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The Minnesota Vikings must take steps to create a capital space to sign their first-round pick, Garrett Bradbury. According to Ian Rapaport of NFL Network, they will not find this extra space by signing a contract extension of Kyle Rudolph.
Rapaport reported Friday that talks between the Vikings and Rudolph "have come to a halt" and that an exchange could be imminent. Rudolph is expected to earn $ 7.5 million this year, with zero dead space. According to Rapaport, there is an interest around the league.
the #Vikings had had extension talks with veteran TE Kyle Rudolph, but they broke off this morning, sources said. TE Irv Smith and Rudolph must write a $ 7.5M bill in Minnesota, which could result in an exchange elsewhere. There is interest around the NFL.
– Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 10, 2019
Although the options offered by the Vikings for creating space are limited, dealing with Rudolph, presumably for a draft, would pose a significant risk. The Pro Bowler has been one of the most consistent players in the league since joining the NFL in 2011.
During his career, Vikings quarterbacks have a score of 109.0 when they are targeted by Rudolph. Last season, Kirk Cousins completed 84.2% of the passes in the direction of Rudolph and recorded a score of 113.5 (according to Pro Football Focus). The 29-year-old tight winger has also lost just two assists in the past two seasons. He has also played in every game of the past four years.
This type of production is not easy to replace.
The Vikings have picked the tight half Irv Smith in the second round and seem to be expecting him to contribute immediately, but tight beginner members often have trouble making a quick transition to the NFL. Last year, Hayden Hurst had just 13 assists. Miami rookie Mike Gesicki had 22 receptions. In the past 15 years, only two tight rookie ends have gained more than 600 yards.
Head coach Mike Zimmer said he expects Smith to make a faster transition because of its use in Alabama.
"Very often – not so much for Alabama – these guys line up as wide receivers in college and it's always a bigger fit," Zimmer said. "We're lucky enough that Irv could have aligned himself in a normal tight position, he's lined up in the backfield, he's also done a great distance, I think his transition will be probably a little faster. "
The Vikings need Irv Smith to resist the current trend and contribute immediately
While Rudolph was never part of the elite blocking NFL scoring, placing 59th out of 81 tight ends in the PFF blocking category last season, he has already matched the best defensemen and linebackers in the NFL , unlike Smith, whose blocking was considered his greatest weakness in college.
Last year's rookie crop had only two tight ends – Jordan Aikens of Houston and Dallas Goedert of Philadelphia – had above-average block scores according to the PFF measures. Three other rookies – Jordan Thomas, Ian Thomas and Gesicki – earned three of the four worst blocking ratings.
The Vikings have two other young tight ends in the formation of Tyler Conklin, a fifth-round pick in 2018, and blocker specialist David Morgan. They combined for 10 receptions last season.
There are already question marks on the Viking Depth Map in attack. It is unclear whether Laquon Treadwell will be the third receiver on the team or whether he will rely on an inexperienced player like Chad Beebe, Brandon Zylstra or draft picks Dillon Mitchell and Olabisi Johnson. If no one shows up, the Cousins will be in the same situation as last year: relying solely on Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.
If the Vikings keep Rudolph and find another way to create space, they can combine their efforts based on their veteran, possibly using Smith as receiver or slot receiver. Without Rudolph, the pressure on the rookie would be immense. This is not exactly the position a team would like to have with a team that wins now.
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