Kyle Rudolph is Reportedly Interested in Signing with the Patriots. Yes, Please.

Chris Graythen. Getty Images.

Now the cynic might say that a 31-year-old veteran who just got shown the proverbial door by the team that drafted him after 10 seasons should say he "would be interested in signing" with any team that's mentioned. It's just smart business to cast a wide net and find the best situation possible. Nevertheless, this is good to hear. Especially when we've already heard the number one free agent tight end on the market, Hunter Henry, say flat out he won't sign with any team unless they have a quarterback he's completely sold on. And since free agency will likely start before the Patriots get their QB shit sorted out, then having a two-time Pro Bowler like Kyle Rudolph say he's open to the idea of New England right now? That's sweet, sweet music to the ears of a team in such desperate need for a veteran tight end. Especially one that tried to trade for him a couple of years ago. 

And I, for one, would love it. Not just because Rudolph appears to be a big Stoolie, making appearances on podcast after podcast for us. He's always struck me as a guy who's never quite gotten his shot to be a TE1 in Minnesota. I remember hearing this story a while ago in the context of how there can be a disconnect between a front office and a coaching staff when the head coach doesn't have full control over personnel. The story was that in 2013, Rudolph was entering his third season and coming off his first Pro Bowl when the Vikings signed John Carlson away from Seattle. And the GM excitedly told the coaches their team can now have one of those two tight end offenses that are all the rage. Only to get the reply, "Carlson is fine. But we're built around Adrian Peterson, who prefers to run behind a fullback. So now what are we supposed to do with two tight ends?" And the only answer was to split reps between Rudolph and Carlson. 

Now fast forward a few years. In 2016, Rudolph had a career high in targets (132), receptions (83) and yards (840). In 2017, he makes the Pro Bowl again and follows that up with a good 2018. And in 2019, Minny uses their 2nd round pick to draft Irv Smith Jr., and Rudolph is back to splitting his playing time. So this season, Kirk Cousins had 512 pass attempts on 572 dropbacks. Smith Jr was on the field for 323 of those snaps, Rudolph for 306. 

I just think he's better than that. Even finding himself in the Vikings Work Share Program, he still graded out on Pro Football Focus as the 27th best tight end overall. His 11.9 yards per catch was good for 13th best in the league at the position. His 80.0 catch % was 7th best. And his passer rating when targeted was 10th best at 116.0.

And for the Patriots, he'd be a great fit. At a much more reasonable price than will come up on the register when Henry and Jonnu Smith finally have their bar codes scanned. And still be a significant upgrade at a spot that's been as much in need of it as any position on any roster in the NFL the last two years. 

Bear in mind that, even sharing reps with Smith  Jr in that time, Rudolph has out-produced the Patriots entire tight end depth chart: 

2019-20:

• Rudolph: 67 catches, 731 yards, 7 TDs
• Six different Patriots tight ends: 58 catches, 711 yards, 3 TDs

As far as the 2020 Pats tight ends, Cam Newton had as many catches as Devin Asiasi (two) and more than twice as many receiving yards as Dalton Keene (16 to 35). So yes, it's not at all a 5-Alarm Hot Take to say that Rudolph would be a significant upgrade to a position that hasn't really been good since about midway through 2018 when Gronk became a limited threat. Besides that, he can run block. Among TEs with 200+ run blocks, he graded out to 26th best by PFF. Not quite that road grader third tackle type in the mold of Michael Hoomanawanui. But better than anyone the Pats have had.

So this makes all the sense in the world. It would be looney tunes to give up on Asiasi or Keene after their redshirt freshman seasons. But even looney toonier to go into this year unprepared for them to struggle again and try to win with no one at this vital position for yet another season. Henry and Smith will each be tough signings. I can totally see Rudolph in sort of the role Alge Crumpler was brought here for in 2010 while Gronk and that other guy - what's his name, the Connecticut kid out of Florida, whatever - learned and developed. Except that Kyle Rudolph is much younger, better, and with a lot of good football ahead of him. 

Plus we have confirmation he wants to come here, regardless of who's under center? That's good enough for me.