The Minnesota Vikings are undergoing a process unfamiliar to the organization for nearly a decade – tight end turnover. Not ‘turnover’ in interceptions or fumbles but that of personnel.
Tight end Kyle Rudolph was selected by the Vikings from Notre Dame with a 2nd-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Since then, Rudolph has been the undisputed TE1 with quarterbacks from Christian Ponder to Kirk Cousins. While his abilities are not outwardly diminishing, his price tag is not currently congruent to the Vikings salary cap – or the method he is utilized in Minnesota’s offense. That is probably why general manager Rick Spielman chose Irv Smith Jr.