Future Buffalo Bill Kyle Rudolph

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

I had him on my fantasy team.

 

He was average.

[Governor]

1 hour ago, BillsDude said:

 

Great Question. Let's not get er done, until we know. If Beane ever would considers such a signing anyway, I feel he needs to get Kyle and Diggs' input if they have great relationship, so as to not otherwise disrupt team chemistry. I do not assume they got along, as personalities can clash on teams, and especially if that team was not winning or if a player left that team in a way that team may not have fully liked.

Rumor on Twitter is that he thinks Diggs is a b***h for whining and leaving but there’s no telling. I’m sure you’ll see the story floating around. One of the Podcast guys had it.

Edited March 3, 2021 by The Governor

[Doc]

He's been marginally productive the past 2 years.  At best he'd serve the Lee Smith role and a Smith-type contract is all I'd offer.

[BillMafia716ix]

Idk..I think the Bills want a game changer at tight end. Don’t think Kyle Rudolph is that guy.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

3 minutes ago, BillMafia716ix said:

Idk..I think the Bills want a game changer at tight end. Don’t think Kyle Rudolph is that guy.

You only get those players by drafting them and being patient. Which means our best hope for a game changer is Knox next year. 

Edited March 3, 2021 by Buffalo_Stampede

[Governor]

13 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

You only get those players by drafting them and being patient. Which means our best hope for a game changer is Knox next year. 

Yeah. If Knox doesn’t work out, there isn’t much we can do. If they feel our window is the next 3 years we can’t really draft another TE. 
 

just ask the Detroit Lions. Didn’t they draft top 10 TE’s 2 or 3 years in a row and not one of them was impactful in their time with the team. 
 

Any upgrade for us would have to be a FA.

[Sherlock Holmes]

4 hours ago, Process said:

Nahh. Would rather get smith, everett or grab someone in the draft. 

Shouldn't stop us from drafting Freiermuth or Tremble

[Buffalo_Stampede]

3 minutes ago, The Governor said:

Yeah. If Knox doesn’t work out, there isn’t much we can do. If they feel our window is the next 3 years we can’t really draft another TE. 
 

just ask the Detroit Lions. Didn’t they draft top 10 TE’s 2 or 3 years in a row and not one of them was impactful in their time with the team. 
 

Any upgrade for us would have to be a FA.

I'm hoping they don't go spend a lot on a TE. Build up the lines, find a CB opposite Tre. 

[Thurman#1]

Depends on the price. He isn't what he was but if he came cheapish, great.

 

Minny has definitely cut his snap counts a bit the last couple of years.

 

In 2015, he played 83% of their snaps, then in 2016, 92%, then 83%, then 88%, then in 2019 78% playing 16 games, then last year missed the last four games to a foot injury, but he didn't miss 75%, he missed 57%.

 

We'd be well-advised to manage his workload but they'd probably want to do that often anyway. 

 

Still caught 81.3% and then 75.7% of his targets, which were two of the three highest percentages of his career (the second-highest was 2018 at 78.0%). Probably threw shorter than usual to him, with those high percentages. Worth noting. He got his highest Y/Target last year but I'm betting that's a bit of a statistical fread based on a fairly small number of catches, 28, and targets, 37.

 

Sure, again depending on the price.

 

 

 

Edited March 3, 2021 by Thurman#1

[Governor]

17 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I'm hoping they don't go spend a lot on a TE. Build up the lines, find a CB opposite Tre. 

I could see a scenario where we miss out on other FA’s and just grab a TE to save face a bit. I wouldn’t hate it but I definitely don’t want to spend on one that we’re not absolutely sure has a few years left and can help with Josh’s development. It’s risky. 

[Putin]

5 hours ago, MiltonWaddams said:

The exact kind of player that the Bills need at TE. Red zone weapon, great hands and strong blocker. He’s not in the Gronk, Kittle or Kelce category, but he’d be a great guy to plug in and teach Rambo as he learns how to use his physical gifts.

He knows how to use his physical gifts he just needs to learn to hang ON to the damn ball 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

10 minutes ago, The Governor said:

I could see a scenario where we miss out on other FA’s and just grab a TE to save face a bit. I wouldn’t hate it but I definitely don’t want to spend on one that we’re not absolutely sure has a few years left and can help with Josh’s development. It’s risky. 

TE is a position where it's rare to find an impact player in free agency. 

[Thurman#1]

1 hour ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

You only get those players by drafting them and being patient. Which means our best hope for a game changer is Knox next year. 

 

 

"Only" is a bit strong. The Raiders got Waller off the Ravens practice squad. Kittle got 515 yards his first year and 1377 in his second. 

 

But yeah, draft and develop for a while is maybe the commonest way to get a good TE, and you're probably right about Knox being our best hope for a game changer this year.

Edited March 3, 2021 by Thurman#1

[strive_for_five_guy]

I’d prefer a flier on Tyler Eifert.

