The Vikings selected Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph with their second-round pick and the 43rd overall selection in the draft. That is the only pick the Vikings have tonight because right now they don't have a third-round selection.

The skinny: Tight end didn't seem to be a huge need for the Vikings but coach Leslie Frazier did mention taking one at the NFL owners meetings in New Orleans. That's because Visanthe Shiancoe, Jim Kleinsasser and Jeff Dugan all are entering the final season of their contracts.

Inside information: Rudolph, 6-6, 259 pounds, was projected as a top 50 pick by Pro Football Weekly as he came out of Notre Dame after his junior season. He had injury issues in 2010, starting the first six games and catching 28 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns. He underwent surgery that ended his season on Oct. 15 after tearing two tendons off the bone in his right hamstring against Pittsburgh. He had aggravated that injury before the season but attempted to play through the problem.

Pro Football Weekly summary: Played through a hamstring injury all of his junior season, often looking like he was pulling a wagon off the line and evaluators need to revisit 2009 tape to better appreciate what he truly can do. Has the athletic ability, ball skills, toughness and intangibles to become an every down performer and entering a starting lineup readily from day one.

Judd's take: The Vikings wouldn't have needed to take Rudolph if they hadn't tried to sneak 2010 seventh-round pick Mickey Shuler through waivers last summer. Shuler was claimed by the Miami Dolphins. Rudolph's presence could make it difficult for Dugan to make the 53-man roster.

Rick Spielman's quote: "We had no issues with him medically after he was cleared by our doctors. When he fell to us, we felt that he was too good of a player to pass up. We felt that he has a lot of unique skills as a tight end and we wanted to stay true to our board. That was a situation where there was a player that normally if he hadn't had that hamstring injury, we wouldn't of even had a shot to get. We felt that we got great value when we got Kyle."