Rudy: A Contract Redo Ain't Happening

It's ISJ time regardless.

No reason he's not doing a Kelce light for the Vikings next season. He's athletic enough to pull it off...

No, he's gone. It just makes too much sense.

It's sad because he can still play and he's such a big part of the community. But after June 1st, we can shave $8M off the cap with only $1M dead. And it's not like we don't have a couple young TEs ready to step up. 

The emergence of Gronklin really sealed his fate. Good year to add another young TE.

@"BarrNone55" said: The emergence of Gronklin really sealed his fate. Good year to add another young TE.

I think with AT in his 30's now, getting another WR to play opposite JJ tomorrow isnt that far off of a need either 

I've been a Rudy fan since he was drafted.  He's going to be fine after leaving the Vikes.  It'd be nice if the Vikes were able to trade him for a late round pick.  If the Vikes waited until after June 1st to cut him, that would seem fairly "deuchey" considering how well Rudy represented and played for the Vikings over his career.

Adios. He had a few pretty good years and made some big time plays but it's time to move on from him and maybe draft a TE in the later rounds if they feel like they need another one

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: The emergence of Gronklin really sealed his fate. Good year to add another young TE.

I think with AT in his 30's now, getting another WR to play opposite JJ tomorrow isnt that far off of a need either 

Hard to say if it was Rudy or the play calling, but for a 6'6" athletic TE he has really been a non-factor most games.  Conklin was much more productive after Rudy went out.  I think Rudy is going to be surprised in what other teams are going to be willing to offer.

I liked having Rudolph on the team.

Easy to root for, a good community member, blocker and a really good red-zone target...That TD catch from Cousins vs NO is pretty symbolic of that career imo. 

Never a stretch the field guy. Kinda reminiscent of Leroy Hoard...You need 3? he'll get you 4. You need 5? He'll get you 4.

Kleinsasser too, but with > athleticism. Nothing wrong with that. 

 

@"HappyViking" said: I've been a Rudy fan since he was drafted.  He's going to be fine after leaving the Vikes.  It'd be nice if the Vikes were able to trade him for a late round pick.  If the Vikes waited until after June 1st to cut him, that would seem fairly "deuchey" considering how well Rudy represented and played for the Vikings over his career.

Yeah, this will be interesting to see. The Vikings care a lot about how they're perceived in the league among players and agents. It would be a little douchey to wait, and it's not the Vikings style, but is it worth the $3M difference when every penny counts in a reduced cap?

Trading him might be the best option. The cap picture remains the same whether he's traded or released (I think), but at least with a trade they can maybe give the "perception" that the delay is for his benefit. He can maybe even approve the team. I dunno. Not sure I understand all the factors involved, but Rudy has to understand that it doesn't make a lot of sense to keep him. 

Love the guy but think it might be time to move on. ISJ and Conklin can fill the gap along with another young guy.

Too bad a bonus restructure isn't necessarily up to him. They have the right written into the contract so the Vikings can do that without his permission. Although that doesn't cost him any money just changes how its paid out. The Vikings deal with Rudy was basically a guarantee of 2019/20 and then year-to-year. So they can choose to use that right if they want. 

But I think there are really 3 options with Rudy: 

1. Trade him. Although the Vikings would work with Rudy on this since I don't think they're going to burn the bridge over a late round pick. They'll mutually find a team he is ok with. 
2. Release him. I don't think they'll post June-1 designate him so you'd eat $4.35M of dead money this year but rid yourself of his $9.45M cap hit. So a benefit of $5.1M 
3. Bonus Restructure. Not often used by the Vikings but I could see them moving $3M or so of his contract into a bonus. That reduces his 2021 cap hit to $7.45M (2M savings) and you can still get out of the deal next off-season. Its kind of the meet in the middle. 

Personally I think they probably move on either via trade or release. But if they're adamant about keeping Rudolph its not like they couldn't manipulate his cap hit to make it more manageable. 

@"Geoff Nichols" said: Too bad a bonus restructure isn't necessarily up to him. They have the right written into the contract so the Vikings can do that without his permission. Although that doesn't cost him any money just changes how its paid out. The Vikings deal with Rudy was basically a guarantee of 2019/20 and then year-to-year. So they can choose to use that right if they want. 

