Tight End
The Vikings do have a need at tight end. It’s not as pressing as some of their other areas of need, but they could really use one more pass-catching tight end. Kyle Rudolph is in a contract year and is 29-years-old. The team will likely try to restructure and extend him, but if he refuses he could be let go in a cost-cutting move. The roster behind him is made up of blocking tight end David Morgan and unproven second-year man Tyler Conklin.
The Vikings could look to free agency to add a tight end, but can’t afford to scour the top end of the market and will be looking for cheap guys with upside. If they are going that route, they may be better off rolling the dice on a rookie.
What the team ends up doing with Kyle Rudolph will go a long way in determining how early they could take a tight end. If he’s flat out cut then this is a need that could be addressed as early as the first round. In order for them to do that though, top tight end option T.J. Hockenson would have to be on the board. It’s much more likely the team waits until the mid rounds to take a tight end. It’s a fairly deep and talented tight end class this year, so they could find some good options on the board early on Day 3 of the draft.