05-09-2019, 07:15 PM
This potential Rudolph trade sure is getting a lot of play in the national media. Just not sure it's wise for the Vikings, considering just how much Kubiak loves his two-tight sets.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-2019-here-are-seven-trades-that-make-sense-now-that-the-draft-is-over-including-a-patriots-blockbuster/
1. Vikings trade Kyle Rudolph to the PatriotsPatriots get: Kyle Rudolph
Vikings get: 2020 third-round pick
Unless the Patriots can somehow convince Rob Gronkowski to come out of retirement, and that doesn't look like it's going to happen, they're definitely going to need some tight end help heading into the 2019 season. Although the Patriots have been busy adding tight ends this offseason -- they signed Austin Seferian-Jenkins in April and then added undrafted free agent Andrew Beck -- their Gronk replacements don't even come one-fifth of halfway toward filling the Gronk void. Bill Belichick seems aware of this, which is probably why the Patriots are expected to have Ben Watson in for a visit Thursday.
At this point in the offseason, if the Patriots want to add a starting caliber tight end -- and Watson doesn't really qualify as one at this point -- they're going to have to do it in a trade, which is where the Vikings come in. There's been a lot of speculation that the Vikings might be interested in trading Rudolph and there's a good reason for that.
For one, the Vikings salary cap situation is currently a nightmare. Once they get their 2019 draft picks under contract, the Vikings are only expected to have roughly $800,000 in salary cap space, which means they basically have the same spending power as someone who shows up at a Ferrari dealership with $41. There's just not really anything you can buy with that amount of money. With zero cap space, it won't be easy for the Vikings to add a potential replacement in the event that someone on the roster goes down with a serious injury, which is why it's important to have some cap room going into training camp.
By trading Rudolph, the Vikings would instantly free up $7.625 million in cap space. Not to mention, the Vikings already have a potential replacement for Rudolph on the roster in place in the form of Irv Smith Jr., who they selected in the second round of this year's draft.
The selection of Smith doesn't necessarily mean the Vikings are going to get rid of Rudolph, but the veteran tight end seems to be aware that a trade out of Minnesota is a possibility.
As for the Patriots, they don't have a ton of cap space -- just over $14 million -- but they do have enough room to absorb Rudolph's contract.
Also, if this deal were to happen, it would be vintage Belichick. Not only does the Patriots coach love to trade for tight ends -- we saw the Patriots trade for Martellus Bennett in 2016 and Dwayne Allen in a 2017 trade -- but he has also proven that he's willing to pull the trigger on a deal when he feels that his team needs an offensive weapon. Since March 2007, we've seen Belichick go the trade route to add weapons like Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Brandin Cooks. Last year, we even saw the Patriots add Cordarrelle Patterson.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-2019-here-are-seven-trades-that-make-sense-now-that-the-draft-is-over-including-a-patriots-blockbuster/
1. Vikings trade Kyle Rudolph to the PatriotsPatriots get: Kyle Rudolph
Vikings get: 2020 third-round pick
Unless the Patriots can somehow convince Rob Gronkowski to come out of retirement, and that doesn't look like it's going to happen, they're definitely going to need some tight end help heading into the 2019 season. Although the Patriots have been busy adding tight ends this offseason -- they signed Austin Seferian-Jenkins in April and then added undrafted free agent Andrew Beck -- their Gronk replacements don't even come one-fifth of halfway toward filling the Gronk void. Bill Belichick seems aware of this, which is probably why the Patriots are expected to have Ben Watson in for a visit Thursday.
At this point in the offseason, if the Patriots want to add a starting caliber tight end -- and Watson doesn't really qualify as one at this point -- they're going to have to do it in a trade, which is where the Vikings come in. There's been a lot of speculation that the Vikings might be interested in trading Rudolph and there's a good reason for that.
For one, the Vikings salary cap situation is currently a nightmare. Once they get their 2019 draft picks under contract, the Vikings are only expected to have roughly $800,000 in salary cap space, which means they basically have the same spending power as someone who shows up at a Ferrari dealership with $41. There's just not really anything you can buy with that amount of money. With zero cap space, it won't be easy for the Vikings to add a potential replacement in the event that someone on the roster goes down with a serious injury, which is why it's important to have some cap room going into training camp.
By trading Rudolph, the Vikings would instantly free up $7.625 million in cap space. Not to mention, the Vikings already have a potential replacement for Rudolph on the roster in place in the form of Irv Smith Jr., who they selected in the second round of this year's draft.
The selection of Smith doesn't necessarily mean the Vikings are going to get rid of Rudolph, but the veteran tight end seems to be aware that a trade out of Minnesota is a possibility.
"Until it happens, I'm here in Minnesota," Rudolph said after the draft, via the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "My family is here in Minnesota. This is home for us. I have poured my heart and soul into this organization and given it everything that I had. I will continue to do that as long as I'm still wearing purple."
As for the Patriots, they don't have a ton of cap space -- just over $14 million -- but they do have enough room to absorb Rudolph's contract.
Also, if this deal were to happen, it would be vintage Belichick. Not only does the Patriots coach love to trade for tight ends -- we saw the Patriots trade for Martellus Bennett in 2016 and Dwayne Allen in a 2017 trade -- but he has also proven that he's willing to pull the trigger on a deal when he feels that his team needs an offensive weapon. Since March 2007, we've seen Belichick go the trade route to add weapons like Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Brandin Cooks. Last year, we even saw the Patriots add Cordarrelle Patterson.
