Talking TEs - 2014 Draft

I'm all for doubling up on TE in this draft.

Niklas and ghast.. Colt Lyria :bricks:

mayoclinic said:

Dane Brugler on the top 4 TEs:



2014 NFL Draft prospects: Top 50 Draft Board 1.0 - CBSSports.com

The rankings are his own.

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Ebron is going to be gone by the time the Pats are up, and I don't think the Pats should invest that much draft capital in a TE regardless. The more I watch of Amaro, the more he reminds me of Jermaine Gresham v. 2.0. No thanks. Niklas is an interesting prospect. Watched a good bit of him and, while he's not a murderer/Hernandez type, I think he would work well with Gronk in two TE packages. In the impending event of a Gronk injury, he could fill in nicely. If nothing else, he should be a huge target in the red zone. Also very high on ASJ as well.

yopats said:

I'm all for doubling up on TE in this draft.

Niklas and ghast.. Colt Lyria :bricks:

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I could see the Pats taking a 7th round "moon shot" flier on either Lyerla or Bloomsburg DE Larry Webster as a TE conversion. Both are high risk guys - Lyerla because he's a head case, Webster because he's a conversion prospect. I wouldn't do it sooner. Either as a UDFA would be fine.

mayoclinic said:

I could see the Pats taking a 7th round "moon shot" flier on either Lyerla or Bloomsburg DE Larry Webster as a TE conversion. Both are high risk guys - Lyerla because he's a head case, Webster because he's a conversion prospect. I wouldn't do it sooner. Either as a UDFA would be fine.

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Still have a thing for Logan Thomas as a TE conversion. Make that work and we could be looking at another Gronk. Big hands, long arms, the size and good to very good speed for a TE.

Don't know if he can catch though

manxman2601 said:

Still have a thing for Logan Thomas as a TE conversion. Make that work and we could be looking at another Gronk. Big hands, long arms, the size and good to very good speed for a TE.

Don't know if he can catch though

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He's very interesting but the big question is whether he's open to switching.

So, to quote someone else, is he Edelperson or Pat White?

Snake Eyes said:

He's very interesting but the big question is whether he's open to switching.

So, to quote someone else, is he Edelperson or Pat White?

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I know. If he's drafted very late, then I suspect he might be.

IMHO, our major deficit in 2013 was our TE play. It was by far our major deficiency.

FREE AGENT
Everyone seems to be fine with re-signing Edelman to a long-term contract. Yet , when we discuss tight ends, we think that we cannot sign Pettigrew or another top tight end. IMHO, adding 2-3 tight ends is our greatest need other than signing a top corner. I would much rather add Pettigrew than Edelman. Yes, I understand that we could cut Amendola and keep Edelman. That is a different decision which I understand could go either way.

I think that we will add the usual JAGs at both TE and WR. But that isn't what we discussing. We need 2-3 tight ends that we can count on. That was our plan going into 2013. Most of thought that we needed FOUR tight ends, including a H-back.

THE DRAFT
I think that we should draft a tight end early and often as we did when we drafted Gronkowski and Hernandez.

BOTTOM LINE
We have to be able to have two solid tight ends when Gronkowski isn't available. When he is, one will be a backup, and compete with the backup WR's for reps.

IF we have a MAJOR improvement at tight end, we will always have the ability to have two quality tight ends on the field. We will have Vereen.

So, for me, we could be fine with Amendola or Edelman, Dobson and Collie, plus some help from Thompkins, Bryce, Harrison, Moe and or a minor free agent or two.

It seems that we many have the option of having both Amendola and Edelman OR adding a top tight OR adding a mid-level downfield receiver.

TE is certainly a major need to address for 2014. A couple of thoughts:

1. Mark Harrison could potentially be developed as a hybrid WR/TE (think Delanie Walker). Nothing that can be relied upon at this time, obviously, but an intriguing option.

2. The cost of signing a quality UFA TE is probably considerably less than that of signing a quality UFA WR. Someone like Brandon Pettigrew could provide a "reliable" option. Like you, I would rather let Edelman walk (ignoring for now the "swap Amendola for Edelman" option) and sign Pettigrew plus a lower-cost WR like Jeremy Maclin or Riley Cooper.

3. When discussing the need for 4 TEs, that includes both in-line and "move" TEs, the latter including to some extent FB/H-back options. James Develin isn't really an H-back, but someone like Trey Millard from Oklahoma would be.

4. This draft is very deep at the TE/move-TE positions. Right now Richard Rodgers, Xavier Grimble, Trey Millard and Colt Lyerla are all rated as 7th round/UDFA prospects by NFL DraftScout.

We could potentially take Gronk, sign Pettigrew as a UFA, draft/sign Millard and one of Rodgers/Grimble/Lyerla and use Harrison as a hybrid WR/TE, and have very good depth and talent at the TE/move-TE position for relatively low cost (a modest UFA signing and 2 day 3/UDFA selections).

mgteich said:

IMHO, our major deficit in 2013 was our TE play. It was by far our major deficiency.

