After getting cut by the Giants in early March, Kyle Rudolph has finally appeared in the workout circuit. According to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer (on Twitter), the veteran tight end met with the Broncos recently.
[RELATED: Giants To Release Kyle Rudolph]
The Giants inked Rudolph to a two-year, $12MM deal in March of 2021, but following a season where the tight end finished with only 26 catches for 357 yards and one touchdown, the team released him to save about $2.5MM. Following his release, Rudolph indicated that he wouldn’t be hanging up his cleats, with the 32-year-old stating that he was “looking forward to what’s next.”
The 2011 second-round pick spent the first 10 seasons of his career in Minnesota, where he hauled in 48 touchdowns in 140 games. Rudolph earned Pro Bowl nods in both 2012 and 2017, although his best offensive season came in 2016 when he finished with 83 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. Current Broncos GM George Paton was the Vikings’ director of player personnel when the tight end was drafted.
The Broncos included tight end Noah Fant in the Russell Wilson trade, leaving the organization with Albert Okwuegbunam as their top receiving tight end. The Broncos also added tight end Eric Tomlinson, although the veteran is better known for his blocking ability.
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I’m not sure that Rudolph is much more than a part time player currently. He could be useful in the red zone, but he is not a tremendous blocker at this point, which limits his usage as a reserve tight end.
If Rudolph is willing to take lesser deals, he could certainly have a place as insurance and as a supplemental red zone or possession target, but he’s obviously beyond the stage of his career where he would be considered a volume pass catcher.
This is actually a good move on Rudolph’s part, as the Broncos have only one semi-competent tight end now that Fant was traded.