[Doc Brown]

3 hours ago, Logic said:

Didn't he talk his way off the Vikings because he refused to take a pay cut and was frustrated with lack of usage?

Are we willing to pay him $9 million and give him the starting job?

Yeah.  Here's some of what he said.....

 

"I've had multiple opportunities to get to free agency and it's never been appealing to me because I don't want to be anywhere else but here," he said. "I wanna be on the first team that wins [a Super Bowl] here. With that being said, I want to be a reason why we win the championship, I don't want to just be a swing tackle."

 

“[A restructured deal] is not going to happen," he said. "I feel like I have a lot of good football left. At 31, with how I feel physically, knowing what I can still do. It’s simply a lack of opportunities. In the past I was the one getting red zone targets. I can’t sign up for that again.”

 

It's difficult to tell if he's more about the money or a chance to have a meaningful impact on a Super Bowl contender.  If it's the former he might take a little less to play here if the Bills want to go in that direction.

[FireChans]

5 hours ago, Logic said:

Didn't he talk his way off the Vikings because he refused to take a pay cut and was frustrated with lack of usage?

Are we willing to pay him $9 million and give him the starting job?

As opposed to Sir-Drops-Alot?

[Brennan Huff]

11 hours ago, BuffaloMatt said:

Throw in Van Noy. As the ole saying goes two Kyles are better than one.

Unless they’re punching holes in your drywall 

[Buddo]

There's an article on PFT that is talking about David Njoku (sp?), that mentions that Browns HC Stefanski, and Rudolph, have a good relationship. Browns can cut Njoku at no cost. Rudolph might be up on their list of replacements, due to his relationship with Stepanski, which was from 7 years together at the Vikings.

[Locomark]

We already have a deliberate not fast guy who can catch who is 10 years younger and wears #89... we need a game breaker at this posiiton. 

[BarleyNY]

23 minutes ago, Buddo said:

There's an article on PFT that is talking about David Njoku (sp?), that mentions that Browns HC Stefanski, and Rudolph, have a good relationship. Browns can cut Njoku at no cost. Rudolph might be up on their list of replacements, due to his relationship with Stepanski, which was from 7 years together at the Vikings.

I can confirm that Rudolph would prefer to go to Cleveland and play for Stefanski.  That would mean the Browns parting ways with Njoku.  I’ve been down ion Njoku due to poor blocking effort and drops.

 

Last season he improved in both regards though.   He was actually pretty good blocker and though he played less than in the past - about a third of the offensive snaps - his drop rate fell to 8%.  He’d be our “Y” TE and leave Knox in line, but I’d be good with the Bills making a reasonable trade for him.  Something conditional in 2022 that’s contingent on him signing a LTD here makes sense.  Browns would get a decent pick if he works out and stays or a late rounder if he doesn’t. 
 

Oh, and I’d be down with Rudolph on a reasonable deal too.  Knox to Y.

[thenorthremembers]

Love the idea.  Good buddy of Eric Wood so may be an easy sell.    That said, I dont do anything over 6 a year for the guy.

[stuvian]

Dawson Knox showed us something in the playoffs. I don't know that Rudolph is an upgrade

[BuffaloRebound]

17 minutes ago, stuvian said:

Dawson Knox showed us something in the playoffs. I don't know that Rudolph is an upgrade

They play different positions even though they’re both Tight Ends.  Rudolph would be an upgrade over Lee Smith.  Allows more 2 Tight End looks and would help the running game.  

[fergie's ire]

58 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

Love the idea.  Good buddy of Eric Wood so may be an easy sell.    That said, I dont do anything over 6 a year for the guy.

Yep.  They went to the same high school.

 

[Kwai San]

15 hours ago, Doc said:

When it comes to players being released, I never post “ watch him sign with the Cheaters.”. But Belicheat is known to love tight ends.

 

Really?  Not that there is anything wrong with that....apologies if already posted.....I couldn't resist.

[Boxcar]

16 hours ago, Doc said:

 

I can see the Cheaters making a big push.

What's their pitch? They don't even have a QB yet.

[Boxcar]

16 hours ago, Process said:

Nahh. Would rather get smith, everett or grab someone in the draft. 

Those guys are going to cost quite a bit more. Knox is not nearly as bad as some people make him out to be, and we don't require a really good FA TE right now. I really don't understand why people think the position is a priority given other holes we need to fill, like OT, LB, CB (maybe, though Wallace is fine) and DE. Having a guy who is good at some stuff Knox is not very good at currently seems like the exact type of TE we should bring in on the cheap.

[Doc]

6 minutes ago, Boxcar said:

What's their pitch? They don't even have a QB yet.

 

I didn't say they'd get him.  Just make a big push for him.

[Boxcar]

Just now, Doc said:

 

I didn't say they'd get him.  Just make a big push for him.