FREE AGENT
Everyone seems to be fine with re-signing Edelman to a long-term contract. Yet , when we discuss tight ends, we think that we cannot sign Pettigrew or another top tight end. IMHO, adding 2-3 tight ends is our greatest need other than signing a top corner. I would much rather add Pettigrew than Edelman. Yes, I understand that we could cut Amendola and keep Edelman. That is a different decision which I understand could go either way.

I think that we will add the usual JAGs at both TE and WR. But that isn't what we discussing. We need 2-3 tight ends that we can count on. That was our plan going into 2013. Most of thought that we needed FOUR tight ends, including a H-back.

THE DRAFT
I think that we should draft a tight end early and often as we did when we drafted Gronkowski and Hernandez.

BOTTOM LINE
We have to be able to have two solid tight ends when Gronkowski isn't available. When he is, one will be a backup, and compete with the backup WR's for reps.

IF we have a MAJOR improvement at tight end, we will always have the ability to have two quality tight ends on the field. We will have Vereen.

So, for me, we could be fine with Amendola or Edelman, Dobson and Collie, plus some help from Thompkins, Bryce, Harrison, Moe and or a minor free agent or two.

It seems that we many have the option of having both Amendola and Edelman OR adding a top tight OR adding a mid-level downfield receiver.

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mayoclinic said:

4. This draft is very deep at the TE/move-TE positions. Right now Richard Rodgers, Xavier Grimble, Trent Murphy and Colt Lyerla are all rated as 7th round/UDFA prospects by NFL DraftScout.

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I haven't been as high on you for Trent Murphy but that's because you didn't tell me he was a TE prospect too . Mind you, he is from Stanford so it's possible.

manxman2601 said:

I haven't been as high on you for Trent Murphy but that's because you didn't tell me he was a TE prospect too . Mind you, he is from Stanford so it's possible.

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I meant Trey Millard. Brain fart/Freudian slip. Thanks for pointing it out. Fixed.

Pitta is also a FA and he's the best option. He was a great security blanket for Flacco. Taking him would definitely weaken the Ravens.

Chandler should be the next option. He was very good for the Bills, taking him would weaken a division rival.

One of these + 2-4 round pick + Lyerla 6/7round would surely solidify the position. Have to have 2 solid catching options behind Gronk. Taking the load off Gronk would help greatly. Having Gronk for the playoffs should be a very important priority for the Pats.

mgteich said:

I would much rather add Pettigrew than Edelman.

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mayoclinic said:

Like you, I would rather let Edelman walk (ignoring for now the "swap Amendola for Edelman" option) and sign Pettigrew plus a lower-cost WR like Jeremy Maclin or Riley Cooper.

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I respect the heck out of both of you but I think you are absolutely nuts. Brady might finally crack if they let Edelman go and bring in more projects. Yes we need a new TE or two but we don't need to exacerbate that by letting his only reliable WR go. Again. I was fine with the Welker thing but I don't think Brady was. Once Gronk was out, he looked almost solely at Edelman, he's not going to be OK if they let him walk too. Maybe Dobson, Boyce, KT, Amendola will earn his trust with an offseason but we just suffered through a season of Brady not having enough guys he can trust and now you want to let him walk ?

I would put money on Edelman returning, he and Gronk give Brady two reliable, trusted receivers. From there we hope that Dobson becomes another and we'll be in OK shape.

BelichickFan said:

I respect the heck out of both of you but I think you are absolutely nuts. Brady might finally crack if they let Edelman go and bring in more projects. Yes we need a new TE or two but we don't need to exacerbate that by letting his only reliable WR go. Again. I was fine with the Welker thing but I don't think Brady was. Once Gronk was out, he looked almost solely at Edelman, he's not going to be OK if they let him walk too. Maybe Dobson, Boyce, KT, Amendola will earn his trust with an offseason but we just suffered through a season of Brady not having enough guys he can trust and now you want to let him walk ?

I would put money on Edelman returning, he and Gronk give Brady two reliable, trusted receivers. From there we hope that Dobson becomes another and we'll be in OK shape.

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Pettigrew over Edelman? Thats criminal. What has freaking pettigrew done? If this guy was any good Stafford would not be forcing throws into triple coverage to C Johnson every other throw. UDFA Fauria outplayed him.

If they let Edelman walk Brady should hang them up. He had one reliable receiver in Welker they let him walk. He has one reliable receiver in Edelman, now let him walk too? Without Edelman the Pats would not had make the playoffs. He was the only consistent receiver all season.

Can people stop talking up Lyerla? The dude is a major head case and would never fit here. Does not take direction well equates to not making the team well.

