The Buccaneers have filled the big hole left by Rob Gronkowski, or so they hope.
A month after the tight 33-year-old tight end the stains for the second time, Tampa Bay has accepted a one-year contract with another veteran tight end: Kyle Rudolph. The deal, reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, offers quarterback Tom Brady another safe option on offense.
The Giants released Rudolph in March after he only caught 26 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown in his only season with the team.
Prior to that, Rudolph, 32, spent the first decade of his NFL career with the Vikings.
Rudolph has 479 catches for 4,745 yards and 49 touchdowns in his NFL career. He was also selected twice in the Pro Bowl, in 2012 and 2017.
Kyle Rudolph spent last season with the Giants before being released. Charles Baus / Cal Sport Media / Sip Tom Brady will have a new tight end to pitch in Tampa after Rob Gronkowski retires.AP
It also gives Brady a tight end veteran, along with Cameron Brate. The only other tight end of the experienced roster is Codey McElroy, who has only played one game. Tampa Bay also selected two tight ends, Cade Otton in the fourth round and Ko Kieft in the sixth, in the April NFL Draft.
Gronkowski said during his retirement from the Bucs that he would not return for a 12th season in the NFL, even if Brady called him and asked him to return.