The Giants are parting ways with veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph, making him a free agent. Should the Minnesota Vikings bring him back?
Kyle Rudolph was with the Minnesota Vikings for ten seasons before he was released as a salary cap casualty before the 2021 season. He was scooped up by the New York Giants and only managed 257 receiving yards and one touchdown.
The tight end informed his team that he will not be retiring and it is being reported that the Giants are moving on Rudolph after just one year. He will become a free agent and have the ability to sign with any team in the league.
He will have a lot of great options with tight end needy teams likely looking for a veteran pass-catcher with his catch radius and size, but there is a chance he could find his way back to the purple and gold.
Is Kyle Rudolph a fit to return to the Minnesota Vikings?
There is a place for Kyle Rudolph on the Vikings roster during the 2022 NFL season. Starting tight end Irv Smith Jr. hasn’t been able to prove he can stay on the field and backup Tyler Conklin is a free agent, so there is room to add someone to the mix.
While there is a spot, the financial part would be the challenge. Minnesota’s salary cap is a tough situation to navigate at the moment and unless the team can free up a significant amount of money and take care of other major needs first, Rudolph would likely not be a priority.
Although it would be fun to see Rudolph back in a Vikings jersey nostalgically, there will probably be other teams looking for a starting tight end with the qualities he brings to the table. Odds are he could be signed to a one-year deal with a contender pretty quickly.
Retiring with the Vikings would be a great way for Rudolph to end his career from a fan standpoint, but it would be understandable for him to chase a ring, money, or a bigger role instead.
Would you like to see Kyle Rudolph return to the Minnesota Vikings for the 2022 NFL season? And is it something you think might realistically happen? Let us know your opinion in the comments section.