Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, the subject of trade rumors and reported broken-down negotiations over a contract extension, said he is hoping to find a way to stay with the team.
“My family, myself, we want to be here and we’re going to do everything we can to be there,” he said Monday, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “If the alternative happens and we do get traded, change happens. … Obviously, that’s not what we’re hoping for. …
“We’re in a tough situation as a team. You can’t keep everybody, you can’t pay everybody. Those guys I know are working really hard to try to figure out something.”
Rudolph has one year left on his contact and is due $7.5 million in 2019. The Vikings have about $1 million left in cap space.
Minnesota drafted Alabama tight end Irv Smith in the second round as a potential replacement.
“I’ve had conversations with Kyle and quite honestly I really love all my players,” said coach Mike Zimmer. “We expect Kyle to be here but sometimes business gets in the way.”
Rudolph, 29, has spent his eight-year NFL career in Minnesota, catching 386 passes for 3,787 yards and 41 touchdowns. He had 64 receptions for 634 yards and four scores last season.
“Obviously, it’s a difficult situation, so there’s a lot of complex things that go into it,” Rudolph said. “That takes time. It’s not an easy, ‘They like me, I like them. We want to stay here.’ That’s not the way it works.”
