If you thought Kyle Rudolph would give the Vikings a discount on his services, forget about it.
The Vikings are trying to figure out a way to balance the books, and Kyle Rudolph‘s desire to stay in Minnesota.
But the veteran tight end told Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he wasn’t prepared to take a pay cut to do so.
“No way,” Rudolph replied, to a question about taking less, and then added: “No I won’t, I am too young for that.”
The 29-year-old tight end is due to make $7.5 million this year, and the Vikings have had to restructure other contracts recently to sign draft picks to rookie deals.
There has been speculation that a trade may be necessitated, and Rudolph even hinted that other teams may be interested, but so far, all sides involved would like to avoid that outcome if at all possible.
“I don’t think anyone wants to,” he said. “We want it to end right with me being here.”
The Vikings added some cover by drafting tight end Irv Smith in the second round, which only added to the possibility that Rudolph might not get his wish.
Rudolph is coming off a bit of a down year in 2018, posting 64 catches for 634 yards and four touchdowns. Known as a premier red-zone threat, Rudolph wasn't as effective in that area of the field as he'd been in the past.
He may very well bounce back this season, though possibly with another team.
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