New Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner loves to work with tight ends, as evidenced by the work he's done with players like Antonio Gates and Jordan Cameron. Turner really seems to like big, physical tight ends who can be a threat down the field and make plays in the red zone. That should exactly be what he'll find in Minnesota.
Here's a breakdown of the players Turner will be looking at going into the season, and how they might fit his system:
Tight end has been a bright spot for the Vikings the past few seasons, as the team has enjoyed noticeable depth at the position with recent additions the past few seasons. Kyle Rudolph is the clear top player on this unit, but Rhett Ellison is also a major contributor for the Vikings offense as he is one of the best run blocking tight ends in the entire NFL.
The Vikings did make noise at the position yesterday when they decided to release John Carlson. Carlson was largely a disappointment after signing a five-year, $25 million contract two years ago, though he had some nice games for the team in 2013. The fact the Vikings would release Carlson when the cap savings were minimal (the team only saved $2 million this year compared to $3 million in dead money for 2014) shows you the confidence the Vikings have in the depth at this position. This is definitely a group to keep your eye on.
On Roster: Kyle Rudolph, Rhett Ellison, Chase Ford
Rudolph appears to be a rising star on the Vikings offense, as he was on pace for the best season of his career in 2013 before his season ended due to an injury. Rudolph has been pegged as a major 2014 breakout candidate already though, because he seems to perfectly fit the mold Turner is looking for when it comes to a tight end. Rudolph is a big, physical target who can make tough catches down the field, but often during the Bill Musgrave era he was used in space even though he doesn't have great speed. Turner should be able to utilize the former Pro Bowler's talents much more, and fans should be ecstatic about Rudolph's 2014 potential.
Rhett Ellison, as mentioned earlier, is a fantastic run blocking talent. He doesn't always line up at tight end for the Vikings either, as he has served as a fullback or H-back in running situations and cleared the way for Adrian Peterson. While Ellison is definitely a role player who does not offer much ability as a pass catcher, for a power run offense like the Vikings will have, he could be very valuable.
Chase Ford was a practice squad tight end who the Vikings called up to the main roster when Rudolph was injured. Clearly the Vikings liked what they saw out of Ford, because cutting Carlson is a clear vote of confidence in Ford's ability to develop. Ford did flash quite a bit of potential last season, and had some excellent games as a receiving threat. Ford is another big tight end who could fit Turner's system well, though he seems to have better movement skills than Rudolph. Maybe the Vikings could finally run the two tight end offense they dreamed of when they signed Carlson this year, only with Ford as the second target.
Free Agents: John Carlson
As previously mentioned, the Vikings dreamed of having a more dynamic two tight end offense when they signed John Carlson before 2012, but that dream never materialized on the field. Carlson is a slightly smaller tight end (at least compared to the other's on the Vikings roster), who was supposed to be a great fit in Musgrave's West Coast offense. He doesn't seem to be a big threat down the field, which may not make him a fit in Turner's system. Overall, the decision to cut Carlson makes a lot of sense for the Vikings on several levels. He may not be a good system fit. He has a concussion history. He was not very productive on the field, but if the Vikings didn't release him he may have stayed on the roster just due to his salary. That may have meant risking Ford being picked up on the waiver wire, since the Vikings likely wouldn't carry four tight ends on their roster.
What should Rick do? (WSRD?)
At this position? Nothing. The Carlson cut will probably be the last transaction Vikings fans see at the tight end position until possibly waiver wire pickups right before training camp. At this position, the Vikings have a potential emerging star in Kyle Rudolph, a key role player in Rhett Ellison, and a backup who's shown flashes of being a nice receiving threat. The Vikings should be set at this position for the next year, and the only major move the Vikings may make here in 2014 is a Rudolph extension, especially if he gets hot in hte first few games.
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