Fansided

5 teams that should try to sign Antonio Gates

By Brad Berreman

CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 31: Antonio Gates #85 of the Los Angeles Chargers is seen running onto the field prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at StubHub Center on December 31, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 31: Antonio Gates #85 of the Los Angeles Chargers is seen running onto the field prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at StubHub Center on December 31, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Rich Graessle via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Rich Graessle via Getty Images /

2. Minnesota Vikings

With a looming decision to make on Kyle Rudolph after the 2018 season, the Vikings drafted tight end Tyler Conklin as a theoretical future replacement in the fifth round last week. But the team is otherwise built to win now across the board, with aspirations to exceed last year’s NFC Championship Game run, and surrounding Kirk Cousins with weapons should still be on the radar.

During Cousins’ best season with the Washington Redskins (2016), 110 of his 406 completions (27.1 percent) went to tight ends Jordan Reed (66) and Vernon Davis (44) and 158 of his 606 pass targets (26.1 percent) went to those two guys. That’s a significant chunk of production, and outside of Rudolph the Vikings don’t have another tight end in between the two extremes of a blocker with limited value as a receiver (David Morgan) and raw potential (Conklin) right now.

Gates would fit in nicely in Minnesota, as a functional piece in new coordinator John DeFilippo’s offense. He also has a similar background to Conklin, as a former basketball player with some raw football ability when he entered the league, so that mentorship has value too.

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