Tight end Kyle Rudolph announced late Monday night that he had agreed to an extension with the Vikings to stay in Minnesota for four years.
https://twitter.com/KyleRudolph82/status/1138283318317920261/photo/1
ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that the four-year deal will pay Rudolph $36 million. The contract is expected to be signed this morning.
Vikings are giving veteran TE Kyle Rudolph a four-year, $36 million extension that locks him into Minnesota, per source. Rudolph not going anywhere, except back to the Vikings.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 11, 2019
Rudolph, 29, started all 16 games he appeared in last season, something he has been doing for four years in a row. He hauled in 64 of 82 targets for 634 yards and four touchdowns. While he was able to be relied on as a starter, his production was down, as the four TDs is the lowest single-season tally for Rudolph since 2014. Still, he has proven himself as one of the league’s better tight ends.
While Rudolph has been leaving a good impression in Minnesota, his future there was in doubt this April when the Vikings used an early pick to draft talented tight end, Irv Smith, Jr.
Another idea that put Rudolph’s future with the Vikings in doubt was the reported trade talks with the Patriots. New England lost Rob Gronkowski to retirement (and later Austin Seferian-Jenkins to personal leave and Benjamin Watson to suspension), and with the Smith selection, it seemed as if Rudolph was on the trade block. The Patriots reportedly had interest in Rudolph and trade talks lasted a while, but the extension means Rudolph will remain in Minnesota for years to come.
