Kyle Rudolph is interested in signing with the New England Patriots, a source with knowledge of the situation told NESN.com on Wednesday.
The Minnesota Vikings released Rudolph on Tuesday after 10 seasons with the team. The tight end is one of New England’s greatest needs in this off-season.
The Patriots have shown great interest in Rudolph in the past, for whom they tried to negotiate just two years ago.
Rudolph, 31, took 28 passes for 334 yards with a touchdown in 12 games last season. He is a selection of the Pro Bowl twice who is also an effective in-line blocker 1.80 m tall and 265 pounds.
Rudolph’s best season came in 2016, when he took 83 passes for 840 yards with seven touchdowns. He picked up 64 passes for 634 yards with four touchdowns in 2018 and 39 passes for 367 yards with six touchdowns in 2019.
The Patriots currently have Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene in the third round of 2020 and veterans Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse on their list of 90 players. New England is expected to increase its tight end group through free agency, trade or draft, after a lack of production of the position in the past two years. The patriots’ tight ends managed just 18 passes for 254 yards with no touchdown last season. Fifty of these yards came in a profound conclusion from quarterback Cam Newton to Izzo in an unsuccessful attempt by Ave Maria.
Rudolph is available to subscribe before the free agency officially starts on March 17. Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Gerald Everett and Dan Arnold are also scheduled to reach the free agency.
Rudolph would be an ideal bridge option for New England until Asiasi and Keene proved they could become productive NFL players.
Miniature photo via Brace Hemmelgarn / USA TODAY Sports Images