5 free-agent tight ends the Vikings should consider for 2019
By Nik Edlund
Tyler Eifert
2018 Stats:
- 15 receptions
- 179 yards
- 1 touchdown
Eifert is the biggest name on this list and the best. This guy has had a great career with the Cincinnati Bengals racking up 142 receptions for 1,716 yards and a whopping 21 touchdown grabs.
The problem with Eifert is his list of injuries is so long, it has multiple chapters. Here is the quick rundown; shoulder stinger, shoulder labrum tear, tear in his elbow, neck stinger, concussion, torn ankle ligament, bruised vertebrae, lower lumbar strain, knee strain, vertebral disc bulge, and an ankle fracture.
That is one scary list, but it is also something that will drive Eifert’s cost way down.
Teams could shy away from him this offseason because of his injury history and he may see nothing better than a one-year prove it type of deal. That would be something the Vikings could afford.
Obviously, with Eifert it’s the ultimate high risk, high reward type of signing. But the upside could be worth it as the 6-foot-6, 258 pound target has extremely good hands and he has shown the ability to be an uncoverable weapon in the passing game.
His best season was in 2015 when he had 52 catches for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns in as many games. Minnesota would probably only consider Eifert for 2019 if they cut Kyle Rudolph and ended up needing an immediate replacement to be their top tight end.