The Detroit Lions took University of Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson with the eighth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday night, and quarterback Matthew Stafford is already looking forward to working with him.
Hockenson told TMZ Sports that Stafford, who has been tending to his wife while she recovers from surgery to remove a brain tumor, reached out to him after he was drafted on Thursday evening to congratulate him and welcome him to the Lions.
Hockenson spent two years at Iowa and is coming off of a sophomore campaign in which he hauled in 49 receptions for 760 yards and six touchdowns.
During his freshman year, he caught 24 passes for 320 yards and three scores.
Hockenson played alongside fellow tight end Noah Fant, who was also drafted in the first round by the Denver Broncos. Both comprised a lethal duo for the Hawkeyes, and while most feel that Fant is actually the better prospect, there is no denying Hockenson's production.
Detroit is coming off of a 2018 campaign in which it won just six games, missing the playoffs for the second straight year. This past season represented Matt Patricia's first year at the helm as head coach.
The Lions have been one of the least successful franchises in the NFL over the better part of the last three decades. Detroit has only made three playoff appearances since 2000, it also had an 11-year run between 2000 and 2010 where it did not make the postseason at all.
To make matters worse, the Lions have not won a playoff game since the 1990-91 campaign.
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