If they are going to make a big push, why would it be for Rudolph and not Smith, Everett, Cook or even Ertz? Why would Rudolph even want to go there when he could come to Buffalo, a much better team? (God that feels so good to say)

[Doc]

1 minute ago, Boxcar said:

If they are going to make a big push, why would it be for Rudolph and not Smith, Everett, Cook or even Ertz? Why would Rudolph even want to go there when he could come to Buffalo, a much better team? (God that feels so good to say)

 

The others are probably on their radar as well.  There just haven't been any threads on them.

[TBBills]

3 minutes ago, Boxcar said:

If they are going to make a big push, why would it be for Rudolph and not Smith, Everett, Cook or even Ertz? Why would Rudolph even want to go there when he could come to Buffalo, a much better team? (God that feels so good to say)

We said that about Watt.... Money talks.

[Boxcar]

2 minutes ago, TBBills said:

We said that about Watt.... Money talks.

I'd like to think there's a very clear difference between the best pass rusher available who is also a future HOF and all time great vs. Kyle Rudolph. No one is breaking the bank for him.

[BuffaloRebound]

Can’t see anybody paying Rudolph more than $6-7m per year.  Can make a argument that a Tight End like Rudolph helps the team more than Watt would have.  More bang for the buck. 

[davefan66]

Not interested.  Believe Knox is the answer.  We also have Sweeney who looked decent.

 

Have no interest in slowing the progress of Knox by brining in Rudolph.  Would almost be saying Knox is not the answer at TE.  

[Royale with Cheese]

38 minutes ago, davefan66 said:

Not interested.  Believe Knox is the answer.  We also have Sweeney who looked decent.

 

Have no interest in slowing the progress of Knox by brining in Rudolph.  Would almost be saying Knox is not the answer at TE.  

 

I think Beane made it clear that they are going to upgrade the tight ends in the offseason.  Knox hasn't shown enough consistency to be any answer other than a #2....he just has the most unreliable hands.

 

[colin]

i still have (slim, very slim) hope that knox improves, partly based on what i thought was a better effort in the playoffs.

 

but you don't play with 1 TE on the roster, let alone 1 TE on the field all the time.  if he's cheap, i'd totally grab Rudolph.  he'd be our first vet TE who can actually block and catch and isn't a Mash unit in a loooooong time.

[Logic]

11 hours ago, FireChans said:

As opposed to Sir-Drops-Alot?

I’m just saying that $9 million is a lot of coin for a tight end, particularly when you currently don’t have an RG or RT or WLB. AND it likely means you’re handing him a starting job over a 3rd year 3rd round pick. 
 

It seems like a questionable way to allocate resources in a cap-strapped year.
 

 

 

 

[FireChans]

3 hours ago, Logic said:

I’m just saying that $9 million is a lot of coin for a tight end, particularly when you currently don’t have an RG or RT or WLB. AND it likely means you’re handing him a starting job over a 3rd year 3rd round pick. 
 

It seems like a questionable way to allocate resources in a cap-strapped year.
 

 

 

 

I mean we have a draft coming up as well. Unfortunately, this is life in the NFL. You can’t sign great FA’s at every position.

[Buddo]

3 hours ago, Logic said:

I’m just saying that $9 million is a lot of coin for a tight end, particularly when you currently don’t have an RG or RT or WLB. AND it likely means you’re handing him a starting job over a 3rd year 3rd round pick. 
 

It seems like a questionable way to allocate resources in a cap-strapped year.
 

 

 

 

 

Curious as to where the $9 million figure comes from. If it's from what he was slated to earn with the Vikings, well I seriously doubt he will be getting that from anyone in a hurry.

 

Of course, I could well be wrong, and it wouldn't be the first time, but although I rate him as a traditional type of TE, I'm not so sure too many teams actually want that - although it's my belief that the Bills are one who does.

 

Personally, I think he could make a significant difference to our Offense going forward - especially in the Red Zone - but also as a far better outlet for Allen when under pressure.

 

Also, just because Daboll didn't use our TEs much, I feel that if he has got one he can trust, then he will get him involved in the gameplan a lot more.

 

I have no idea how much he might want, or how much the Bills would be prepared to pay, but TE is definitely still a position where the team can improve.

[Alphadawg7]

23 hours ago, Southern_Bills said:

I think Rudolph is a better pass catcher than he gets credit for, he's stuck on a run first team.

 

I would think this is the best possible move for us this off-season at TE.

 

In ten years, hes eclipsed 600 yards just twice, and never reached 900 yards mostly playing on pass happy offenses.  

 

He is a very good Redzone target, but hes never been a monster in the passing game overall.  Heck, hes only broke 500 yards 3 times in 10 years.  

 

Not saying he would be a bad addition, just think there are more intriguing guys that are available in FA or possibly trade.  I would first look at Everett in FA or kick the tires on sending a day 3 pick for either Ertz, Njoku, or Howard...neither of their teams have any negotiating power, especially since OJ is third on the depth chart and prob wont be back, Njoku is arguably 3rd now on the depth chart and not expected to be a Brown come week 1, and Ertz has his replacement already in place and out producing him...also not expect to be back with his team.  

 

So trade values on those guys will be way down, especially with a deep TE free agent class too.