Kyle Rudolph’s future with the Vikings is in doubt following a Friday report from NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, who says a trade could be coming.
Rapoport says the Vikings “held active extension talks” with Rudolph, but those discussions “broke off” Friday morning. He adds that because Minnesota drafted a tight end, Irv Smith Jr. out of Alabama, in the second round, the breakdown in contract talks “could lead to a trade elsewhere.”
The #Vikings had held active extension talks with veteran TE Kyle Rudolph, but those broke off this morning, sources say. With Minnesota drafting TE Irv Smith and Rudolph due $7.5M, this development could lead to a trade elsewhere. There is interest around the NFL.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 10, 2019
Rudolph is due to make a base salary of $7.25 million this season, and ridding his contract would provide Minnesota the cap space to sign the rest of its draft class.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported May 1 that Minnesota fielded calls before and during the draft regarding a Rudolph trade, with one of the teams speculated to be interested in a veteran tight end being the New England Patriots.
New England has to replace Rob Gronkowski, who retired. But they might’ve found their answer earlier this week when Benjamin Watson delayed his retirement to sign with the Patriots.
Rudolph, still just 29-years-old, caught 64 passes for 634 yards and four touchdowns last season.
