It's an annual post-draft rite that speculation begins on veteran players who could be in trouble based on players picked in early rounds who play their position.
The Vikings player who is currently the prime target of such speculation is two-time Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph.
Despite Rudolph coming off the second most productive season of his eight year career (with 64 catches for 634 yards and 4 TDs), the drafting of former Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. in the second round has prompted many media outlets to suggest that Rudolph could be the target of a pay cut to reduce his $7.625 million salary or perhaps a trade or release to completely remove him from the books (since his departure would not create a dead money hit to the team's salary cap).
Part of the problem for Rudolph is that the Vikings currently have approximately $1.4 million in salary cap room. They need several more million dollars of cap space to be able to sign their complete draft class led by first round center Garrett Bradbury and then to cover their full roster and practice squad players in regular season.
After Everson Griffen restructured his contract in March to reduce his cap hit, there was talk of cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes or Trae Waynes as potential trade candidates to give the team cap relief. But the four game suspension of Holton Hill and the fact that Mike Hughes is returning from an ACL injury quieted the talk of the Vikings starting corners of Rhodes and Waynes being trade candidates. And then the drafting of the talented Smith amped up the conversation on Rudolph's future in Minnesota.
It reached the point in the past two weeks post-draft where potential trade destinations for Rudolph have been tossed out in the national media. Heading the list is New England now minus the retired great tight end in Rob Gronkowski. Other teams said to possibly be making calls to Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman include Jacksonville, Oakland, Houston, Seattle, Dallas and the Jets and Giants.
Rudolph has handled the situation with class like the true pro that he has been throughout his career. "I think it's awesome to add another weapon to our offense," Rudolph said in reference to Smith. "Our system can use multiple tight end sets. I have poured my heart and soul into this organization and given it everything that I had. I will continue to do that as long as I'm wearing purple."
Rudolph added that he feels he is "just now starting to get into the prime of my career."
Spielman says the team plans to utilize both Rudolph and Smith to create different looks and mismatches in their two tight offense that offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski and offensive advisor Gary Kubiak like to run. "Kyle Rudolph is here," Spielman said. "Two different styles, what Kyle does and what Irv can do. Just two totally different types of tight ends."
I think that Rudolph and the Vikings will work out a short term extension that creates some cap room for the team and keeps a valuable player here for at least the upcoming season while the rookie Smith learns the ropes. And Rudolph is the type of leader who will help the young player even though it could eventually cost him his spot with the Vikings.
Dealing with a potential pay cut, trade or release with a respected and likable vet like Rudolph who has been an excellent player and does great things in the community is one of the toughest things a GM has to handle. I've been there with players such as Brad Johnson, our Vikings starting quarterback until he was injured in 1998 and replaced by Randall Cunningham. I eventually had to trade Johnson, a player I liked as much as any player I ever worked with so that we didn't have a player with great value sitting on the bench (and we received a first, second and third round pick from Washington in return). That's part of the job description for a GM as Spielman knows well.
It would be great if Rudolph and Smith can form a top tight end duo in Minnesota over the next several seasons. Unfortunately, the reality of the salary cap may change that. Stay tuned.
Rookie Minicamp Review:
Meanwhile--lots of good vibes coming out of Vikings rookie minicamp last weekend which is usually the case this time of year. Bradbury reportedly looked like the starter he's expected to be with his quickness and athleticism while fourth round guard Dru Samia also impressed (as did Smith and third round running back Alexander Mattison). It will be more telling when the rookies compete with the vets in OTAs and the mandatory June minicamp and then on into training camp when the full pads come on. But it's clear there are great expectations for immediate contributions from this year's draft class which the team will need if they are to return to the playoffs.
Around the NFL Observations:
When I talk of Kyle Rudolph, it's with utmost respect for a classy player on and off the field. I think the opposite of Le'Veon Bell who has already ignited controversy just two months into his Jets tenure as he has no-showed most of the Jets' offseason program and a non-mandatory minicamp under new Coach Adam Gase. So Bell once again has called into question his level of commitment, this time after signing a four year, $52.5 million deal.
Bell alienated his Steeler coaches and teammates by not reporting all of last season but that was during a contract dispute under his franchise tag. It was a terrible and costly decision ($14.5 million in lost salary). This absence from Jets camp because he wants to train on his own will not play well with his new coaches and teammates and reinforces the perception of Bell as a selfish diva.
After missing all of last season and joining a new team, Bell should be present for every offseason activity, voluntary or not--sweating through the strength and conditioning work with his teammates, learning Gase's offense and getting in sync with quarterback Sam Darnold and the Jets offensive line. Deciding to no show parts of the offseason program constitutes a bad start to his Jets career.