Minnesota Acquire Star Tight End

The NFL trade deadline is just a matter of hours away, and while we expected it to heat up today, this is a move that few people expected, as the Detroit Lions have officially dealt their star tight end, T.J. Hockenson within the division to the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings. Even if you did see Hockenson being dealt by a one win Lions team, moving him to a division rival is a huge move, and after a 6-1 start, this offence, which already includes Adam Theilen, Dalvin Cook and most importantly Justin Jefferson has somehow gotten better.

Trade! The #Lions are sending TE T.J. Hockenson to the #Vikings, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

Minnesota sends a 2023 second-round pick and 2024 third-round pick to Detroit for Hockenson, a 2023 fourth-round pick and a 2024 conditional fourth-round pick. pic.twitter.com/9P0ZjbS64g

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 1, 2022

Irv Smith Jr. suffered a high ankle sprain on the weekend, meaning he will miss multiple weeks, and while many expected the Vikings to sit back and wait for him to return, they've gone out and acquired a massive weapon, which will make this 1-2 combo at tight end arguably the best in the league come playoff time. Through 8 weeks, T.J. has 26 catches for 395 yards and 2 Touchdown's, and now, he joins a team ready to compete in 2022, and for Detroit, they now have multiple first and second round picks in the 2023 draft, which will help this rebuild immensely. 

Expect many more moves to come in the next few hours, but for now, we have our first deadline day blockbuster, as T.J. Hockenson gets moved within the division to join the already stacked Minnesota Vikings.

Photo Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK