The Washington Commanders need a tight end in 2026. Zach Ertz, who started the last two seasons and became a favorite target of quarterback Jayden Daniels, tore his ACL in a December loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Ertz is a free agent in March and will be 36 in 2026.
While Washington loves Ertz for his on-field production, practice habits and locker-room leadership, GM Adam Peters mentioned the Commanders needed to get “younger and faster.” Ertz reportedly wants to play in 2026, but it seems doubtful he’d be an option for Washington.
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The Commanders have three tight ends under contract for 2026: John Bates, Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff. Bates is considered among the NFL’s best blocking tight ends, while Sinnott, a former second-round pick, has yet to live up to his draft status. Not all of that is Sinnott’s fault, as he was never featured under former offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Still, does Washington want to go into a critical 2026 season and rely on Sinnott as the No. 1 tight end?
Probably not.
We’ve mentioned Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely as a free-agent option for the Commanders. Others think Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts could be an option for Washington. But what if the answer is currently under contract to another team for next season?
Joel Corry of CBS recently examined 15 potential salary-cap cuts or trade candidates ahead of next season. He named one intriguing possibility, who could be a fit for the Commanders: Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson.
Hockenson production has significantly declined since having 95 catches for 960 yards with five touchdowns before tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee 15 games into the 2023 season. In the two seasons after the knee injury, Hockenson has 92 catches for 893 yards and three touchdowns in 19 games. Hockenson averaged a career-low 29.2 receiving yards per game this season.
Hockenson is due to count over $21 million against next season’s salary cap. If cut, he’d save the Vikings close to $9 million. While Corry notes Hockenson’s decline since a knee injury, it isn’t so clear cut.
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In 2025, Hockenson played 15 games for the Vikings and caught 51 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns. Sure, the numbers don’t look great, but consider that Minnesota’s quarterback situation in 2025 was among the NFL’s worst. Additionally, injuries on the offensive line led to Hockenson being used more as a blocker.
Hockenson is still only 28. When healthy, he’s proven to be among the NFL’s better receiving tight ends. He would fit perfectly as a middle-of-the-field option for Daniels. And he’s not going to require top-of-the-market money.
Something to watch out for is Hockenson’s connection to the new Commanders’ offensive coordinator, David Blough. From 2019-21, Blough and Hockenson were teammates with the Detroit Lions. When Detroit released Blough during final cuts before the 2022 season, he signed with the Vikings’ practice squad. At the 2022 NFL trade deadline, the Vikings traded for Hockenson. And it was Blough, the practice squad QB, who helped Hockenson prepare for his first game. That first game? It was against the Commanders and Hockenson caught nine passes for 70 yards in his Minnesota debut.
If the Vikings move on from Hockenson, he could be a realistic candidate for Washington to fill its starting tight end position.
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This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson an option if cut
