Tag: Kyle Rudolph

Giants’ Kyle Rudolph feels ‘like a rookie all over again’

New York Giants TE Kyle Rudolph admits that he feels like a rookie all over again after 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

Kyle Rudolph spent 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, but that came to an end earlier this year when the team decided it was time to part ways with the veteran.

It wasn’t long before the New York Giants came calling, signing Rudolph to a two-year, $12 million deal following a brief hiccup due to the discovery of a lingering injury.

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Initially, Rudolph conducted his business over Zoom from the comfort of his Minnesota home. It was a familiar situation, but one that was short-lived. Once organized team activities began, Rudolph found his way to East Rutherford and that’s when things changed.

“You kind of feel like a rookie all over again,” Rudolph told Fox 9 Sports Now.

It took Rudolph a little time to get his feet back under him because of the way the offseason started.

“It’s definitely different, especially the way the early part of the offseason played out with pretty much every team in the NFL being virtual for the first four-to-five weeks,” Rudolph said. “I was on Zoom calls with new teammates and coaches, but I was still here in Minnesota at our house. [I was] going to Mayo clinic downtown and doing my rehab and doing my training just as I would for the last 10 offseasons here in Minnesota as a member of the Vikings.

“It wasn’t until OTAs started when I went out to New York and I am in the new building for the first time, trying to find my way around. I had no idea where I was going most of the time. . . Everything is new and everything is different, but it’s extremely exciting for me. It’s a great opportunity and I am looking forward to this season.”

The reality that he was a Giant didn’t really hit until around that same time.

“It was when I was in the new facility in [New Jersey] for the first time,” Rudolph said. “Going into the building, being around new teammates, being around coaches… It’s one thing when you’re on Zoom calls and you’re learning that way, but actually being in the building — that’s when it really hit me that we’re doing this, we’re making a transition.”

Rudolph is much more familiar with his surroundings now and should play a significant role for the Giants’ offense this coming season.

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Two Giants listed among top 20 in PFF preseason TE rankings

Both Evan Engram and Kyle Rudolph of the New York Giants are listed among Pro Football Focus’ top 20 tight ends entering the preseason.

Pro Football Focus recently released their list of the 32 best tight ends entering the 2021 season. The top of the rankings aren’t difficult to figure out — Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, George Kittle of San Francisco and Darren Waller of the Raiders — but then the list becomes a bit subjective.

Analyst Ben Linsey has Atlanta Falcons rookie Kyle Pitts — the No. 4 overall selection in this year’s draft — as his No. 4 tight end ahead of Baltimore’s Mark Andrews and Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson of Detroit. He probably isn’t wrong in doing so, but still, Pitts has never played a down in the NFL.

Speaking of Pro Bowlers, where did the New York Giants’ two tight ends land on PFF’s ranking? Right in the middle of the pack. Evan Engram came in at No. 19, right in front of Kyle Rudolph, who the Giants signed in free agency in March.

The Giants picked up Engram’s fifth-year option last season despite an underwhelming start to his NFL career. He followed that decision up by posting the lowest PFF grade of his career in 2020 (60.5) and averaging a career-low 1.28 receiving yards per route run.

The talent and athletic ability that led to him being drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft is still there. Engram just needs to stay on the field and deliver with more consistency. His 25 drops across four years in the NFL are two more than any other tight end in the league over that span.

It is surely a “show me” season for Engram, who the club has repeatedly avowed their love for over the past two seasons despite his shortcomings. He is still a “tweener,” which is why the Giants felt the need to add a more traditional in-line tight end like the two-time Pro Bowler Rudolph.

Rudolph will now be part of a much-improved Giants receiving corps after raising concerns about his usage last season in Minnesota. He isn’t going to serve as a field-stretcher, but he does have some of the most reliable hands the position has to offer. Rudolph has dropped just two passes in the last four seasons combined. As noted above, that’s a stark contrast to his new running mate Engram, who dropped eight passes last season alone.

The Giants are hopeful that the new roles will suit both these two players and the offense. But, what will Engram’s role actually be? That has been part of the problem with him. He’s had three head coaches and all three haven’t been able to tap into his potential.

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Giants move up in ESPN’s post-free agency power rankings

After an impressive haul in free agency, the New York Giants have moved up in ESPN’s latest power rankings.

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Prior to the start of free agency, ESPN had the New York Giants at 25th overall in their “way-too-early” power rankings, which seemed fair after their fourth straight season with double-digit losses.

However, after an impressive spending spree in free agency that netted the likes of wide receiver Kenny Golladay, cornerback Adoree’ Jackson and tight end Kyle Rudolph, their perception changed a bit.

Earlier this week, ESPN released their post-free agency power rankings and the Giants rose four spots to No. 21 overall.

21. New York Giants

Way-too-early ranking: 25

Best offseason move: Paying up for WR Kenny Golladay

This was a move the Giants needed to make. They have a young quarterback who needed a No. 1 receiver, and Golladay was the only real option on the market. So while the Giants might have overpaid giving Golladay (a player who comes with questions) a strong deal that pays him $18 million per season, this is about making sure they give Daniel Jones a legitimate chance to succeed. That might not have been possible without landing the former Lions receiver, who has a knack for making contested catches.

