EAGAN, Minn. -- As they have gotten to know each other this year, the Minnesota Vikings' first-year brain trust -- general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O'Connell -- has held regular discussions about all aspects of the operation. At one point this fall, the conversation turned to tight ends. O'Connell loved the position so much that Adofo-Mensah felt compelled to initiate an independent film study to see what he was missing.
One of the players Adofo-Mensah examined was T.J. Hockenson, then of the Detroit Lions. O'Connell had spoken generally about the ways a dynamic tight end could produce in his scheme, particularly with defenses chasing receiver Justin Jefferson all over the field.