{"id":102901,"date":"2021-01-26T06:25:40","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T11:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=102901"},"modified":"2021-01-26T06:25:40","modified_gmt":"2021-01-26T11:25:40","slug":"the-minnesota-vikings-tight-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/01\/26\/the-minnesota-vikings-tight-end\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking Stock of the Minnesota Vikings Tight End Position"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s safe to say that the Minnesota Vikings<\/a> tight ends were somewhat underwhelming this season. Kyle Rudolph<\/a><\/strong> is being paid as a top-5 player at TE, and yet his production is pedestrian: 28 catches, 334 yards, and a lonely touchdown. Meanwhile, Irv Smith<\/a> Jr.<\/strong> is underused. The sophomore tight end has oodles of potential, and yet he only received 43 targets in Minnesota\u2019s offense. How should the Minnesota Vikings proceed at the tight end position going into the off-season?<\/p>\n

Optimism for the Minnesota Vikings Tight Ends<\/h2>\n

2020 was a frustrating season. One source of the frustration rested in how the tight ends were deployed. Rudolph was paid far too much considering his production; Smith was used far too little given his athleticism. Moving forward, it\u2019s imperative that the Vikings get this position back on track.<\/p>\n

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#Kirktober<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/fJuqUMjqg4<\/a><\/p>\n

— Nick Olson (@NickOlsonNFL) October 4, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n