But I think there are really 3 options with Rudy: 

1. Trade him. Although the Vikings would work with Rudy on this since I don't think they're going to burn the bridge over a late round pick. They'll mutually find a team he is ok with. 
2. Release him. I don't think they'll post June-1 designate him so you'd eat $4.35M of dead money this year but rid yourself of his $9.45M cap hit. So a benefit of $5.1M 
3. Bonus Restructure. Not often used by the Vikings but I could see them moving $3M or so of his contract into a bonus. That reduces his 2021 cap hit to $7.45M (2M savings) and you can still get out of the deal next off-season. Its kind of the meet in the middle. 

Personally I think they probably move on either via trade or release. But if they're adamant about keeping Rudolph its not like they couldn't manipulate his cap hit to make it more manageable. 

   The variable of the what the 2021 Salary cap will be is gonna affect possible trades. 

If the cap is 175 Mil, 2018 level-  it will  limit the amount of teams with space to trade for Rudy's contract  for draft picks.

I dunno if 3 way trades to include a team with Salary cap would even be a possible work around.

Least likely but maybe possible would be a Rudy trade for another player to the Vikings at a position of need, Olineman? Dlineman?

 the reduced Salary Cap is gonna make offseason player  moves more difficult.

The Salary Cap is frozen til 2023,  So  teams can't mortgage  future cap the same way they have  in  past.

He's a good guy. Wish him well.

Kyle Rudolf said: “I’m realistic,” Rudolph said, via KFAN. “I see both sides. I’m looking at this situation like hey we’re paying this guy a lot of money and you’re not using him so why are we paying him a lot of money? . . . I think I’m worth every dime of my contract, that doesn’t mean that I’m used to my potential and I’m used to do what I do well.”

Source: Profootballtalk.com

At the bold: 
Sounds like someone was/is not happy with his role on this offense. Does that sound familiar?

@"Geoff Nichols" said: Too bad a bonus restructure isn't necessarily up to him. They have the right written into the contract so the Vikings can do that without his permission. Although that doesn't cost him any money just changes how its paid out. The Vikings deal with Rudy was basically a guarantee of 2019/20 and then year-to-year. So they can choose to use that right if they want. 

But I think there are really 3 options with Rudy: 

1. Trade him. Although the Vikings would work with Rudy on this since I don't think they're going to burn the bridge over a late round pick. They'll mutually find a team he is ok with. 
2. Release him. I don't think they'll post June-1 designate him so you'd eat $4.35M of dead money this year but rid yourself of his $9.45M cap hit. So a benefit of $5.1M 
3. Bonus Restructure. Not often used by the Vikings but I could see them moving $3M or so of his contract into a bonus. That reduces his 2021 cap hit to $7.45M (2M savings) and you can still get out of the deal next off-season. Its kind of the meet in the middle. 

Personally I think they probably move on either via trade or release. But if they're adamant about keeping Rudolph its not like they couldn't manipulate his cap hit to make it more manageable. 

Right now without a clear picture of salary cap I am liking #3 Bonus restructure.  When you compare option 2 ($5.1 savings) vs 3 ($2 million savings) in a way we are only saving $3.1 overall.  Irv Smith had a very similar year to his rookie season with the exception of 5 TD's vs 2 as a rookie.  Another year and we will see how much Irv improves and if he is ready to handle the full load.  Just my opinion right now.  

@"mblack" said:

Kyle Rudolf said: “I’m realistic,” Rudolph said, via KFAN. “I see both sides. I’m looking at this situation like hey we’re paying this guy a lot of money and you’re not using him so why are we paying him a lot of money? . . . I think I’m worth every dime of my contract, that doesn’t mean that I’m used to my potential and I’m used to do what I do well.”

Source: Profootballtalk.com

At the bold: 
Sounds like someone was/is not happy with his role on this offense. Does that sound familiar?

Regardless what happens with him, he was a pretty good player and good for the community. I wish him well however it goes.

@"PurpleCrush" said: Regardless what happens with him, he was a pretty good player and good for the community. I wish him well however it goes.

Had his best ypc this year,    but ran the fewest routes of his career.  They obviously covet his blocking abilities,  but he still has damn reliable hands. 

Article: Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph Says He Won't Take a Restructured Deal This Offseason - Sports Illustrated Minnesota Vikings News, Analysis and More

"Early season, the writing was on the wall," Rudolph said. "I had like seven or eight catches through the first six games, it was absurd. I was literally blocking all the time."