{"id":754872,"date":"2026-02-15T23:38:39","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T23:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/754872\/"},"modified":"2026-02-15T23:38:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T23:38:39","slug":"the-best-te-options-for-vikings-if-t-j-hockenson-leaves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/754872\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best TE Options for Vikings if T.J. Hockenson Leaves"},"content":{"rendered":"

T.J. Hockenson might be a cut candidate for the Minnesota Vikings if they don\u2019t prefer to restructure his contract this offseason. He\u2019s the NFL\u2019s fourth-highest-paid tight end<\/a>, and Minnesota barely used him as a pass-catcher in 2025. Suppose the Vikings pull the plug on Hockenson. Well, they\u2019ll need a new tight end. Consider these options the most likely.<\/p>\n

The Vikings could face a tight end pivot if Hockenson\u2019s situation changes, and the shortlist of realistic replacements is forming quickly.<\/p>\n

Of course, this will all be moot if Hockenson sticks around, but here\u2019s a glance at contingency plans.<\/p>\n

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Top Tight End Alternatives for Minnesota if Hockenson Moves On<\/p>\n

Ranked from good to great, these are the post-Hockenson TE options if applicable.<\/p>\n

\"Oscar<\/p>\n

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Oscar Delp (4) takes a handoff and accelerates into the open field on Nov 15, 2025, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, during first-half action against the Texas Longhorns. Delp cuts upfield with defenders converging as the Bulldogs look to generate momentum in the SEC showdown. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n

5. Oscar Delp + a Vet<\/p>\n

Most of the rookie tight ends near the top of the 2026 draftboard don\u2019t block very well. And one of Kevin O\u2019Connell\u2019s prerequisites for a TE1 seems to be decent-to-good pass-blocking.<\/p>\n

Delp, a Georgia Bulldog<\/a>, is a compromise. He blocks well compared to his draft classmates, but probably won\u2019t be drafted until Round 4 or later. In this scenario, the Vikings might have to sign a veteran tight end like Cade Otton as insurance, while hoping Delp matures faster than most to flirt with a TE1 role.<\/p>\n

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Of course, Minnesota doesn\u2019t have a 2026 4th-Rounder right now. That belongs to the Carolina Panthers. O\u2019Connell would have to reach for Delp in Round 3, trade back into Round 4, or hope he slides to Round 5.<\/p>\n

Bleacher Report\u2018s Daniel Harms on Delp<\/a>: \u201cOscar Delp is a vertical, seam busting tight end with explosive speed and three down upside for an NFL offense. He\u2019s become a versatile blocker for the Bulldogs offense, and springs multiple runs a game for their offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderutilized as a pass catcher, the 6\u20195\u2033 245-pound prospect showcases his burst after the catch by reducing pursuit angles by linebackers and defensive backs, regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. A Trade for Michael Mayer<\/p>\n

The Las Vegas Raiders employ two TE1s: Brock Bowers<\/a> and Michael Mayer. That doesn\u2019t make sense. The Raiders should trade Mayer for a 5th-Round pick or so, enabling him to reach his fullest potential and getting a draft pick back for their troubles.<\/p>\n

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Mayer isn\u2019t the best blocking tight end imaginable, but he\u2019s also not abysmal. Between Mayer, Josh Oliver, Gavin Bartholomew<\/a>, and Ben Yurosek, the Vikings\u2019 TE room would be in good hands.<\/p>\n

3. Isaiah Likely<\/p>\n

Likely, on the other hand, does not run- or pass-block, which may present a problem in Vikings free-agent scouting circles.<\/p>\n

Still, the man is sitting on a breakout season for his next team \u2014 probably not the Baltimore Ravens, his current employer, that just extended Mark Andrews\u2019s contract.<\/p>\n

Likely also splashes big in the clutch, and if Minnesota veers away from its blocking criteria, Likely would be a fantastic passing game target for J.J. McCarthy<\/a> or the unnamed Vikings QB1 in 2026.<\/p>\n

