Minnesota Vikings ink TJ Hockenson to new deal making him highest-paid NFL tight end

The Minnesota Vikings and T.J. Hockenson have agreed to a deal that makes the former Iowa star the highest-paid tight end of all time. He inked for four years at $68.5 million, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter.

The $68.5 million comes out to $17.125 million per year in salary. It also includes $42.5 million in guaranteed money, which is also an all-time high for a tight end.

The new deal for Hockenson pushes him past New York Giants tight end Darren Waller who is receiving $17 million a year. Previously, the most guaranteed money in a deal for a tight end was $40 million, inked for George Kittle with the 49ers.

Travis Kelce, arguably the best tight end in the game right now thanks to his level of production, is on a four-year deal for $57.25 million, which he signed in 2020.

To give the former Hawkeye’s new deal some historical perspective, Rob Gronkowski‘s biggest deal with the New England Patriots was a six-year deal for $54 million in 2012.

Hockenson’s deal resets the market for the next group of tight ends coming up on their big paydays.

For the Vikings last season, the 6-foot-5 target posted 60 catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns.

The Detroit Lions traded their former first-round draft pick to Minnesota in the 2022 season. In exchange for the tight end, the Lions received a 2023 second-round pick, a 2023 fourth-round pick, and third and fourth-round picks in 2024 as well.

Vikings tight end headed to Packers

The Green Bay Packers claimed tight end Ben Sims off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday. The team also claimed defensive back Zayne Anderson from the Buffalo Bills.

Sims was not selected in the 2023 NFL Draft before signing an undrafted free-agent deal with the Vikings.

He spent five years at Baylor, finishing his career with 43 games played and 78 catches.

Sims made 31 catches during the 2021 season with 361 yards and six touchdowns. He followed that up with 31 receptions, 255 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2022.

The three tight ends on the Packers roster following the cuts down to 53 players were Luke Musgrave, Josiah Deguara, Tyler Kraft. Deguara started three games for the Packers last season with 13 receptions for 114 yards.

Kraft and Musgrave were both selected in this past NFL Draft. Musgrave was taken in the second round out of Oregon State. Kraft was selected in the third round out of South Dakota State.

Green Bay is without its leading pass catcher at tight end last season, Robert Tonyan, who signed with the Chicago Bears in the offseason.

On3’s Peter Warren contributed to this report.