With Rob Gronkowksi formally out of the image, the Bucs are signing veteran tight finish Kyle Rudolph to a one-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday night.
Tom Brady has a brand new tight-end goal in Tampa: Former Vikings’ and Giants’ veteran Kyle Rudolph is signing a one-year contact with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per supply.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 21, 2022
All offseason lengthy, it felt doubtless that Tampa Bay would have a further veteran presence in its tight finish room exterior of Cameron Brate. That turned out to be true, solely it gained’t be the one everybody anticipated it to be.
Gronkowski performed the “will he/gained’t he” sport for four-plus months earlier than retiring in June. And regardless of hypothesis that he would finally return from retirement a second time, he has twice reaffirmed that he’s completed with the sport.
So, the Bucs will go in a special path with the addition of Rudolph. The 32-year-old, who will flip 33 in November, spent the primary 10 seasons of his profession in Minnesota. As a Viking, he made two Professional Bowls whereas recording 453 catches for 4,488 yards (9.9 avg.) and 48 touchdowns.
Most lately, Rudolph spent the 2021 season with the Giants. He posted 26 catches for 257 yards (9.9 avg.) and one landing in his one yr with New York.
Now, he involves Tampa to play with Tom Brady and the Bucs. He joins a good finish room that options Brate, longtime follow squad member Codey McElroy, fourth-round decide Cade Otton, sixth-round decide Ko Kieft and undrafted free brokers JJ Howland and Ben Beise.
Bucs TE Cam Brate – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
It stands to cause that Rudolph and Brate would be the high two tight ends to begin 2022. Rudolph suits the “Y” tight finish mildew, which suggests he’ll fill Gronk’s outdated function and provide extra as a blocker. Brate is extra of an “F” tight finish and gained’t present as a lot blocking skill. As soon as absolutely wholesome and adjusted to the offense, Otton is more likely to determine in because the No. 3 tight finish. If the Bucs select to hold 4 guys on the place, Kieft is the doubtless No. 4. In any other case, the blocking specialist will find yourself on the follow squad.
The Bucs had reported curiosity in Rudolph final week. Then, Tampa Bay legend and should-be Corridor of Famer Ronde Barber gave an apparent hint concerning the signing Wednesday evening. And positive sufficient, the information broke quickly after that Rudolph was formally going to be a Buc.
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