For T.J. Hockenson, arriving in Minnesota was like a breath of fresh air. The Iowa native touched down Tuesday night after being traded from the Lions to the Vikings and felt like he was home.
"I’m exited to be back in the Midwest," Hockenson told reporters Wednesday in Minneapolis. "They call Michigan the Midwest, but this is really the true Midwest. It’s a lot closer to a lot of people that I grew up with."
Geography biases aside, the breath of fresh air might actually be the Vikings. Hockenson woke up Tuesday in last place in the NFC North and went to sleep in first. He went from 1-6 to 6-1, from a rebuilding team to a contender, from an organization that hasn't won a playoff game this century to one that's eyeing a run at the Super Bowl in a few months.
"That’s really what we’re here to do, is go somewhere and win some games, and that’s kind of the first time I’ve been able to say that," Hockenson said. "So I’m pretty excited, I really am. It’s cool to be here."
The eighth overall pick in 2019, Hockenson was a part of nine wins over his 47 career games with the Lions. All told, they were 13-42-2 over his four seasons in Detroit. He never even sniffed a playoff race. He should get his first taste of postseason football in a few months, with the Vikings holding a 3.5 game lead in the NFC North.
"Like I said, I’m excited to be a part of a program that we can do something with and we’re looking beyond 17 (games) and looking down the road," he said. "We gotta take it week by week obviously and win the next one, but listen, there’s no telling where this place can go and I’m just trying to be a piece of that."
Hockenson, whose contract expires after next season, had been open to signing an extension with the Lions, but talks never got far. GM Brad Holmes said Wednesday Detroit was better off collecting draft picks for the future; the Lions reeled in a second-rounder in 2023 and a third-rounder in 2024 for their former Pro Bowl tight end.
Hockenson said he "kind of knew" a trade was coming. The surprise was that he stayed within the division.
"I had a little idea," he said. "I didn’t expect here, but obviously super excited to be here. Right when I got here last night it was like, this is pretty sweet."
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