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His next contract will likely pay him around $9 million or $10 million per season.<\/p>\n

2. Kyle Pitts<\/p>\n

Want to know why Pitts was drafted so damn high in 2021? He literally does it all. He\u2019s a freak athlete who catches passes like a top-tier wide receiver and blocks as effectively as George Kittle.<\/p>\n

Pitts is the dream for any offense; it\u2019s just that he never took off in Atlanta as a certified killer. Until that night he ruined your night when you played in the fantasy football playoffs in December.<\/p>\n

\"Kyle<\/p>\n

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) stands near midfield during pregame warmups on Jan 8, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, before a divisional clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pitts surveys the field and chats with teammates as both clubs prepare for kickoff under the stadium lights. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports.<\/p>\n

A geographical cure could fix him, however, and teams will line up to pay Pitts next month. The Vikings may not have the money to spend on another Top 10 tight end, but if they do, Pitts is by far the best free-agent option<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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His next deal will pay him about $12 million annually.<\/p>\n

1. Kenyon Sadiq<\/p>\n

Sadiq is trending as the only tight end to fly off the board in Round 1 this April<\/a>. A product of Oregon, he\u2019s an outstanding pass-catching threat and should see his future NFL team\u2019s lineup in Week 1 of 2026.<\/p>\n

At 6\u20193\u2033 and 245 pounds, Sadiq has a significant advantage in that he is young; he won\u2019t turn 21 until after the season begins. In 42 games at Oregon, he tallied 80 receptions for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns. Further showcasing his athleticism, he also returned kicks for the Ducks in 2023 and 2024.<\/p>\n

\"Kenyon<\/p>\n

Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) moves through warmup drills on Dec 20, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, ahead of a matchup with the James Madison Dukes. Sadiq stretches and runs routes in the pregame routine as Oregon finalizes preparations before taking the field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n

His complete skill set fuels all buzz surrounding him as a potential 1st-Round pick. Sadiq is a reliable pass-catcher and an effective blocker for both runners and quarterbacks \u2014 a rare combination for a young tight end.<\/p>\n

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While Minnesota has plenty of draft needs, particularly on defense, fans would not be too mad if they took the plunge with Sadiq at No. 18. Or, at the very least, it wouldn\u2019t take very long to warm up to the pick.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"T.J. Hockenson might be a cut candidate for the Minnesota Vikings if they don\u2019t prefer to restructure his…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":754873,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2073],"tags":[223,254,16852,117,8367,797,9341,260,7,1848,6066,450,37741,4698,1519,21207,9247,28626,6153,393,9737,759,6851,233,259,2529,6,575,38680,9250,250,234],"class_list":{"0":"post-754872","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-minnesota-vikings","8":"tag-atlanta","9":"tag-atlanta-falcons","10":"tag-autzen-stadium","11":"tag-baltimore-ravens","12":"tag-ben-yurosek","13":"tag-brock-bowers","14":"tag-cade-otton","15":"tag-carolina-panthers","16":"tag-football","17":"tag-gavin-bartholomew","18":"tag-george-kittle","19":"tag-georgia-bulldogs","20":"tag-hockenson","21":"tag-isaiah-likely","22":"tag-j-j-mccarthy","23":"tag-james-madison-dukes","24":"tag-josh-oliver","25":"tag-kenyon-sadiq","26":"tag-kyle-pitts","27":"tag-las-vegas-raiders","28":"tag-mandatory-credit","29":"tag-mark-andrews","30":"tag-michael-mayer","31":"tag-minnesota","32":"tag-minnesota-vikings","33":"tag-minnesotavikings","34":"tag-nfl","35":"tag-oregon-ducks","36":"tag-oscar-delp","37":"tag-t-j-hockenson","38":"tag-tampa-bay-buccaneers","39":"tag-vikings"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/754872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=754872"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/754872\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/754873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=754872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=754872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=754872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}