PurplePTSD: Minnesota's Breakout TE Speaks About Vikings Future

Press release from the PurplePTSD:

K. Joudry

2022-03-12

With Irv Smith Jr. injured and Kyle Rudolph in New York, Tyler Conklin got the chance to be the team’s TE1. All things considered, the fourth-year TE performed well. He set careers highs in all the major statistical categories, finishing the season with 61 catches, 593 yards, and 3 TDs. Far from elite, but rock solid.

It’s this strong season that has many – including yours truly – wondering if the Vikings can afford him. He seems to know that his days in Minnesota may be numbered. PFT offers the recap on what he had to say. He suggests that he’d “love to be back in Minnesota if it makes sense for both parties” before indicating that “I don’t have those answers. But I love Minnesota. My girlfriend loves Minnesota.”

So, there is some desire to remain, but Tyler Conklin seems to be aware of the obvious. The team is in a cap crunch, and there is new leadership in place. On his end of things, Conklin is surely looking to get paid, and I can’t blame him. This isn’t a Kirk Cousons situation where the player has already made oodles. Rather, it’s a late-round pick looking for perhaps his one chance at a sizeable deal.

I don’t blame Conklin at all if he chases the money.

From Minnesota’s end of things, they’ll need to decide how much is too much for someone who is projected to be the TE2. They’re surely hoping that Smith Jr. is healthy enough to take over as the TE1.

That being said, there has to be some comfort in knowing that if Smith Jr. struggles to bounce back or gets hurt again, Conklin can do well as the team’s main option at tight end. The Vikings offense features a ton of skill, so it’s not like he’d need to carry the load. He’d instead need to be a steady chain-mover who could be a threat in the red zone. Being able to continue improving as a blocker would be a major bonus.

How much is that worth to Minnesota? Perhaps more importantly, how much is that worth to the rest of the NFL? Tyler Conklin is firmly in the tier-2 category of free agents. In other words, it’ll likely take a few days before we learn about where he’ll end up.

This press release was produced by the PurplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author’s own.