Kyle Rudolph

It wasn’t hard to find Kyle Rudolph’s name while looking up stats and numbers among tight ends during the 2016 season.
The Vikings tight end was near the top in almost all major statistical categories, as Rudolph finished third among all tight ends with 83 catches, tied for third with seven touchdown catches and was fourth with 840 receiving yards.
So are the numbers Rudolph put up this past season the benchmark for himself going forward?
“Absolutely. I want 2016 to be a springboard for me to bigger and better things,” Rudolph said. “That’s kind of what I’ve always expected out of myself in terms of statistics and numbers, and that’s going to be the baseline for my career moving forward.”

Rudolph was a key component to Sam Bradford’s success in 2016, especially after the quarterback joined the Vikings just eight days before the starts of the season. Bradford’s first touchdown pass in Purple, and three of his first four passing scores, all went to Rudolph. The tight end eventually hauled in more than one-third (seven of 20) of Bradford’s touchdown passes.