Inside The Vikings

Where the NFL Ranks T.J. Hockenson Among TEs

Josh Oliver also got at least one top-ten vote in this ESPN survey of people around the league.
Will Ragatz|
Where the NFL Ranks T.J. Hockenson Among TEs
Where the NFL Ranks T.J. Hockenson Among TEs

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Minnesota Vikings

ESPN has moved onto the offensive side of the ball in its annual top-ten position rankings based on a survey of league executives, coaches, scouts, and players. First up are the tight ends.

Travis Kelce and George Kittle lead the way, as usual, with Vikings star T.J. Hockenson coming in at No. 6 on the list. In addition to Kelce and Kittle, Hockenson is behind Mark Andrews, Dallas Goedert, and Darren Waller. Everyone surveyed ranked him between fourth and seventh.

Hockenson is a cornerstone player for Minnesota's offense.

After the Vikings executed the rare in-division trade with Detroit to acquire Hockenson, the tight end rewarded the team with 62 receptions for 583 yards from Weeks 8 to 18. Both were top-two finishes among tight ends, and Hockenson finished the year with career highs in receptions (86) and receiving yards (914).

"He's a good player but nothing dynamic to him in the pass game and average in the run game," an NFC exec said. "He's the classic case of a player that does everything well but nothing exceptional."

A high-ranking NFL official added: "Really dynamic route runner with speed, size, quickness — attacks football in the air and has some better yards after the catch than given credit for. Decent blocker, three-down-impact player."

I think the Vikings would disagree with that NFC executive. Based on what they saw last year after the trade with the Lions, they believe he's both dynamic and exceptional as a receiver.

Vikings Roster Countdown: No. 87 T.J. Hockenson — Extension Coming Soon?

Hockenson, who remains an obvious extension candidate as the season approaches, is going to be fed this year as the No. 2 option in the Vikings' passing game.

Also of note is that new Vikings TE Josh Oliver received at least one top-ten vote in ESPN's survey. The former Jaguar and Raven has just 26 career receptions, but he's an elite blocker and the Vikings believe he can contribute as a pass-catcher as well. Having both Hockenson and Oliver on the field at the same time figures to present major matchup problems for opposing defenses.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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