-year-old around. Not for his price.