Trade for Kyle Rudolph
While the Raiders have done an excellent job adding to their receiving room, tight end remains a question mark. Currently Darren Waller and fourth rounder Foster Moreau should see the majority of time at the position.
Waller certainly has potential. He stands 6’6″ and ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at his NFL Combine. However, his size/speed potential has yet to develop into on-field production. Over his three seasons in the league, Waller has caught 18 passes for 178 yards for two touchdowns. The Georgia Tech product has a chance to stretch the field, but is very far away from sure thing.
Moreau showed potential at LSU, catching 52 passes for 629 yards and six touchdowns. While he could end up being an offensive contributor, he is much more of a blocker than anything else. He could function in the Lee Smith role, but his red zone and short-yardage potential could be limited. The fourth-round rookie was named a surprise sleeper by Bleacher Report, but like Waller, is far from a sure-thing.
The Raiders have a clear need at tight end and could acquire their dream fit in Minnesota Viking star Kyle Rudolph. Currently the Vikings and Rudolph looked poised for divorce. The player and team are at a standstill when it comes to contract talks. The team also used a second round pick on former Alabama stud Irv Smith Jr.
It appears that Rudolph is out the door in Minnesota. If he could be acquired for a late round pick, or perhaps Karl Joseph, then the Raiders should look to add him to their offense. With Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams on the outside and Kyle Rudolph on the side, Oakland could have one of the better passing offenses in the entire NFL.
Rudolph has appeared in all 16 games in five of his eight NFL seasons, including the past four. Over those four years he has at least 49 catches for 495 yards and four scores.
In 2018 he started all 16 games, catching 64 passes for 634 yards and four touchdowns. His receptions and yards were both the second highest of his career. Pro Football Focus points out that his 1.9% drop rate over the past two years is lowest among tight ends with at least 300 routes run.
Adding Rudolph would give the Raiders another effective weapon in the offense. If Derek Carr takes a step forward, the Raiders could truly shine. Rudolph likely wouldn’t cost more than a late round pick and would completely change the tight end room on and off the field.
