See link below for the full write-up. Here are a few highlights:
Quote:
Rudolph gets a $6.5 million signing bonus. Along with a technically non-guaranteed but as a practical matter fully guaranteed base salary of $956,343 for 2014, Rudolph definitely will earn $7.456 million in the next five months.
Per the source, the deal has another $12 million in injury-only guarantees that eventually convert to full guarantees on the third day of a given league year.
Fair deal, IMO. Rudolph gets a lot of injury protection and upside for performance. Vikings are protected against him not producing for reasons other than injury. They expect him to break out in Norv Turner's offense, which would mean an even bigger payday if they had waited. He dropped 15 pounds in preparation for more of a Novacek/Gates role, though he'll still do plenty of blocking for AP.
The QB situation might put a cap on Rudolph's stats until Bridgewater blossoms, which could take some time; but that's a bigger issue for Fantasy Football owners than it is for Rick Spielman. Despite the Cassel/Ponder/Freeman mess, Rudolph was already looking like one of the better two-way tight ends in the league before he broke his foot in week 9. He probably could have come back in December if Minnesota had been playing for anything. Rudolph gets $6.5 million to sign on deal with maximum value of $40 million - ( New Window )
on BBIers lamenting some time this season, "why didn't we lock (fill in name of current TEs on the roster) him up? Why will he be able to walk after this year?"
"Tight end guru Norv Turner is signing off on Rudolph, who should be Teddy Bridgewater's safety valve for years to come. Rudolph missed half of last season with a fractured foot, but is 100 percent now and dropped 15 pounds in the offseason with an eye on a high-volume role in an offense that has produced career years out of Jay Novacek, Randy McMichael, Jordan Cameron, and Antonio Gates. Still only 24 years old, Rudolph has 15 touchdowns over his last 30 games. He's a mid-range to lower-end TE1 in Dynasty leagues, albeit with upside for more. We see Rudolph as a value pick at his late-eighth-round ADP in re-draft leagues. He's a candidate to lead Minnesota in catches and TDs."
Well, that's the over-under on rational complaints. Robinson is signed through 2015. Donnell is controlled through 2016 (ERFA in 2015; RFA in 2016). Grimble is signed through 2016, and if he sticks the Giants will control him through 2017. Fells and Davis are here on qualifying deals, which means they cost almost nothing - a fair reflection of their market value.
Not much for the doomsters to hate on there. Now, if Robinson breaks out next year...
Per the source, the deal has another $12 million in injury-only guarantees that eventually convert to full guarantees on the third day of a given league year.
Fair deal, IMO. Rudolph gets a lot of injury protection and upside for performance. Vikings are protected against him not producing for reasons other than injury. They expect him to break out in Norv Turner's offense, which would mean an even bigger payday if they had waited. He dropped 15 pounds in preparation for more of a Novacek/Gates role, though he'll still do plenty of blocking for AP.
The QB situation might put a cap on Rudolph's stats until Bridgewater blossoms, which could take some time; but that's a bigger issue for Fantasy Football owners than it is for Rick Spielman. Despite the Cassel/Ponder/Freeman mess, Rudolph was already looking like one of the better two-way tight ends in the league before he broke his foot in week 9. He probably could have come back in December if Minnesota had been playing for anything.
Rudolph gets $6.5 million to sign on deal with maximum value of $40 million - ( New Window )
"Tight end guru Norv Turner is signing off on Rudolph, who should be Teddy Bridgewater's safety valve for years to come. Rudolph missed half of last season with a fractured foot, but is 100 percent now and dropped 15 pounds in the offseason with an eye on a high-volume role in an offense that has produced career years out of Jay Novacek, Randy McMichael, Jordan Cameron, and Antonio Gates. Still only 24 years old, Rudolph has 15 touchdowns over his last 30 games. He's a mid-range to lower-end TE1 in Dynasty leagues, albeit with upside for more. We see Rudolph as a value pick at his late-eighth-round ADP in re-draft leagues. He's a candidate to lead Minnesota in catches and TDs."
Not much for the doomsters to hate on there. Now, if Robinson breaks out next year...