The Giants’ contract agreement with longtime Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph is no longer a certainty. An injury issue emerged during Rudolph’s physical, and the sides are determining how to proceed, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
Following the physical, the Giants’ medical staff expressed concern about a foot issue, and Giants doctors believe Rudolph will require surgery, according to Garafolo. This could scuttle Rudolph’s two-year Giants accord. The sides previously agreed to terms, but Rudolph has not signed a contract.
This deal does not appear to be dead, however. Rudolph is still in New York and will meet with the Giants tonight, Garafolo tweets. Rather than send Rudolph back to free agency, the Giants may move forward despite the veteran needing to undergo surgery.
Rudolph agreed to a two-year, $12MM Giants pact that can max out at $14MM. However, after they agreed to terms with Rudolph, the Giants have been aggressive in free agency. The team has authorized high-end deals for Kenny Golladay and Adoree’ Jackson. The Giants also already have a No. 1 tight end, with Evan Engram going into a contract year.
A foot injury ended Rudolph’s 2020 season. The Vikings placed him on IR ahead of Week 17, doing so after their longtime tight end had missed the previous three games.
Or they realized paying $14m for a washed up tight end made no sense.
It wasn’t really $14m. He only counted $4.5 against the cap in year 1, and they could cut him after the season with little dead money in 2022.
He’s not washed up. I watched him in over 20 games over the last two seasons. How many games have you watched him in?
Team Doctor #1: “I’m concerned about Rudolph’s foot”.
Team Doctor #2: “I’m concerned about his red nose and antlers”.
All depends on if the surgery will keep him out x amount of games. I think he will help in the red zone and for 4.5 million I think they work out 1 yr.