There’s a new hard ending for Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now that Rob Gronkowski has officially retired, the Buccaneers needed help in the tight position, and they solved that problem by signing the veteran. Kyle Rudolph.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed the former Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants player to a one-year contract, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero announced Wednesday night.
The signing came about a month after former Bucks player Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement.
While there are many rumors about how long Gronk’s retirement will last, Rudolph’s arrival will at least be a bridge until the future Hall of Famer changes his mind. It also gives the Bucks a seasoned tight end with an impressive resume and a chance for Rudolph to revitalize his career.
Kyle Rudolph with the Minnesota Vikings
Rudolph, 32, was a two-time Pro Bowl player for 10 seasons with the Vikings from 2011 to 2020. I played in the 2021 campaign for the Giants but was released in the offseason to save on the salary cap.
After ten years in Minnesota, Rudolph had 453 receptions for 4,488 yards and 48 touchdowns. In his only season with the Big Blue, Rudolph played in 16 games with 13 starts but could only contribute 26 receptions for 257 yards and one touchdown.
Now the 6-foot, 265-pound Rudolph will have the opportunity to connect with legendary quarterback Tom Brady, who has maxed out the 6-foot, 265-pound Gronk for 11 seasons.
The Bucks’ tight end now includes Rudolph, Cameron Breit, Cody McElroy and a host of rookies, including fourth-round pick Cade Otton.
The veteran Tampa Bay players will head to training camp on July 26, meaning Rudolph signed just in time to join the team.