With Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr out,Minnesota makes the move for T.J. Hockenson

The Detroit Lions traded tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick. The Lions will also send over a 2023 fourth-round pick and a conditional fourth-round draft pick. It was first reported by the Rap Sheet.

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

Smith Jr hurt his ankle in the final play in the Vikings win over Arizona on Sunday. Minnesota is fighting their own injury bug as Smith Jr will miss time due to a high ankle sprain. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Smith Jr is expected to miss 8 to 10 weeks. Johnny Mundt and Jacob Hollister are the only other tight ends on the Vikings roster.

Vikings’ TE Irv Smith is expected to be sidelined 8-10 weeks with his high ankle sprain, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2022

With this trade, General Manager Brad Holmes appears to be stockpiling draft picks for the next two drafts. The 2023 pick acquired from Minnesota gives Detroit nine picks for 2023. Per Yahoo! Sports this morning, Detroit is tied with Houston as the best odds for the 1st pick overall.

T.J. Hockenson’s Stats in Detroit

Hockenson finishes his career in Detroit with 186 receptions for 2,068 yards and 15 TD’s. In terms of the Lions depth chart, Brock Wright, was out on Sunday due to concussion protocol, which leaves rookie James Mitchell as the only healthy TE on the roster. Mitchell was drafted in the 5th round out of Virginia Tech.

Our Lions beat reporter Maddie Miller will have an update later on with more details.

2:11PM update: Per Adam Schefter, the 2024 conditional fourth-round pick that the Lions sent to Minnesota as part of the trade will be a 2024 fifth-round draft pick if Minnesota makes the playoffs.