5 potential landing spots for Kyle Rudolph this offseason
By Nik Edlund
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are a team that just fell short of making the playoffs in 2020, but they have shown they aren’t afraid to make moves to improve their team.
Last year they sniped DeAndre Hopkins from the Texans, and just recently they went out and gave a boatload of money to J.J. Watt to improve their defense. So there’s no reason to think they won’t go after Kyle Rudolph.
Arizona has plenty of exciting weapons on offense, but one area where they fall short is at the tight end position. The Cardinals’ tight ends are led by Dan Arnold, who had a bit of a breakout season in 2020. His 31 receptions, 438 yards, and four touchdowns were career-high numbers, but those stats would be a down season on Rudolph’s resume.
Rudolph would be head and shoulders above everyone else on Arizona’s depth chart and he would clearly be the team’s No. 1 tight end. He’d give Kyler Murray a big and reliable target, who could be a great option when he needs to move the chains or chuck a ball up for grabs in the end zone.
Playing for the Cardinals would be extremely attractive for Rudolph. He’d be joining an offense with Hopkins, Murray, Christian Kirk, and Larry Fitzgerald (if he comes back for one last hurrah).
Rudolph would also be playing in a warm-weather city, for a team that should be in the thick of the NFC playoff race in 2021. Rudolph to the Cardinals is a definite possibility and one that many Vikings fans could probably live with.