Three years ago, the Lions drafted tight end T.J. Hockenson eighth overall. Now they're trading him to a division rival.
The last-place Lions are sending Hockenson to the first-place Vikings ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. trade deadline, according to Adam Schefter. Detroit gets two Day 2 draft picks in return: a second-rounder in 2023 and a third-rounder in 2024.
The Lions are also sending the Vikings a 2023 fourth-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick.
Hockenson has had a hot-and-cold season with the Lions, tallying 26 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns through seven games. That puts him on pace for a career-high 959 yards and seven touchdowns, but the bulk of his production came in two games against the Seahawks and the Dolphins.
The 25-year-old is signed through next season after Brad Holmes and the Lions picked up his fifth-year option in March. They had considered signing him to a long-term extension over the last several months, but talks never got very far.
Now Hockenson is off to the Vikings, where he'll meet the Lions at Ford Field on Dec. 11.
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