StaTuesday: Examining options at TE as Vikings move on from Rudolph

Replacing tight end Kyle Rudolph, the epitome of consistency in the NFL, won’t come easy.

Rudolph’s spell with the Minnesota Vikings lasted an even decade. His impact as a leader both in the community and the locker room, likely, could have endured longer. But with Irv Smith Jr. waiting in the wings, assuming a more prominent role each route run in 2020, Rudolph’s departure March 2 proved to be anything, except unexpected.

Minnesota’s decision to divorce Rudolph — not even 24 months after the Notre Dame graduate signed a four-year, $36 million extension — saves the club $5.1 million in salary cap space, and commands $4.35 million in dead money.

Again, most pundits anticipated the move after witnessing Rudolph score the fewest touchdowns (1), and generate the second-fewest targets (37) of his career.

Any legitimate hope that the 6-foot-6, 265-pound tight end would return for his 11th season in Minneapolis, tanked when Rudolph expressed zero interest in taking a pay cut on the “Unrestricted with Ben Leber” podcast earlier this offseason.

There were no two ways about it — Rudolph no longer fit the direction of the franchise.

How the Vikings address their young group of tight ends, however, warrants impartial conversation. Minnesota really has what amounts to three options regarding its tight end room going forward.

1. Lean on a probable surge in production from Smith Jr. and Tyler Conklin 

It’d be wise to take this bet to the bookie.

Smith Jr. has occasionally looked the part of a matchup nightmare. But relatively limited opportunities to date have cast a mysterious aura around the one-time heir to O.J. Howard at Alabama. His style is flashier than his Vikings predecessor — the big fuss is whether he’s capable of modeling Rudolph’s dependability.

Through two seasons, Smith Jr. has started approximately half the games he’s played. He was Minnesota’s third-leading receiver in 2020, reeling in 69.8% of balls thrown his way.

There’s strong evidence to support Smith Jr.’s breakout candidacy in 2021, too. In a highly unusual campaign, largely devoid of fans and normal routines, Smith Jr. upped his yards per reception average from 8.6 to 12.2 and more than doubled his touchdown total (5).

He’s not the only talented tight end on the roster, either.

A year before Minnesota selected Smith Jr. 50th overall, it plucked Conklin in the 5th round of the 2018 draft out of Central Michigan. As a rookie, Conklin started three games and caught five passes for 77 yards. He began to blossom in year three, nabbing 19 of his 26 targets for 194 yards and a trip to pay dirt.

The Vikings’ solution at tight end may wind up coming from in-house. But will the club’s current options satisfy an immediate need for supplementary playmaking, or a desire for depth in the long-term?

2. Add a low-cost, high-ceiling veteran off the market

There are plenty of viable options at Minnesota’s disposal. But keep in mind, the Vikings have limited, if any, resources to spend. According to Spotrac.com, Minnesota currently sits about $2 million in the hole.

Of course, circumstances can shift — cuts this time of year tend to alleviate some financial concerns.

With this in mind, Minnesota ought to explore bringing in an experienced tight end in free agency, set to begin March 17 at 3 p.m. An addition could provide depth and stability at a position that should be paramount in offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s first go-around.

Here’s a rundown of five impactful tight ends hitting the market:

(Note: Ages listed reflect the age each player will be upon the start of the 2021 season.)

3. Select a developmental project in the later rounds of the NFL draft

History tends to repeat itself, which means this possibility could become reality.

Recently the Vikings haven’t shied away from drafting tight ends — five in the last six cycles, to be exact — despite Rudolph’s stretch as the team’s undisputed top-inline weapon.

The picks, however, haven’t always panned out.

Minnesota has retained just two of its aforementioned choices since 2015. Tight ends MyCole Pruitt, David Morgan and Bucky Hodges were all expected to complement Rudolph, at one juncture or another, but instead made minor contributions during their stints in a Vikings uniform. Pruitt failed to tally a touchdown in Minnesota. Morgan didn’t eclipse 100 yards receiving in any of his three years. And Hodges never played a down in the regular season.

It might not be wise for Minnesota to utilize one of its early-round draft picks in 2021 on a developmental project, especially considering scouts aren’t privy to the same level of information usually obtained at the NFL Scouting Combine. At the same time, the Vikings have an arsenal of picks (12) and cannot ignore what they’ve suddenly lost.

Rudolph ranks third in touchdowns scored by a tight end (48) since 2011. Not to mention, he hauled in nearly 500 passes and departed as Minnesota’s longest-tenured player on its roster.

Add the fact that this year’s tight end class is exceptionally deep, and aiming to land a low-risk, high-upside prospect makes a whole lot of sense.

Three players that may catch general manager Rick Spielman’s eye include Boise State’s John Bates, Iowa’s Shaun Beyer and Brigham Young’s Matt Bushman.

Here’s why:

Bates, a redshirt senior, didn’t dazzle much in the Broncos offense, totaling 47 catches in 46 games played. But he has all the athletic tools needed to make an impact at the next level.

“He’s not a speed guy but he’s got a great catch radius and he’s a guy that you would love to target in the red zone,” ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said.

#NotreDame QB Ian Book🎯#BoiseState TE John Bates

As ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said, Bates’ size and catch radius make him an attractive option in the redzone.

Bates continues to have a solid showing at the @seniorbowl. pic.twitter.com/QnwY3L2ExO

— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) January 28, 2021

Beyer, a product of what has evolved into Tight End U, may be the next great Hawkeye tight end in the NFL. He scored just one touchdown in two seasons as a starter, but averaged a respectable 15.3 yards per catch, a mark that’s right on par with George Kittle’s 15.4 and T.J. Hockenson’s 14.8 averages in college. Likewise, Beyer appears to possess all of the necessary traits to excel.

According to Pro Football Focus, Beyer finished his 2020 college football season as the 4th highest-graded tight end in the nation (88.5). For comparison, Florida’s Kyle Pitts, a lock to be taken in the top-10 come April’s draft, graded out at 96.0.

Lastly, Bushman, a polarizing figure who missed all of 2020 with a ruptured Achilles tendon, will likely slide down team’s draft boards because of his injury history. But from a performance standpoint, there’s nothing to not like — from 2017-19, Bushman paced his team in receiving yards and scored nine touchdowns. He’s a true vertical threat, who also gets the job done as a blocker.

So, framing the future one final time: Replacing Rudolph and 10 years of consistency seems to be anything but an easy task, right? Perhaps think again, considering the above.