The Minnesota Vikings needed to save money against the salary cap, and T.J. Hockenson was a name circled as a way to do it. The two parties found a mutually beneficial way to do it, which sees Hockenson stay in Minnesota this year while also giving the team room to roll the dice and look for a longer-term answer, leading to an intriguing Vikings draft option at tight end.
Eli Stowers Fits the Vikings’ Revised Tight End Conversation
Hockenson and the Vikings agreed to a restructured contract that saves the team more than $5M in cap space in 2026. The trade-off was to delete the final year of Hockenson’s contract, which means he becomes a free agent at the end of this season. Hockenson hasn’t been able to return to his best form since a knee injury during the 2023 season, despite not being helped by a misfiring Vikings offense.
News leaked that Hockenson prefers to find a solution with a pay cut rather than be released, like other veteran Vikings. He now has this season to prove he can get back to his best and set himself up for a big payday if he succeeds.
It leaves the Vikings without an urgent need for a new TE1 but with doubts over the team’s WR3, with Jalen Nailor a free agent and very little seen from Tai Felton in his rookie season. There is room on the roster for another dynamic receiving option, and it opens the door for a TE prospect that doesn’t quite fit the need for a traditional in-line TE.
Eli Stowers as a Draft Option for the Vikings
Eli Stowers stands out as one of the most efficient receiving TEs in the 2026 NFL Draft class. At around 6’4″ and 240 pounds, with near-33-inch arms, he’s a lean and long-limbed pass-catcher who boasts effervescent athleticism for his size.
An outstanding performance at the NFL Combine boosted his draft stock. He needs to add some bulk to become an every-down TE, but if he lands in Minnesota, he will have time to develop the other side of his game.
In his rookie season, he can be used as a big-slot mismatch option. Stowers doesn’t have the play strength or power to hold up or displace consistently in-line, and his effort wanes at times as well.
He fits the mold of a primary big-slot mismatch weapon; whether he can develop into a more traditional type of TE remains to be seen, but with Hockenson and Josh Oliver in Minnesota, that isn’t an immediate concern.
Stowers is twitched up out of his stance, and has explosive long speed when attacking vertically. Stowers would bring something different to the Vikings offense, something I believe it has been lacking. A big, physical, and explosive receiving threat. A player that ticks all of those boxes is rare and a nightmare for defenses. Stowers can be a player who helps Kevin O’Connell refine the dynamism in his offense.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.