What should the Minnesota Vikings do at tight end next season?

Will Tyler Conklin stick around with the Minnesota Vikings?

Tyler Conklin absolutely made the most of his opportunity last season with Smith shut down for the season. I think it’s safe to say most fans were comfortable with the tight end situation once Smith went down because Conklin has shown that he can be a reliable target in the passing game thanks to his size.

Conklin earned himself a bit larger of a payday than what he made last season, which was under $1 million for the year. Now, he has a chance to seek a starting role in free agency that could pay him more money than the Vikings may be willing to dish out, especially if he projects to be their backup.

Last season, Conklin ranked 14th among tight ends with his 593 receiving yards. He was better than half of the league’s starters despite entering the season as the backup and having no starting experience under his belt.

That will stick out to teams who need a tight end this offseason and with his price tag being more than manageable, Conklin could be on his way out of Minnesota, which is good for his own sake. The Vikings cannot guarantee that Conklin will have as valuable of a role as he did in 2021 but that is okay given the circumstances.

There are two things that really stick out to me with Conklin’s situation. First, he is the perfect fit for what Kevin O’Connell has witnessed at tight end. With the Rams, Tyler Higbee blossomed into one of the league’s best at the position, and his athletic profile is very similar to Conklins.

Secondly, given that similarity, it would make sense for O’Connell to urge the front office to bring Conklin back as the starter with Irv Smith Jr. being dangled as a trade asset if they feel as though they can get something in return.

So, what should the Vikings do?

If it were up to me, which is most certainly is not, both Smith and Conklin would return to the roster in 2022. Irv Smith Jr. is built to play on the line or in the slot as a matchup nightmare for defenses while Conklin plays more of a traditional tight end role but his size allows him to line up outside.

Given Smith’s injury concerns, it would be smart to retain him as the starter but keep Conklin around as the backup but his role would realistically serve as more of a 1B to Smith. Both players can exist on the field together and give Kirk Cousins plenty of targets in the passing game.

Neither guy is set to make too much money that they cannot afford them so why not run both of them into the offense to give different looks and protect Smith’s knees over the course of the season?