Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph Won’t Take Pay Cut

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph tells Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that there is “no way” he would take a pay cut to stay in Minnesota. 

“No I won’t, I am too young for that,” Rudolph said.

As far as an extension, Rudolph mentioned that “they’re working really hard to get it done, and I hope it gets done.”

While Rudolph has been the subject of trade rumors for over a month now, he doesn’t think the Vikings want to go that route.

“I do, but I don’t think they want to,” Rudolph said. “I don’t think anyone wants to. We want it to end right with me being here.”

Last we heard regarding Rudolph, Ian Rapoport reported that the two parties had been in active extension talks before they broke off last Friday. 

Rapoport mentions that with the Vikings drafting TE Irv Smith and Rudolph due $7.5 million, it’s possible that this development could lead to a trade. 

According to Rapoport, there is interest in Rudolph around the NFL.

Rudolph, 29, is a former second-round pick of the Vikings back in 2011. He’s currently in the final year of his five-year, $36,500,000 contract and stands to make a base salary $7,275,000 for the 2019 season.

Rudolph will be an unrestricted free agent in 2020. 

In 2018, Rudolph appeared in all 16 games for the Vikings and caught 64 passes for 634 yards receiving and four touchdowns.

We’ll have more regarding Rudolph as the news is available.