The Vikings traded with the Lions for TE T.J. Hockenson and made Aaron Rodgers’ life even more difficult.
The Minnesota Vikings sit atop the NFC North at 6-1, just a game behind the Eagles for the best record in the NFC. A distant second, the Packers and Bears are tied in the division at 3-5.
Aaron Rodgers has had it hard this season, but with the first trade of NFL trade deadline day, two NFC North foes conspired against Rodgers and the Packers to widen the talent gap between the Vikes and Packers even further.
Adam Schefter reported that the Lions are trading tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Vikings in exchange for future second- (2023) and third-round (2024) picks. They also receive a 2023 fourth-round pick.
Twitter had thoughts about the deal, because when does it not?
Twitter thinks the Packers are done for after this trade
A gold Tweet to start us off that captures Aaron Rodgers most likely reaction to the trade:
Packers seeing T.J. Hockenson getting traded to the Vikings pic.twitter.com/JsXQAs1rvn
— Caesars Sportsbook & Casino (@CaesarsSports) November 1, 2022
It’s funny that the fallout of the trade has us thinking most about the Vikings and Packers first and second, and the Lions third.
Pat McAfee had thoughts.
BREAKING: The Detroit Lions are trading TJ Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/sQFeQftkKS
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 1, 2022
The Vikings face the Lions in Week 14. As a Lion, Hockenson had over 2,000 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns over the span of four seasons (47 games).
TJ Hockenson coming back to Detroit to face the Lions in Week 14 pic.twitter.com/Cj5Dtf2AlZ
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) November 1, 2022
On its face this looks like a winner for the Vikings. But then again…
The Vikings now have probably the best group of skill position players in the league.
— Cian (@Cianaf) November 1, 2022
But also Kirk Cousins.
Fans think the Vikings ceiling probably isn’t going much higher as a result of the deal:
Vikings doing all of that to lose in the Wild Card round to pic.twitter.com/hXQY6mGIPy
— A🦁 (@itsYDG2) November 1, 2022
It’s just the first trade of the day, and Twitter has jokes. Should be a good platform for Hockenson to really show what he’s got.