Usually this draft forum is a place away from the idiotic stuff posted on the main forum but people prefer to sign Pettigrew over Edelman???? The guy is lacking an important part of being a TE in our offense, the ability to catch on a regular basis! The guy has rocks for hands. Not to mention him being sluggish. He can't get open, even in an offense where megatron is doubled or more on every snap, plus defenses having to look at receiving threats coming out of the backfield, yet hes still not enough of a threat

The guy sucks IMO. Where as Edelman knows are offence and can line up all over the place.

I believe this would be a terrible move.

I've been a big fan of Pettigrew since he came out of Oklahoma State and I think he would be a solid pickup. But I would certainly take Edelman over him and its not really close. But I don't see why we can't get both. I know we don't have a lot of cap space but there are a lot of moves we can make to free up space and I think any FA deals would be backloaded to clear them past some of the big contracts like Wilfork, Mankins and the Hernandez dead money. We still have a lot of flexibility to make moves.

I do think Pettigrew is a much better fit for our system than Detroit's vertical offense. Use him primarily as a blocker and on shorter routes and I think he can be a really solid addition. If you want a guy to go down the field and make big plays then he's probably not your guy, but as a role player I think he would be excellent. Really just a better version of Hooman.

s3antana5757 said:

Can people stop talking up Lyerla? The dude is a major head case and would never fit here. Does not take direction well equates to not making the team well.

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Unfortunately I agree. Which is too bad. The kid got some serious talent.

BelichickFan said:

I respect the heck out of both of you but I think you are absolutely nuts. Brady might finally crack if they let Edelman go and bring in more projects. Yes we need a new TE or two but we don't need to exacerbate that by letting his only reliable WR go. Again. I was fine with the Welker thing but I don't think Brady was. Once Gronk was out, he looked almost solely at Edelman, he's not going to be OK if they let him walk too. Maybe Dobson, Boyce, KT, Amendola will earn his trust with an offseason but we just suffered through a season of Brady not having enough guys he can trust and now you want to let him walk ?

I would put money on Edelman returning, he and Gronk give Brady two reliable, trusted receivers. From there we hope that Dobson becomes another and we'll be in OK shape.

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I'll be thrilled if Edelman returns. But if his price is anything near what's rumored, then his return would require major cuts elsewhere. Amendola is a possibility, though I think it's unlikely that the FO will give up on him after 1 injured year. But the money has to come from somewhere.

A number of people, myself included (Patfanken has led the way on this one), have suggested for several years that Edelman could step into Welker's shoes and were scoffed at by the majority on the board. Now he's had 1 good season, and all of a sudden he's indispensable? The truth is in-between: he was better than people thought before, and he's good but not indispensable now. The Pats can fill his productivity with Edelman and Boyce, sign a WR who complements what they already have, and sign a blocking TE/red zone threat like Pettigrew, probably for what they would have to pay Edelman. If that turns out to be the case, I'll take that deal.

No one is above the team. If Edelman wants to make a deal and come back, fine. If he wants to get paid big time, there are other ways to skin a cat, and they may end up being more effective than having your top 2 receivers be essentially the same kind of guy.

KontradictioN said:

Ebron is going to be gone by the time the Pats are up, and I don't think the Pats should invest that much draft capital in a TE regardless. The more I watch of Amaro, the more he reminds me of Jermaine Gresham v. 2.0. No thanks. Niklas is an interesting prospect. Watched a good bit of him and, while he's not a murderer/Hernandez type, I think he would work well with Gronk in two TE packages. In the impending event of a Gronk injury, he could fill in nicely. If nothing else, he should be a huge target in the red zone. Also very high on ASJ as well.

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I kind of agree if Ebron is not there then lets avoid Amaro. Houman will be our blocking TE and Gronk is a good blocker as well. We need a guy in that Aaron Hernandez role. I would love to see Edelman/Gronk giving outlets in the middle of the field and Brady/McD having fun moving Ebron around.

BelichickFan said:

I respect the heck out of both of you but I think you are absolutely nuts. Brady might finally crack if they let Edelman go and bring in more projects. Yes we need a new TE or two but we don't need to exacerbate that by letting his only reliable WR go. Again. I was fine with the Welker thing but I don't think Brady was. Once Gronk was out, he looked almost solely at Edelman, he's not going to be OK if they let him walk too. Maybe Dobson, Boyce, KT, Amendola will earn his trust with an offseason but we just suffered through a season of Brady not having enough guys he can trust and now you want to let him walk ?

I would put money on Edelman returning, he and Gronk give Brady two reliable, trusted receivers. From there we hope that Dobson becomes another and we'll be in OK shape.

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Thank you BF...mgteich and mayoclinic do you all see the downward spiral of Pettigrew? If they do what you guys are suggesting if I was Brady I would asked to be Released. Pettigrew over a up and coming Edelman.