Questions Answered: Kyle Rudolph’s Next Stop, the Jaylen Twyman Comeback, Spielman and Malik Willis

image courtesy of Vikings.com

The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the April 10th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].

Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.


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Q: If Kyle Rudolph ends up in Denver, can that be a more productive stop for him than New York?

Kyle Rudolph
Image Courtesy of Giants. com

A: Oh, absolutely — he’d have Russell Wilson flinging the ball.

The Broncos traded Noah Fant away, leaving Albert Okwuegbunam as the inheritor of the TE1 gig. Wilson will distribute the ball much more effectively than Daniel Jones, so Rudolph can thrive.

Rudolph does two things really, really well — catching the football and blocking downfield. He should be able to play as long as he wants with those traits. Russell Wilson next to him would just sweeten the deal.

Q: Sounds like Jaylen Twyman will make a full comeback. Can he eventually start for the Vikings?

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

A: Sure.

His draft stock fluctuated mightily last year, meaning he, in theory, possessed high-round potential at one point.

The recovery from bullet wounds is remarkable and inspirational. Twyman is just 22 years old. He can claw his way up the Vikings depth chart, perhaps eventually replacing Armon Watts if his development progresses swimmingly.

Q: I saw where Rick Spielman all but endorsed Malik Willis. Do you think the Vikings would draft him at #12 even with Spielman not here anymore?

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

A: Yes, we can envision a scenario where Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signs up for Willis with the 12th overall pick.

That is a longshot, but stranger things have happened. The Vikings are more likely to select whoever falls in the draft — Derek Stingley Jr., Kayvon Thibodeaux, Kyle Hamilton, etc. — or trade back for additional draft picks.

But it wouldn’t be absolutely shocking if Adofo-Mensah begins planning for life after Kirk Cousins this early.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).