Why NY Giants’ deal with Kyle Rudolph hit a snag

The NY Giants’ plans to add Kyle Rudolph might be put on hold.

Tuesday, the Giants‘ agreement with Rudolph ran into a setback when it was revealed his foot injury could require surgery.

According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Rudolph remains a Giant, but “the two sides are discussing how to proceed.”

Garafolo also points out that while Rudolph and the NY Giants have agreed to his contract, he has yet to sign it.

Rudolph’s injury was a concern to the NY Giants, because his deal was contingent on him passing a physical, after missing four games last season. Despite his season being cut short, Rudolph caught 28 of his 37 targets for 334 yards and one touchdown, while not dropping a pass.

The NY Giants signed Rudolph in part because of his potential to form a dominant duo of pass-catching tight ends along with Evan Engram, as well as to give quarterback Daniel Jones a reliable target in the passing game after he went the past two seasons without a dropped pass, and has dropped just two since 2017.

Former NFL Executive of The Year Jeff Diamond believes the NY Giants made the right decision signing Rudolph.

“First of all, he’s really improved his blocking. He’s a big target,” Diamond said during an appearance on FanSided’s The Matt Lombardo Show. “He’s 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.”

Now, it would seem the agreement comes down to Rudolph’s medical issues working them out to the NY Giants’ satisfaction, some sort of agreement regarding his potential surgery, or a re-worked contract to keep this deal alive.