“Overpaid” is a buzz word Giants fans will hear frequently leading up to the 2021 regular season. However, as we’ve noted previously, there’s no way to know who has been overpaid until they take the field. And then, by 2022 and 2023, the salary cap will likely balloon, making these “overpaid” players look like underpaid players real fast.

As far as the Giants as a team, there’s no denying they got better on paper this offseason. But they aren’t interested in being Kings of March, as co-owner John Mara put it. They need these moves to pan out long-term or it was all for naught.

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Giants’ Kyle Rudolph: Daniel Jones can be an ‘Andrew Luck-type’ QB

New York Giants TE Kyle Rudolph says Daniel Jones has everything it takes to become an “Andrew Luck-type” of quarterback.

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The New York Giants have made some surprising moves in free agency the past two weeks and one of the more unexpected ones was the signing of tight end Kyle Rudolph, who spent his first 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Giants brought Rudolph in because of what he can do to help third-year quarterback Daniel Jones. Rudolph is not only an excellent short-yardage and red-zone option, but a top blocker as well.

Rudolph appeared on the “Pat McAfee Show” this week and spoke about Jones and the possibilities of him becoming a top NFL quarterback.

“First of all, I didn’t realize how young he was,” Rudolph said of Jones. “He’s only 23 years old and I just assumed he was a four- or five-year guy at Duke and obviously he’s been in the league going on his third year.

“We (the Vikings) went up two years ago and played the Giants and I remember watching him in that game and some of the throws that he made. I remember talking to some of our defensive guys like Everson Griffin and Harrison Smith. They were like, ‘Dude, this quarterback’s got some juice to him.’

“He’s a stud and then you watch him over the last two years and — you said it — he’s got all the intangibles to be an Andrew Luck-type quarterback. Hopefully we put a bunch of pieces around him and we can take some of the pressure off of him, let him just go out there and play with confidence and let all those attributes and abilities take over.”

Rudolph said he has yet to talk to running back Saquon Barkley but mentioned that he could be blocking for three Hall of Fame running backs in a row after having played with Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook in Minnesota, and now with Barkley in New York.

Rudolph also stated that his blocking has gotten better over time. That is another reason the Giants signed him. They want extra protection for Jones and a player who can seal off the edge for the running game.

“I had to get down and dirty,” he joked. “I’ was just used to running around catching balls but that wasn’t the case the last couple of years in Minnesota.”

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Giants’ Kyle Rudolph: Daniel Jones can be an ‘Andrew Luck-type’ QB

New York Giants TE Kyle Rudolph says Daniel Jones has everything it takes to become an “Andrew Luck-type” of quarterback.

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The New York Giants have made some surprising moves in free agency the past two weeks and one of the more unexpected ones was the signing of tight end Kyle Rudolph, who spent his first 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Giants brought Rudolph in because of what he can do to help third-year quarterback Daniel Jones. Rudolph is not only an excellent short-yardage and red-zone option, but a top blocker as well.

Rudolph appeared on the “Pat McAfee Show” this week and spoke about Jones and the possibilities of him becoming a top NFL quarterback.

“First of all, I didn’t realize how young he was,” Rudolph said of Jones. “He’s only 23 years old and I just assumed he was a four- or five-year guy at Duke and obviously he’s been in the league going on his third year.

“We (the Vikings) went up two years ago and played the Giants and I remember watching him in that game and some of the throws that he made. I remember talking to some of our defensive guys like Everson Griffin and Harrison Smith. They were like, ‘Dude, this quarterback’s got some juice to him.’

“He’s a stud and then you watch him over the last two years and — you said it — he’s got all the intangibles to be an Andrew Luck-type quarterback. Hopefully we put a bunch of pieces around him and we can take some of the pressure off of him, let him just go out there and play with confidence and let all those attributes and abilities take over.”

Rudolph said he has yet to talk to running back Saquon Barkley but mentioned that he could be blocking for three Hall of Fame running backs in a row after having played with Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook in Minnesota, and now with Barkley in New York.

Rudolph also stated that his blocking has gotten better over time. That is another reason the Giants signed him. They want extra protection for Jones and a player who can seal off the edge for the running game.

“I had to get down and dirty,” he joked. “I’ was just used to running around catching balls but that wasn’t the case the last couple of years in Minnesota.”

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Kyle Rudolph explains why he chose Giants over a dozen other teams

Tight end Kyle Rudolph, who will undergo surgery in the coming days, explains why he chose the New York Giants over a dozen other teams.

The New York Giants officially signed tight end Kyle Rudolph to a two-year deal on Wednesday, which came 24 hours after the team discovered a lingering foot injury that will require surgery.

Although Rudolph, who missed the final four games of the 2020 season, would not elaborate or offer specifics on the injury, he did say he would undergo surgery “as soon as possible” and that he expects to be ready by training camp.

