SHRacerX Mock 1.0 2022

[*ochocincos*]

(03-31-2022, 10:17 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: Any chance they shock the NFL mock-draft experts and pick a TE at #31? There usually seems to be many surprise moves and picks on day one. Maybe this year we make the surprise move?

Additional thought, how is Hurst going to handle the Bengals drafting a TE if it happens? I watched his press conference and he was talking about how previous coaches mislead him about his opportunities, and how he trusts that Zac is going to get him on the field and use his abilities. He reinforced he was a 1st round draft pick and knows he has the talent to start and do well in the NFL. Will Hurst embrace competition or believe the Bengals mislead him if a TE is drafted? I didn't sense any uh-oh alarms from Hurst, but at times I thought he was a bit over the top about coaches in Baltimore and Atlanta misleading him.

I'm starting to really, really, really like McBride.

That's why I mentioned Day 1 or Day 2 originally. While I think it'd be a reach to take one of the TEs at 31, it could happen. Bengals might end up thinking this is their opportunity to get the best player at a position in the draft.

I think Hurst ended up in a tough situation both in BAL and ATL.
He's a typical TE. He's not an elite receiver.
Andrews proved to be a better receiver, and thus Hurst played second fiddle in BAL.
ATL had an opportunity to take TE/WR hybrid Kyle Pitts (my guy) and he showed why as a rookie last year.

Hurst is probably going to be in for a rude awakening again when he realizes he's likely going to be 4th in targets and thus not having great production again in CIN.

I don't really see any TE in this class who is going to be in that 800+ yard range in the NFL, which is the new elite tier (Kelce, Kittle, Waller, Pitts, Andrews). I think realistically you're looking at a handful of guys who could be in the 500-700 range depending on their opportunities.
Out of the group, I probably like Likely the best as a receiver. I think Woods has good potential, but he probably needs at least a year or two of development. Kolar and Ferguson are two guys I like on Day 3 that I think could be in the Dalton Schultz mold.

EDIT - To show better the impact Kyle Pitts has a receiver over some typical good TEs, here are some stats from last year with guys with around same number of targets.
Pitts - 110 targets, 68 rec, 1026 yards, 15.1 YPR (!!)
Gesicki - 112 targets, 73 rec, 780 yards, 10.7 YPR
Ertz - 112 targets, 74 rec, 763 yards, 10.3 YPR
Schultz - 104 targets, 78 rec, 808 yards, 10.4 YPR

So Pitts averaged 4-5 more YPR than a typical good TE. Most good typical TEs average in the 10-11 YPR range. Pitts actually had the highest YPR of all TEs.
Hurst has no way to compete with that. He's not that level of receiver.