BB.MAJOR LEAK: Vikings in DANGER of Losing Their $66M Star — and It’s a 5-Alarm Fire in Minnesota!
The Minnesota Vikings are staring down a financial inferno as the 2026 offseason looms, with their salary cap situation threatening to torch the roster and potentially force out one of their biggest stars: two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson. With a massive $66 million contract and a daunting $37 million cap deficit, the Vikings are at a crossroads, and the decisions they make could reshape the franchise’s future.
Hockenson, one of the NFL’s premier tight ends, is in the second year of a four-year, $66 million extension signed with Minnesota. His deal ranks as the third-largest among tight ends, trailing only George Kittle and Trey McBride, with an annual average salary that places him fourth behind Kittle, McBride, and Travis Kelce. However, the Vikings hold a critical out in his contract for 2026, which would cost them $12.5 million in dead money if they choose to part ways.
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According to Darren Wolfson of KSTP, who dropped a bombshell on the SKOR North podcast on October 10, 2025, Hockenson’s future in Minnesota is far from certain. “You look at the T.J. Hockenson contract for next year, he certainly isn’t playing next year under the terms of that deal,” Wolfson said. “Maybe he’s here, but he’s going to have to renegotiate. We don’t know. That’s a question mark.” In other words, Hockenson either takes a pay cut or risks being cut or traded—a brutal reality for a player who was a cornerstone of the Vikings’ offense.
The Vikings’ financial woes are no secret. As of now, the team is more than $37 million over the 2026 salary cap, a dire situation that has improved slightly from June when they were a staggering $50 million in the red, according to SKOR North host Phil Mackey. “No team is further over the cap in 2026 than the Minnesota Vikings,” Mackey warned on June 20, 2025. The team’s ability to roll over unused cap space may provide some relief, but it’s not a cure-all.
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Judd Zulgad, Mackey’s co-host, painted a grim picture of what’s to come. “Be prepared next March for a lot of deals to be … reworked, or a lot of guys to just be let go, too,” he said. The Vikings face a brutal reality: to keep their roster intact, they’ll need to make painful cuts or convince key players like Hockenson to accept restructured deals. The alternative? Watching talent walk out the door.
Hockenson’s situation is complicated by his recent performance dip and injury history, which could weaken his bargaining power. Acquired from the Detroit Lions in 2022 for a second- and third-round pick (plus two fourth-rounders), Hockenson was a game-changer, averaging over 90 catches, nearly 950 receiving yards, and 5.5 touchdowns per season in 2022 and 2023. But a torn ligament in his knee sidelined him for the final two games of 2023 and the first seven games of 2024. In 2025, across five games, he’s managed just 19 catches for 153 yards and one touchdown—projecting to a modest 65 catches, 520 yards, and three scores if he stays healthy.
This drop-off isn’t entirely his fault. Head coach Kevin O’Connell acknowledged on October 6, 2025, that Hockenson’s role has shifted due to team needs. “We’re asking a lot of him right now that doesn’t necessarily coincide with him being one of the best route-running tight ends in the NFL,” O’Connell said. With injuries ravaging Minnesota’s offensive line, Hockenson has been tasked with pass blocking at an unprecedented rate, limiting his opportunities to shine as a receiver. Still, his injury history and reduced production give the Vikings—and potential suitors in free agency—leverage to negotiate a lower salary.
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Losing Hockenson would be a gut punch for Minnesota, especially after the steep price they paid to acquire him. But keeping him could mean sacrificing depth elsewhere, as the team scrambles to get under the cap. The front office faces a high-stakes game of financial chess, with every move carrying massive implications. If Hockenson refuses to restructure, the Vikings could cut or trade him next spring, sending shockwaves through the fanbase and the locker room.
The clock is ticking, and the Vikings’ 2026 offseason is shaping up to be a defining moment for the franchise. Will they find a way to keep their star tight end and stabilize their roster, or will the salary cap force them to dismantle a team with playoff aspirations? One thing is clear: this is a five-alarm fire in Minnesota, and the heat is only getting hotter.
