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NY Giants sign Kyle Rudolph: ‘Good signing’ says ex-NFL Executive of Year

By Stephen Samra

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Kyle Rudolph #82 of the Minnesota Vikings catches his second touchdown pass of the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Kyle Rudolph #82 of the Minnesota Vikings catches his second touchdown pass of the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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The NY Giants weren’t expected to be players for a tight end when free agency started, so they turned heads when they inked Kyle Rudolph to a two year, $14 million deal. The move was unexpected, but the reaction since has been positive.

Former NFL Executive of the Year, Jeff Diamond, watched Rudolph blossom from rookie to pro bowler during his career. Diamond, who found great success as the general manager of the Minnesota Vikings and president of the Tennessee Titans, spoke glowingly about the tight end while appearing on The Matt Lombardo Show.

“He’s still a good player .. a good signing for them, and Daniel Jones with another target,” said Diamond.

Rudolph brings intangibles that the team didn’t have at the tight end position. Diamond mentioned his blocking ability, red-zone prowess and his reliable hands as reasons he’d be a popular player in New York, among others.

"“First of all, he’s really improved his blocking. He’s a big target .. excellent in the red zone. We saw that when the Vikings won the playoff game in New Orleans. Tremendous hands .. makes great catches, and he’s a really good person. Community guy. He was a leader here with the Vikings, and I think he brings all those things to a football team,” said Diamond."

The Giants’ players believe they’re in the process of building something special – building a winning franchise. Rudolph knows what that looks like, what that smells like – signing a veteran like him can push that message over the finish line.

Diamond won 15 games with the Vikings during his 1998 Executive of the Year season – watching veterans like Randall Cunningham and Cris Carter lead a team with some extraordinary young talent mixed in, like Randy Moss. He knows how important it is to have a good balance of both, something the Rudolph signing helps the Giants achieve.

Rudolph wasn’t the only former Viking that Diamond mentioned during his time on the show. Later on, Diamond also mentioned new Giants’ pass rusher, former Viking Ifeadi Odenigbo, as a good, underrated signing.

You can listen to the entire interview with Diamond, along with insight into the NFL free agency frenzy and an interview with former Super Bowl Champion linebacker, Matt Chatham, on the first episode of The Matt Lombardo Show.

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