The Vikings released longtime tight end Kyle Rudolph this offseason.
This offseason, Rudolph said that he was worth every dime of his contract, but that doesn’t mean he’s being used to his potential and that he’s used to do what he does well. Now, Rudolph has a chance at a change of role on a different team.
Rudolph has agreed to terms with the Giants, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Rudolph is signing a two-year deal with the team.
When he was in Minnesota, Rudolph had to take a back seat to Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson and, at times, Irv Smith Jr. in the passing game. He will presumably have an easier time getting targets with the Giants.
Yes, the Giants could theoretically compete for the postseason in a weak NFC East, but the expectations for Minnesota and New York in 2021 will be inherently different. Rudolph has a chance to be a veteran presence on a young team and become a good target for QB Daniel Jones.
Jones will likely have other weapons besides Rudolph, such as Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram. I still think Rudolph will probably have an easier time getting the ball in New York, though.