Rudolph's situation had been tenuous for weeks given the team's salary cap situation, his cap hit, and the team drafting Irv Smith in the second round. The veteran tight end rightfully wouldn't take a pay cut to stay, and sides were going back and forth on an extension before Monday night's deal came to fruition. Throughout the process, Rudolph has said he wanted to remain in Minnesota if the deal was right. The four-year extension worth $9 million per year, which is on par with the top TEs, if it's seen through, did the trick.