Kirk Relies on the Tight End

Not only did Minnesota invest heavily in the quarterback position after one of the weirdest quarterback situations I have ever seen, but they invested in the right quarterback. Cousins is by no means the perfect quarterback, but this situation is perfect for him.

Cousins is a superbly intelligent quarterback who relies heavily on the tight end position as a safety net. With the threat of Dalvin Cook pounding the rock, linebackers will be tempted to sneak up in the box. This, in turn, will allow underrated seam threat, Rudolph, to exploit the middle of the defense with ease.

It’s a match made in heaven, and it is part of what makes Cousins so successful. In his time with the Redskins, Cousins favorite target was often-injured but dynamic receiving threat, Jordan Reed.

Despite missing two games in 2015 and four games in 2016, Reed finished first in receptions in 2015 and third in 2016. The injury bug really bit Reed last year allowing him to only play in six games, but Vernon Davis stepped in and finished third in receptions.

In Kyle Rudolph, Cousins is getting a game-changing tight end who can consistently stay healthy. Unlike Reed, Rudolph hasn’t missed a single game in three years.

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