The Minnesota Vikings tight end could be player the Buffalo Bills are interested in acquiring after recently losing one of their own tight ends to an injury.

Each and every offseason for the Minnesota Vikings seems to have a few intriguing storylines that take place. This year has been all about the Vikings improving their offensive line and figuring out ways to create more salary cap space.

Often appearing in the cap space discussions has been Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph. Given that he’s currently costing Minnesota more than $7.6 million in salary cap space, Rudolph has been frequenting the NFL rumor mill this offseason.

After being included in a variety of different trade rumors this year, it appears as though the tight end is now closer to remaining with the Vikings for the 2019 season. Minnesota has even offered Rudolph a five-year extension, but the two sides have yet to agree on any sort of new deal.

Since no new contract has yet to be signed, the tight end could technically still be available in a trade if the Vikings get an offer they like.

One team that may now be interested in Rudolph’s services is the Buffalo Bills. The Bills recently lost tight end Tyler Kroft for at least three months thanks to a broken foot and the Buffalo News’ Jay Skurski thinks that Rudolph could possibly end up as his replacement on their roster.

“Given Kroft’s injury, a case could be made the Bills would possibly be interested (in Rudolph). In my mind, a lot of that depends on what they think is going to happen with Kroft.

If he can get back early in the 2019 season, acquiring Rudolph would be unlikely. If the Bills think Kroft is going to miss a significant chunk of the season, though, maybe they make a move.”

The Bills have the cap space to afford the acquisition of the Minnesota tight end in a trade, but the dealbreaker would likely have to do with what they’re willing to give up to land him.

The Vikings are reportedly looking for a third-round draft pick in return for trading Rudolph and that may be too big of an asset that Buffalo is willing to part with.

The veteran tight end staying in Minnesota is still what seems to be the most likely scenario for 2019. But there’s no reason the Vikings shouldn’t still consider trading Rudolph until he at least agrees to an extension.