Tom Brady has a new target and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a more complete tight end room for the 2002 season.
On Monday, the Buccaneers signed 12th-year veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph to a one-year deal. Rudolph spent the 2021 season with the New York Giants after a very productive decade with the Minnesota Vikings. He originally entered the NFL as a second-round pick in the 2011 draft out of the University of Notre Dame.
Rudolph rounds out a tight end position that had been thinned by the free agency departure of O.J. Howard and the recent retirement of Rob Gronkowski. Like Gronkowski, Rudolph is an accomplished blocker who can stay on the field for all three downs. He also has career totals of 479 receptions for 4,745 yards and 49 touchdowns. He has consistently been a strong red zone throughout throughout his career.
Rudolph made the Pro Bowl with the Vikings in 2017 after catching 57 passes for 532 yards and eight touchdowns. He set career highs with 83 receptions and 840 yards in 2016 and had hauled in six touchdowns in his most recent 16-game season in 2019. He also made the Pro Bowl in 2012 after recording a career-high nine scores.
View pictures from TE Kyle Rudolph's NFL career thus far.
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph pulls away from Detroit Lions defensive back DeShawn Shead (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph raises the ball after scoring during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) runs after making a reception against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
FILE - In this Dec. 23, 2018, file photo, Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph runs into the end zone untouched for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit. Rudolph has had a pretty stable career with just the Vikings, but he was involved in at least one significant trade. In his father's fantasy football keeper league.(AP Photo/Jose Juarez, File)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) runs from Oakland Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley (20) after making a reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph runs up field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) runs from Washington Redskins linebacker Montez Sweat, right, after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) runs from Washington Redskins linebacker Montez Sweat, right, after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) catches a pass for a two-point conversion in front of Dallas Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (24) in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Minnesota Vikings' Kyle Rudolph reaches to catch a pass for a touchdown as Seattle Seahawks' K.J. Wright (50) reaches toward him during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 2, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Minnesota Vikings' Kyle Rudolph reaches to catch a pass for a touchdown as Seattle Seahawks' K.J. Wright (50) reaches out toward him during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 2, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Demario Davis (56) tackles Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph pulls in the game winning touchdown pass over New Orleans Saints cornerback P.J. Williams during overtime of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. The Vikings won 26-20. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) pulls in a touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) runs after a catch against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph runs up field after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) warms up before the start of an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) is tackled by Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson, left, after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) readies for the play at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Minneapolis. The Vikings defeated the Panthers 28-27. (AP Photo/David Berding)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2019, file photo, Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) runs from Oakland Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley (20) after making a reception during the first half of an NFL football game in Minneapolis. The Vikings have released two-time Pro Bowl tight end Rudolph. This ends his 10-season run with the team. The move creates a little more than $5 million in salary cap space. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
New York Giants' Kyle Rudolph runs a route during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Giants tight end Kyle Rudolph celebrates after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New York Giants tight end Kyle Rudolph (80) celebrates his touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
New York Giants tight end Kyle Rudolph (80) runs up field after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
New York Giants tight end Kyle Rudolph runs after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
New York Giants tight end Kyle Rudolph (80) runs against the Washington Football Team during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
The Buccaneers were lacking in experience at the tight end spot following Gronkowski's decision in June to hang up his cleats. Eighth-year man Cameron Brate is among the team's all-time leaders with 33 touchdown catches, but the five other tight ends on the current roster have combined for exactly one regular-season NFL catch. That includes a pair of 2022 draft picks in fourth-rounder Cade Otton and sixth-rounder Ko Kieft. Otton has the potential to be a true "Y" three-down tight end but he's also returning from a 2021 injury.
The Buccaneers did not need to make a corresponding move after signing Rudolph, as they had an open roster spot following the release of punter Bradley Pinion. The roster now stands at the 90-man limit heading into the start of training camp. Veteran players are scheduled to report to camp on Tuesday, with the first practice scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, July 27.
