Vikings Training Camp 2019: Previewing the tight ends
By Chris Schad
The Veteran: Kyle Rudolph
When the Vikings selected Smith in the second round of last April’s NFL Draft, many thought the writing was on the wall for Rudolph. With a contract that was set to expire after the 2019 season, Rudolph’s days in Minnesota appeared to be numbered and with the Vikings looking for more explosiveness in their offense, the slow-footed Rudolph didn’t appear to be a fit.
Just as it looked like Rudolph was going to be headed elsewhere before the season began, the two sides struck an agreement that will pay him $36 million over the next four years. Now that Rudolph is in the fold for the foreseeable future, how will the Vikings use him?
The answer is the same way they’ve always used him. The 30-year-old has never been an explosive option between the 20s but he remains an effective target inside the red zone catching 41 touchdowns over his career. He also doesn’t drop passes as he posted a career-high 78 percent catch rate in 2018.
With Rudolph ranking fifth in career touchdowns, second in receptions by a tight end (386) and second in receiving yards by a tight end (3,787), the Vikings clearly know how to use him. The key will be letting him do his job and letting the other players in the offense step up.