Three free agents the Arizona Cardinals must stay away from
By Sion Fawkes
Player #2: Kyle Rudolph
Rudolph is a class act and given his longevity in Minnesota, he’s a loyal player. Those are fantastic traits to look for in anyone. Problem is, Rudolph is no better than Dan Arnold at this point in his career and he fits best as a TE2.
Signing Rudolph wouldn’t make sense for the Cardinals unless they let Arnold go. But even then, there are plenty of better names out there than Rudolph. Even for a TE2. Rudolph’s production suffered in 2020, recording just 28 receptions and 1 touchdown. He also had his lowest catch percentage since 2017. If the Cardinals are looking for a legit TE1, they need to look beyond Rudolph, as likable as he is.
He also carries a hefty price tag, and there are far cheaper options according to Spotrac. Gerald Everett would make a lot of sense. And signing him would in turn weaken his former team, the Los Angeles Rams. Everett is younger than Rudolph and he’s also coming off career-highs in receptions, reception yards, first downs, and catch percentage.
Jonnu Smith is another fantastic option as opposed to Rudolph. A red zone threat, Smith could excel as a true TE1 with an All-Pro receiver drawing coverage away from the middle. Just 26, Smith has far more football left in him than Rudolph.