Hockenson Legit, Madden Shows off Tight Ends
Vikings Depth Chart, Week 13 vs. Jets
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Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
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As Madden 24 ratings reveal the role, a recent unveiling highlights Kansas City Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce becoming the next member of the 99 club. Although there aren’t many impressive tight ends in the league, Vikings pass catcher TJ Hockenson is one of them.
Hockenson legit, Madden shows tight ends
Last season the Minnesota Vikings saw that it was necessary to add another pass catcher to Kirk Cousins. Needing to supplement a group driven by Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah nabbed TJ Hockenson from NFC North rival, Detroit. Although it didn’t come at a cheap price, Kirk Cousins was given another reliable weapon in the passing game.
 makes a catch while New York Jets linebacker Kwon Alexander (9) defends during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.</p>
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December 4, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson (87) made a fumble while New York Jets linebacker Quon Alexander (9) made a defense during the first quarter at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.Even before Irv Smith Jr. went down with another injury, Minnesota clearly needed help through the air. KJ Osborne was not enough as a third option, and Thilen clearly lost a step. Hockenson stepped in in a big way and provided a security blanket for Cousins.
EA Sports clearly took note of Hockenson’s abilities and gave him a 90 overall rating in Madden 24. That tally made him the fourth highest rated tight end in the NFL and put him behind Kelce, George Kittel and Mark Andrews. It’s no shock to say that the Vikings’ tight end is so good.
Minnesota has had some decent receivers on that side of the line in recent seasons, and all of those numbers showed up today. Here are notable names worth checking out:
Tyler Conklin – 78
Showcasing with the New York Jets after leaving Minnesota, it will be interesting to see Conklin pair up with former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers under center. Rodgers has made more than his fair share of mediocre choices, and Conklin could find himself soaring to new levels in the coming year.
Irv Smith Jr. – 75
Given how athletic Smith Jr. is. As proven with Minnesota, it seems a bit light. Now moving on to Bengal, it remains to be seen whether he stays healthy at all, but if he stays healthy, there should be ample opportunities. Joe Burrows is a superstar, and the tight room in Cincinnati is devoid of any other real talent.
Josh Oliver -72
Vikings.com’s Gabe Henderson talks with Minnesota Vikings freshman Josh Oliver after he was signed by the team during 2023 NFL free agency. Oliver is on deck to serve as the Vikings’ TE2 in 2023 behind TE1 TJ Hockenson. As Minnesota’s backup to Smith Jr.’s place, Oliver would get opportunities in Minnesota. Kevin O’Connell’s offense, no matter what, doesn’t often feature a second tight end. Still, the Vikings needed to provide Cousins with an option, and they signed Oliver for a reason.
Johnny Mundt – 66
The former Oregon Ducks tight end performed well at times last season, but he’s still clearly a work in progress. It remains to be seen how he’ll fit into the role behind Hockenson and Oliver, but at least one useful option exists.
Nick Muse – 63
September 25, 2021; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks tight end Nick Muse. Mandatory credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports.It remains to be seen how many tight ends the Vikings will roster this season, and Muse is by no means a lock to make it. Still, he’s been with Minnesota for a while, and that’s where he checks in for Madden in the coming year.
Ben Sims – 62
An undrafted rookie out of Baylor, Sims caught 31 passes for 255 yards last year. He is probably the best practice team player.
Ted Schwarzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. he is active Twitter and writes weekly for twin daily, As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with passion has always seemed like a natural outlet.
