Minnesota had a three-pronged attack at tight end last season.
The Vikings relied on Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr. and Tyler Conklin for their tight end position. It could be difficult to bring that entire group back, though.
Rudolph has a cap hit of over $9.3 million for 2021, per Over The Cap. Also, the Vikings may have to cut back on big contracts this offseason. So could the team restructure with Rudolph? Well, the Vikings tight end recently said he’s “worth every dime” of his contract.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin predicts that Rudolph could be going elsewhere. Here’s what she wrote:
“A couple of weeks ago, the veteran tight end stated on a podcast that he wasn’t open to the idea of restructuring his contract for the 2021 season and that he “couldn’t sign up” for the type of role he has played in the offense over the past two years, which saw his targets dwindle as he was no longer a top red zone threat. Rudolph has been a staple in Minnesota since 2011, but a split would do both parties a world of good. The Vikings could save up to $8 million against the cap, depending on when he is released, and Rudolph, 31, would get a chance to finish out his career in an offense that could utilize him beyond his ability to block.”
So it seems like the decision for Rudolph to leave could benefit both parties. Also, Vikings fans don’t have to fret with Irv Smith Jr. and Tyler Conklin. Those two should make for a fun tight end unit for the future.