Earlier this week, the Vikings and Kyle Rudolph agreed on a four-year, $32 million contract extension, likely making the two-time Pro Bowl tight end a Viking for life.
There was some speculation that the Vikings could trade Rudolph, but Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said that he never thought that would actually happen.
“I mean, there were times when I knew he’s under a contract,” Zimmer said Wednesday. “I figured all along it would get done somehow or he would be here one way or the other. I never really feared it, no.”
This was a pretty unique situation in which we almost saw the negotiation happen through the media.
Rudolph, who will turn 30 in the middle of the 2019 season, and second-round pick Irv Smith Jr. form what should be a pretty dangerous one-two punch at tight end for the Vikings, especially when you consider the Vikings have offensive weapons like Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs and Dalvin Cook.
