Big things ahead for Vikings tight end duo Irv Smith Jr. and Kyle Rudolph

Minnesota Vikings tight end duo Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr. can push each other to bigger and better things during the 2020 NFL season.

The Minnesota Vikings tight end tandem of Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr. showed definite signs of promise during the 2019 campaign and they not only proved they could co-exist within the team’s offense, but they also became extremely useful options for quarterback Kirk Cousins to call upon at critical moments.

Rudolph’s future with the franchise looked bleak when Minnesota took Smith with their second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Alabama. But he, once again, proved a vital cog under Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski this season.

This was not only reflected in his the play most accustomed to seeing from him in terms of catching the football. But Rudolph also became a vastly improved blocker that earned him considerable praise from Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer and his teammates during the 2019 campaign.

Prior to the team’s playoff run this season, Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen shared some thoughts about Rudolph’s unselfishness.

"“He’s such a great leader because he shows up every day and doesn’t care what his role is.”"

Although Rudolph only caught 39 balls for 367 yards during in 2019, his 9.4 yards per catch played a leading role in the success Cousins had, especially on critical third downs where the former Notre Dame product was targeted heavily.

His overall character and respect within the locker room cannot be underestimated, with Rudolph nominated for the Walter Payton Award for the second consecutive year. Having someone like Smith behind him has removed any lingering doubts about complacency, heightening the need for consistent play given the stern competition at the position.

Rudolph will count $9.45 million against the Vikings’ salary cap during the 2020 season and releasing him would only free up $3.65 million.

Releasing him would be a shock not only considering his production on the field, but his ability to potentially nurture the exceptional skills of Smith and ensure he becomes the next great pass-catching tight end in the NFL.

There is little doubt that Smith has all the tools to have a very successful pro career. If he can refine certain areas of his game in the coming months then Minnesota should expect big things going forward.

Smith’s superb hand-eye coordination was evident on more than one occasion in 2019, picking up 36 receptions for 311 yards and his first two NFL touchdowns.

This is made all the more impressive given that Smith was targeted just 47 times by Cousins during the regular season. The rookie tight end also caught all three balls sent his way for 39 yards during the Vikings’ disappointing divisional round playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

All this indicates there is much more to come in the future for Smith and having an eight-year veteran like Rudolph to call on for advice, guidance, and tips are going to do wonders for his overall progression.

Given the significant threat that both Rudolph and Smith possess, it would not be a surprise to see new Minnesota offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak opt for more double tight-end sets next season. Especially if Smith improves his blocking and can open up more gaps for standout running back Dalvin Cook when specific plays need audibles at the line of scrimmage.

This method has not been deployed effectively since the days of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski in New England. But it is something that the Vikings should consider and it would become even more viable if they do not add some depth behind Thielen and Stefon Diggs during the offseason.

Smith’s ability to line up in the slot or even out wide is another thing to keep an eye on next season. There seems to be limitless potential for both him and Rudolph to become even more influential for a Minnesota offense that looked predictable against good teams who focused on stopping Cook and forced the game on Cousins’ shoulders.

The potential is mouth-watering from a Vikings perspective and there is no reason why this cannot be fulfilled by two hard-working individuals with an enormous amount of talent.