Drafted during the Bob Quinn regime, T.J. Hockenson remains a key part of the Lions’ future under GM Brad Holmes‘ stewardship. The team plans to pick up the former top-10 pick’s fifth-year option.
As a one-time Pro Bowl selection at tight end, Hockenson will command a $9.39MM salary on his 2023 option. The Lions are only using the option as a placeholder, however, eyeing an extension for the veteran pass catcher, Holmes said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett).
One of a few Iowa-produced tight ends stationed in the NFC, joining George Kittle and Noah Fant, Hockenson followed Eric Ebron as a top-10 Lions tight end choice. Hockenson earned his Pro Bowl nod in 2020, when he caught 67 passes for 723 yards and six touchdowns. The 6-foot-5 target played all 16 games that season. Injuries have limited him to 12 apiece in his first and third years, respectively. An ankle injury sidelined the former No. 8 overall choice in December 2019, and thumb surgery shelved him in December of last year. Hockenson still operated as Jared Goff‘s top target in 2021; he averaged a career-high 48.6 yards per game.
The deals the Patriots gave Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry last year come in at $12.5MM per year, with Dallas Goedert signing a $14.25MM-AAV extension late last year. Neither Kittle nor Travis Kelce‘s deals check in much higher — at $15MM and $14.3MM per year, respectively — so Hockenson will be positioned to be among the highest-paid tight ends in the game. With Goff’s contract unlikely to be on the Lions’ payroll long-term, they will have cash to dole out to other key players in the near future.
Detroit figures to lean on Hockenson again in 2022, though Amon-Ra St. Brown and D.J. Chark should factor in heavily in the team’s passing attack. Holding the Nos. 32 and 34 picks this month, the Lions could certainly add a big name to their receiving corps in the draft as well.
As if there was any doubt about it. Kid is a stud.
Yeah, this was pretty much a no-brainer.
Big C*ck Hock
And you know this, how?
Fantasy football
Quinn & Co. could always find good offensive players like Decker Swift Hockenson Ragnow etc etc… but never any good defensive players well maybe except TracyWalker he’s decent.Hmmm wonder why is that? Holmes can possibly build off of that previous regime and draft this team the right way into a contender.For right now, I’ll give him an A minus high B plus for his body of work in his second year of being GM of my beloved Lions.I say by 2024-25 we should @ least be competing or playing for a SB or sooner.Remember folks the Football Gods are watching us piece this thing together. We on the right track so far.Patients is the key some fans do not have. I been patient ever since I was 14.So a little longer won’t hurt @ all.It will all pay off soon.Go fukkkkin’ Lions!!!
I have a wiiild hunch,Holmes is gonna make one more splash in FA…it is involving…….to be CONTINUED folks.
Good hunch! It may depend on if they make a pre draft trade .