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TJ Hockenson could land with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to build around quarterback Baker Mayfield this offseason, and tight end is one of the key positions.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine named two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson as a top trade target for the Buccaneers, which could give Mayfield the best tight end of his tenure in Tampa. Mayfield otherwise has been throwing to tight end Cade Otton primarily over the past three years.
“He has posted over 1,100 receiving yards over the last two seasons, but he’s set to hit free agency,” Ballentine wrote. “Calling up the [Minnesota] Vikings to see what the price for T.J. Hockenson could be an intriguing alternative.”
Hockenson had 51 catches for 438 yards and three touchdowns this past season for the Vikings, and he did that with three different quarterbacks throwing him the ball. He had 41 receptions for 455 yards the year before when Sam Darnold was the team’s quarterback, and Hockenson is only three years removed from a big 2023 season where he had 95 catches for 960 yards and five touchdowns.
Hockenson has a four-year, $66 million extension with the Vikings, which goes through the 2027 season. Despite the cost, his ability and experience would add value to the Buccaneers passing attack.
What T.J. Hockenson Offers
Hockenson would be the best pass-catching tight end the Buccaneers have seen since Rob Gronkowski.
The tight end position hasn’t been a strong suit for the Buccaneers since Gronkowski called it a career in 2022, and Hockenson would add an instant jolt to the offense. Hockenson has strong route running, and he’s high-volume pas-catching threat.
Tampa Bay could also take advantage of his versatility, which could give Mayfield more looks to work with in featuring Hockenson. That would include blocking, which could aid the running game.
Hockenson also has playoff experience with two 15 catches for 193 yards and a touchdown in two games.
2 Other Trade Targets For the Buccaneers
Ballentine also named Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen and Green Bay Packers edge Rashan Gary as top trade targets for the Buccaneers this season offseason. Both would fill significant positions of need.
“The Bucs have some cap space already and that’s before they do the typical cap gymnastics that every team does to create space,” Ballentine wrote. “Given how wide-open the NFC South was this season, they could get aggressive to push chips to the middle of the 2026 table.”
“That could mean covering for the potential loss of Lavonte David. The 36-year-old linebacker is a prime candidate to retire, which would leave a hole in the middle of the Bucs defense,” Ballentine added. “Patrick Queen would be a fun fit in Todd Bowles’ blitz-heavy scheme.”
Queen had 56 tackles and a sack last season for the Steelers, and he had 65 tackles and a sack the year before that.
“Tampa (also) needs to get more dynamic on the edge, and Rashan Gary could use a change of scenery,” Balletine wrote. “The Packers brought in Micah Parsons, in part, because Gary didn’t live up to his contract. However, there are only two years left on his deal and it would be easy manipulate the salary through an extension or adding void years.”
Gary had 7.5 sacks and 25 tackles last season and 7.5 sacks and 26 tackles the year before that.
Matthew Davis covers the NFL, WNBA and college sports for Heavy.com. As a contributing writer to the StarTribune, he has also covered Minnesota prep sports since 2016. More about Matthew Davis
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