Who Should I Start? Kyle Rudolph or Michael Thomas

Monday, September 4, 11:06 AM

Two-time Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph announced on Monday that he will officially retire as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Rudolph makes the decision after playing 12 seasons in the NFL. Originally a second-round pick of the Vikings in 2011 out of Notre Dame, Rudolph played the first 10 seasons of his career in Minnesota before joining the New York Giants in 2021 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year. He'll finish with 482 career receptions on 709 targets for 4,773 yards and 50 touchdowns in 165 games (145 starts). In just nine games (zero starts) for Tampa in 2022, the 33-year-old had three catches for 28 yards and one touchdown. Both of his Pro Bowl campaigns came in Minnesota -- in 2012 and in 2017.

Wednesday, March 13, 5:56 PM

Wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) is no longer under contract with the New Orleans Saints, according to a source, and is now officially a free agent. It was a formality this offseason since his deal was only really for one year. The 31-year-old was designated as a post-June 1 cut by the Saints. Thomas missed the final seven games of the 2023 season due to a knee injury and isn't likely to have a very robust market given all of the injuries he's endured since leading the NFL in receptions (149) and receiving yards (1,725) in 2019, the last year he was named to the Pro Bowl. Since then, the former second-round pick by the Saints in 2016 out of Ohio State has played in only 20 games and has caught 95 passes for 1,057 yards and four touchdowns.