Kyle Rudolph expects to be with Minnesota Vikings in 2019

Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph has been a popular restructure candidate this offseason, but his agent expects him to remain on the roster for years to come.

It’s no secret that if the Minnesota Vikings want to do anything in free agency, they’re going to need to create some cap room. With the clock ticking toward the beginning of the new league year on Wednesday, one of the most popular theories is that the Vikings would attempt to work out a reconstructed deal with tight end Kyle Rudolph.

While it almost seemed like a conclusion that the Vikings would try to trim down Rudolph’s $7.6 million cap number, it appears as though that won’t be the case for the team’s second-round draft pick in 2011 who has made two Pro Bowl appearances and was the Pro Bowl MVP in 2012.

Rudolph’s agent revealed via the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport revealed on Twitter that the Vikings haven’t even approached the 29-year old on the subject of reducing his pay for the 2019 NFL season.

Rudolph’s tenure on the Vikings seemed to be in question after a down year in 2018. Two years removed from a career year where had 83 catches, 840 yards, and seven touchdowns, the 2011 second-round pick caught 64 passes for 634 yards and four touchdowns last fall.

If the Vikings are not interested in restructuring Rudolph, it’s still possible they could cut the longtime tight end that is in the franchise’s top ten in all-time yardage (9th), touchdowns (5th) and receptions (8th). Otherwise, the team could opt to make moves elsewhere such as restructuring Everson Griffen’s $11.7 million cap number or dealing a piece such as Xavier Rhodes or Trae Waynes.

Regardless, a shoe will have to drop if the Minnesota Vikings want to add talent to their roster later this week.