Rudolph to Pats 1st among 7 trades that make sense
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.
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.
“A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't." - Tom Waits
Ben Watson is going to go back to the pats... Rudy stays put. (unless its all a negotiating thing by the Pats to get the Vikes to lower their demands for Rudy.)
There are ways for the Vikings to create cap space without having to rid themselves of players. Trading Rudolph for future assets doesn't make the team better in 2019.
@"Geoff Nichols" said: There are ways for the Vikings to create cap space without having to rid themselves of players. Trading Rudolph for future assets doesn't make the team better in 2019.Not better but how much worse are we talking?
He’s certainly the best all around on the roster but he’s not getting younger. He likley wont be back after this year. And a third sounds like a steal to me which probably means he’s being over valued by the author.
Kubiak likes to run 2 TE sets a lot and I suspect he wants Rudy around in 2019.
Couldn't we create cap room by converting some of Cousins salary into a signing bonus?
I keep hearing about this Kubiak guy - I thought Kevin Stefanski was our OC?? Maybe he doesn't want to run two tight end sets EVER! ;)
@"BarrNone55" said: Couldn't we create cap room by converting some of Cousins salary into a signing bonus?It still has to count against the cap somewhere and with only this year and the next on the contract it would be simply moving this years problem to next year wouldn't it? I dont know that we will get much relief next year as we will have a whole new round of free agents to sign to big dollar deals or other unforeseen issues.
It's not a great option, but I'm not seeing other routes other than what's been stated already...
Next year there will be some bigger name veterans that will be gone, that much is clear.
@"kmillard" said: Next year there will be some bigger name veterans that will be gone, that much is clear.Similar statements were made last year about this year when cousins was first signed and it didn't hold true. Maybe it will still happen, or maybe other things happen and we are still stuck. I think a few more vets should be taking pay cuts, it wouldn't take a deep cut by one or two if each guy on a 5 mill or more deal took a half mill haircut we would be fine. However I think that is highly unlikely.
@"JimmyinSD" said:I agree with what you are saying, just looking at the numbers and ages of a handful of players and where they will be in contract years. (IE. Rhodes, Griffen, Joseph, Smith etc.)@"kmillard" said: Next year there will be some bigger name veterans that will be gone, that much is clear. Similar statements were made last year about this year when cousins was first signed and it didn't hold true. Maybe it will still happen, or maybe other things happen and we are still stuck. I think a few more vets should be taking pay cuts, it wouldn't take a deep cut by one or two if each guy on a 5 mill or more deal took a half mill haircut we would be fine. However I think that is highly unlikely.
"Patriots get: Kyle Rudolph
Vikings get: 2020 third-round pick"
Patriots get: Kyle Rudolph
Vikings get: 2020 second-round pick
There...fixed it. Now we'd have something to talk about. ;)
Rudolph already has openly stated if approached, he would restructure his contract just to stay with the Vikings. I won't be a bit surprised of that happening some time soon.
@"ArizonaViking" said: Rudolph already has openly stated if approached, he would restructure his contract just to stay with the Vikings. I won't be a bit surprised of that happening some time soon.Read the quote again, he specifically said he would restructure with an extension. He was being political in his response, everybody hears that he is open to a lower salary, but they dont remember the part about adding more years of guaranteed money.
@"JimmyinSD" said:I stand corrected. Thanks for clearing that up.@"ArizonaViking" said: Rudolph already has openly stated if approached, he would restructure his contract just to stay with the Vikings. I won't be a bit surprised of that happening some time soon. Read the quote again, he specifically said he would restructure with an extension. He was being political in his response, everybody hears that he is open to a lower salary, but they dont remember the part about adding more years of guaranteed money.
LMAO. There is no chance the Patriots are giving up a 3rd round pick AND paying Rudolph 7.6 mil this year. They also get the added bonus of having to try and sign him after this season.
The Falcons traded a 2nd round pick in 2009 for a 2010 2nd round pick. It was after his 12th season. But he had made the Pro Bowl 10 times and was All Pro 5 times before the trade.
Rudolph has only made the Pro Bowl two times and one of those times was as a replacement for Gonzalez.
I think the best they will be able to get is sending Rudolph and a 2020 7th to the Patriots for a 2020 5th.
As Guru stated, it is not really worth it to do this trade and does not help this year.
@"Ralphie" said: "Patriots get: Kyle Rudolph Vikings get: 2020 third-round pick" Patriots get: Kyle Rudolph Vikings get: 2020 second-round pick There...fixed it. Now we'd have something to talk about. ;)
Come on Ralphie, you know Spielman would prefer the 3rd round pick. Just think how many more trade downs and 7th round picks he could acquire... :-)
@"AGRforever" said: He likley wont be back after this year. And a third sounds like a steal to me which probably means he’s being over valued by the author.
3rd round pick might actually be too cheap. If the Vikes let him walk after this year and he signs at fair contract, the Vikes would get a third round pick (or a minimum of a 4th round pick) as compensation (see the compensation the Vikes will get for Richardson leaving). So, you are giving up a year of services in order to get your 3rd round pick a year early -- does that sound like a fair deal. The only motivation for the Vikings to do that would be cap space -- and that can be manufactured.
Given where the pats usually draft a 3rd is nearly a 4th---hold out for a second or tell belicheat to pound---hell its NE, pound sand anyway
sand
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