The Facts: After the Vikings selected TE Irv Smith Jr. with the 50th overall pick, attention quickly shifted toward what the move means for Rudolph's future in Minnesota. Given the Vikings’ tight financial situation and the veteran’s $7.625 million cap hit in 2019, drafting Smith appeared to foreshadow that Rudolph’s days in Minnesota could be numbered. Sources told ESPN the Vikings fielded interest ahead of/during the draft about a possible trade involving Rudolph.

Diehards Line:As ESPN.com's Courtney Cronin notes, a move would have freed up the cap space the team needs not only to sign its new crop of draftees but allow some wiggle room with available spending money for the rest of the offseason. But Rudolph, 29, remains on the roster after nothing panned out last weekend, and it’s possible the tight end could have to rework his contract in the near future. The Vikings could also cut Rudolph to clear cap space or look to trade him. That said, finding a way to keep Rudolph on the team could be a difference-maker for this offense. The Vikings haven’t had an athletic complement to Rudolph until now. Between Smith and Rudolph, the two tight ends present different styles. While Smith gives the Vikings a speedy target over the middle of the field and has great run-after-the-catch ability, Rudolph is a dependable threat (notably in the red zone) who has churned out consistent production over the course of his eight years in Minnesota and can be relied on for in-line blocking in the run game. With the Vikings' revamped scheme, this offense has plenty of room to utilize more than one tight end on a regular basis. We'll be watching to see how it plays out in coming weeks.