5 free-agent tight ends the Vikings should consider for 2019

Tight end isn’t a primary need for the Minnesota Vikings for 2019. But if they were to add one through free agency, who are some guys they’d consider?

As far as needs go for the Minnesota Vikings as they head into the 2019 offseason and inch closer to free agency, tight end isn’t amongst the top.

The Vikings are currently set with Kyle Rudolph, David Morgan, and Tyler Conklin. The only issue is that Rudolph is due almost $8 million in salary this year and that may be an amount Minnesota isn’t willing to dish out given their current salary cap situation.

It seems pretty likely that the Vikings will extend and restructure the veteran tight end as he’s been a great member of the organization both on and off the field. But if Minnesota can’t work out an extension and Rudolph is cut, then the need for a tight end shoots way up the board for 2019.

Even if the Vikings do bring Rudolph back for next season, they could still look for a free-agent tight end to come in and provide some quality depth. A pass-catching threat would be ideal as Morgan is more of a blocker and Conklin is still pretty raw in all aspects of the position.

Minnesota doesn’t currently have a lot of cap room (around $7 million), so they will be looking for bargains. This means guys like Jared Cook and Eric Ebron probably won’t be considered as they’ll be looking for some nice paydays after they both had big years in 2018.

The Vikings can look at tight ends who were late-round draft picks and who haven’t reached their potential. Or maybe some that were buried on a team’s depth chart and never got enough reps to carve a niche in their respective offenses.

Of the tight ends that will be available in free agency this year, who are five options that Minnesota should consider signing?