‘Is he the man Tom Brady needs now?’ – NFL fans react after Buccaneers sign Kyle Rudolph on one-year deal

Kyle Rudolph, a former tight end for the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday night.

The agreement was reached about a month after former Buccaneers’ tight end Rob Gronkowski declared retirement. Rudolph’s entry will at least serve as a stopgap until Gronk changes his mind, but there has been much debate about how long his retirement will last. Additionally, signing offers the Bucs a seasoned tight end with a strong résumé and gives Rudolph a chance to resurrect his career.

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Rudolph, 32, played for the Vikings for ten seasons from 2011 to 2020, making the Pro Bowl twice. He spent the 2021 season with the Giants before being dismissed this summer to save money on the cap.

Rudolph has 453 catches for 48 touchdowns and 4,488 yards in ten years with Minnesota. Rudolph participated in 16 games with 13 starts in his lone season with Big Blue, but he only managed to record 26 receptions for 257 yards and a score.

It will now be possible for the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Rudolph to connect with quarterback Tom Brady, who made the most of Gronk’s 6-6, 265-pound frame for 11 seasons. Rudolph, Cameron Brate, Codey McElroy, and a bevvy of youngsters, including fourth-round Cade Otton, are now the Bucs’ TEs.

The move was expected because Rob Gronkowski recently announced his retirement, and the Bucs needed another seasoned tight end capable of filling both the position of a blocker and a receiver.

Even though Rudolph is less experienced than Gronk, he can still work both jobs part-time. In addition to getting him back on the field, this contract provides him with the opportunity to maybe play for a Super Bowl with a club that will likely be an NFC contender come January.

Regarding the Vikings, Wolfson claimed Rudolph’s reps expressed interest in making a comeback to Minnesota, but the situation appeared unfair in that sense. Although they didn’t hang up the phone, the Vikings didn’t rush to sign their veteran tight end either.

NFL fans on Kyle Rudolph signing for Bucs

 

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