NFL Commerce Grades: Lions maintain T.J. Hockenson in NFC North with commerce to Vikings
In an sudden transfer, the Detroit Lions commerce away tight finish T.J. Hockenson inside their division to NFC North foe, the Minnesota Vikings.
All week, NFL analysts have been questioning: are the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings really that good?
Seems the Vikings simply bought even higher, because of a last-minute commerce deadline transfer that ships Detroit Lions tight finish T.J. Hockenson out of Michigan and into Minnesota.
The Vikings are giving up a second-round choose in 2022 and a third-round choose in 2024 to land Hockenson. In the meantime, the Lions ship away Hockenson, a 2023 fourth-round choose and a conditional fourth-round choose in 2024.
Schefter swiftly defined a number of the rationale behind the shock commerce: Vikings tight finish Irv Smith was simply injured and is about to overlook a number of weeks.
Grading last-minute T.J. Hockenson commerce from Lions that would maintain Vikings win streak alive
Remarkably, the Vikings haven’t misplaced a sport since Week 2 after they had been promptly defeated by the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles.
Having Hockenson inside their weaponry solely makes the Vikings offense simpler. Via seven video games, Smith has been focused constantly, however he had but to interrupt 50 receiving yards in any sport this season. Racking up a meager 168 receiving yards — which is just about a single sport for Justin Jefferson — the Vikings may gain advantage from getting their tight finish a couple of extra alternatives.
Via the identical quantity of video games with Detroit, Hockenson has simply 4 extra receptions (26 to 22) however a whopping 395 yards. His catch fee is barely worse than Smith’s, however a distinction at quarterback also can account for these numbers. Hockenson will get an improve at quarterback, and the Vikings get a major improve on the tight finish place.
It is a large win for the Vikings, who’re seizing their alternative this season to dominate the NFC North and make a tough push for Tremendous Bowl aspirations. That being stated, they did have to surrender some draft capital to get there, dropping a second-round choose this 12 months and a third-rounder subsequent 12 months to make it attainable. However the Vikings had been duly compensated for that trade-off, getting Hockenson and barely decrease draft picks within the following years.
So far as the Lions, the commerce is sensible for them too, though they’re nonetheless on the dismal aspect of this commerce. The group is 1-6 and has zero hope for a postseason run, so constructing chips for the long run is what is sensible for them. Drafting is at all times a chance, and it’ll be tough to know whether or not or not eliminating Hockenson was price it till these second and third-round picks are chosen. Actually, all of the Lions did was give away Hockenson and commerce up a bit within the subsequent two drafts. Hockenson was the No. 8 general choose within the 2019 NFL Draft, and 4 years later, the Lions are getting a two-pick return on that funding.
What’s actually the deciding issue on this commerce is Hockenson’s contract. The Lions had been in a position to offload the remaining price of Hockenson’s $19.8 million contract. In accordance with Spotrac, Hockenson is about to earn $9.4 million in 2023. If the Lions aren’t successful this 12 months anyway, the least they may do is commerce one in all their most dear belongings to clear cap area and get draft picks in return.
However buying and selling them to a division rival may have depressing long-term implications. Welcome to 2 T.J. Hockenson revenge video games per 12 months, Lions followers.
Whereas it’s nonetheless a smart transfer for the Lions, it’s additionally a compromised one which they might not have thought of early on within the season. For that, the Lions get a B, whereas it’s a simple A for the Vikings.