“It was certainly an interesting 24 hours,” Rudolph told reporters during a Zoom conference on Wednesday. “It was one that was unexpected. But, it’s a blessing that we’re able to find this issue. It was an issue from last season. We can fix it in March, and I won’t miss any football. I’m fortunate to be a New York Giant and it not be something that we discovered later and needed to deal with in-season.

“I’m not expecting to miss any football.”

Despite the injury hiccup, the Giants remained true to the terms they previously agreed upon. Rudolph’s contract was not changed or altered in any way, which speaks to the team’s optimism regarding his recovery.

It also speaks to the integrity of the organization, which is something Rudolph took note of. After speaking with head coach Joe Judge, the two-time Pro Bowl tight end passed on 10-plus other teams to join the Giants.

And the players Rudolph will be joining? Yeah, he’s very excited about them, too.

“If you look at the first eight years of my career, I was really only known as a pass-catcher,” Rudolph said. “I’ve played with a couple really good running backs in my time in Minnesota with Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook. With my role changing the last couple of years it wasn’t that I couldn’t run around and catch balls anymore, I was just doing more of the blocking stuff.

“I’m looking forward to bringing that aspect of my game here to the New York Giants now playing with another phenomenal running back in Saquon [Barkley].”

If Rudolph can have his foot repaired and return to 100 percent come Week 1, the Giants will have themselves a quality all-around player who brings value both on and off the field.

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Kyle Rudolph signs Giants contract after brief hiccup

Tight end Kyle Rudolph has signed his New York Giants contract after a brief hiccup on Tuesday when tests revealed a foot injury.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph is officially a member of the New York Giants, reportedly signing his contract on Wednesday after a brief injury scare.

The two-year, $14 million deal Rudolph and Big Blue agreed to last week had been in jeopardy when an issue with the former All Pro’s foot came to light.

NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo reported that there could be a problem with the deal on Tuesday before later clarifying the situation.

The Giants have chosen to honor their original contractual agreement with Rudolph, who will undergo surgery in the coming days. He is expected to be ready in time for Week 1 of the regular season.

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Giants’ signing of Kyle Rudolph hits a snag over foot injury

A deal between the New York Giants and TE Kyle Rudolph is temporarily on hold due to a lingering foot injury.

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The New York Giants’ free agency signing of veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph could be in jeopardy, reports Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network.

Following a physical, the Giants discovered that Rudolph’s foot continues to have an issue that may require surgery.

Garafolo later  tweeted out an update, stating the two sides were in touch and attempting to salvage the deal by creating a ‘medical plan’ in which Rudolph would have the surgery and then rehab.

Because a deal between the Giants and Kyle Rudolph has not yet been signed, it’s entirely possible the team just walks away from the table if they deem things too risky. However, if they believe there is a path back to health for Rudolph, they may instead opt to adjust the agreed upon numbers.

Meanwhile, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk states that Rudolph is expected to officially sign with the Giants on Wednesday morning.

Garafolo reported that the team’s medical staff has concerns that Rudolph will need foot surgery, and that the two sides are discussing how to proceed. However they proceed, they’ll be proceeding with Rudolph as a Giant, we’re told.

Either way, Wednesday is going to be another busy day for the Giants.

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Report: Giants medical staff ‘concerned’ with TE Kyle Rudolph’s foot

There has reportedly been a snag in former Minnesota Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph signing with the New York Giants.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph was a reliable member of the Vikings offense for the past 10 seasons. He played in 140 games and made132 starts. This offseason, the team cut Rudolph and he agreed to terms with the Giants.

Though Rudolph was pretty healthy throughout his Minnesota career, New York has hit a snag with its recent signing of the tight end, according to a report.

As reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Giants medical staff is concerned over Rudolph’s foot after his physical and believes he’ll need surgery. The two parties are in discussions over how to proceed, per Garafolo.

Rudolph is 31, so he would presumably have more playing days ahead of him. He was a decent player for the Vikings in 2020, but a departure this offseason seemed likely. That was because of the team’s salary cap situation, the tight ends behind Rudolph on the depth chart and what Rudolph said publicly.

Notre Dame makes top 5 for the best tackle in the country

A potentially huge addition to the ‘22 class

The 2022 recruiting class for Notre Dame is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory. The class of ‘13 was a fantastic group, ranking inside the top 5 in the country, with the ‘08 version pacing the field after finishing second in the nation. The current class has the same ranking as ‘08 class held, which included Michael Floyd, Kyle Rudolph, and Dayne Crist.

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The momentum is building and the Irish are still certainly in the mix for the best offensive tackle in the country Zach Rice. The Virginia native dropped his top 5 and Notre Dame was included.

The plan is for Rice to visit each of his final schools for an official when the NCAA finally ends the long dead period. At six-foot-six-inches and 282-pounds, the tackle has a very good last group of schools to choose from.

Jeff Quinn, Notre Dame offensive line coach, and Brian Kelly, has their work cut out for the to beat the current college football power powerhouse, Alabama, the Midwest power Ohio State, his home state school in Virginia and another ACC foe in North Carolina.

A commitment from Rice would certainly be a cherry on top of the Notre Dame recruiting class and the Irish are hungry to make that addition.