The Minnesota Vikings have locked up one of their key offensive pieces to a long-term contract extension.
The team announced that they had come to an agreement with Rudolph on Tuesday morning after the tight end signed his new official deal. He will stay with the team for the next four years and earn $36 million.
Rudolph has been a solid and consistent contributor for Minnesota since the Vikings drafted him with the 42nd overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He has now spent nearly a decade with the team.
The Notre Dame alum has been a consistent red zone and scoring threat, as he’s caught 41 receiving touchdowns in his eight seasons with the team.
Rudolph has been recognized twice for his strong performances with a Pro Bowl nod, in the 2012 and 2017 seasons.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native was as solid as always for Minnesota in 2018, hauling in 64 passes for 634 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
There had been some speculation that Rudolph would try his luck on the free agent market with teams such as the New England Patriots. This was partially due to Minnesota’s lack of postseason success during the tight end’s tenure with the team.
Nonetheless, with a contract extension now finalized, it’s official that both parties are happy to continue working with one another.
