MINNEAPOLIS -- We're continuing our position-by-position look at the Vikings' roster this morning, with a look at how the team stacks up at tight end:

TIGHT ENDS

2015 free agents: None

The good: The Vikings were forced to delve into their depth at tight end after Kyle Rudolph sustained a sports hernia in Week 3, but they got decent contributions from Chase Ford and Rhett Ellison, who combined for 42 catches, 466 yards and two touchdowns. Ford, who played in 11 games, showed glimpses of being a solid threat over the middle, leading the group with 258 yards. Ellison excelled in his jack-of-all-trades role, catching 19 passes and performing plenty of grunt work as a run blocker.

The bad: This was supposed to be a breakout year for Rudolph, who dropped 15 pounds to get ready for Norv Turner's offense and got a five-year contract extension in August. But after an impressive preseason gave way to another injury, his durability is in question somewhat. Rudolph won't be 26 until November, and has time to make good on the contract he earned, but he's got to stay on the field. Ellison also struggled as a pass-blocker at times, when the Vikings had him deal with speed-rushers to help their tackles.

The money -- 2015 salary-cap numbers: Rudolph ($6.43 million), Ellison ($1.65 million), Ford ($585,000). Rudolph's $4.9 million base salary is guaranteed against injury, and becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year, but there's no reason to think he's going anywhere. Ellison got a raise in the final year of his rookie deal through the league's performance pay escalator clause.

Draft priority: Low. The Vikings have three tight ends, all 26 or under, and they've got their main man locked up in Rudolph. Unless injuries become an issue again for him in 2015, the Vikings are probably set here for the time being. They'll have to think at some point about the future for Ellison, who has become an underrated part of their offense.