03-16-2017, 06:03 PM
(03-16-2017, 01:50 PM)ochocincos Wrote: You bring up Reed, Gronk, and Pitta. First off, Reed, Gronk, and Pitta were not solid blockers coming out of college. Gronk was considered the best out of the three, and Reed still is really just a receiving TE. Second, all of these TEs are much slower than OJ Howard. Pitta = 4.63 40. Gronk = 4.68. Reed = 4.72. Eifert = 4.68. Howard's time was 4.51. That's GREAT for a 251 lb TE.
Gronk was also a second-round pick because there were questions with his durability, and that proved to be a valid concern. Gronk has missed 24 games in his seven-year career.
You seem to be focused primarily on the receiving aspect of TE, as you mention Leggett. Leggett doesn't offer the blocking that Howard does, plus his ceiling isn't as high. Maybe you like Evan Engram, but he's strictly a receiving TE. Too small to be an inline blocker and hardly any experience doing that. He's really just a big receiver. Hodges has ideal size, but also was rarely used as an inline blocker. Jake Butt is viewed as a less athletic version of Eifert in terms of receiving but has experience and success with inline blocking in college.
Overall, there is a reason OJ Howard is being viewed as the top TE and even has arguments of going in the top half of the draft. He's simply the most well-rounded TE, he tested off the charts at the combine for his size, he has a tremendously high ceiling, and he's NFL-ready from Day 1.
Did you just say Jordan Reed was a solid blocker coming out of college? That was the biggest concern about the guy, he couldn't block well at all. The reason I focus on the receiving side of being a TE is because that is where the league is heading, Jordan Reed is still a liability when he is in line but his advantage when running routes makes up for it. Jimmy Graham was similar, but with even less blocking experience, these guys are blocking liabilities but they give you a lot in the passing game. I like Leggot because he is a willing blocker and you can teach willing blockers to be better.
Simply put, I want value in the draft and a TE at 9 (no matter how well rounded he is) is not value in any draft especially not one as deep as this one at TE. A Jake Butt, or even some of the 2nd round options that may slide into the 3rd provide more value. A TE at 9 is a luxury pick when you are one piece away from a title, we are not there.
