Tight end Shuffle: Hartsock, Maneri, Terrence Miller in; Jones, Watson, RB Houston out

ctpatsfan77 said:

That presumes that those other players actually wanted to play for the Patriots.

As an example, had the Pats not drafted Edelman, he would probably have signed with the Packers.

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Yeah well I find it hard to believe a UDFA wouldn't want to come here given the depth we have at TE. They would have had an excellent opportunity here.

Normally in theory I would agree but in terms of TE I don't see anyone not wanting to play here.

Jimke said:

Jensen, Leonard, Murphy, Grimble, Duncan (Inj?), , Lyeria, Pedersen, Bayer, Navjar, , Annen, and Jacobs
were all ranked better than the top UDFA the Patriots signed.

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...and I'll go out on a limb and say that none of them (except for the special case of Lyerla) would have been much help.

In a year when Richard Rodgers and Crockett Gillmore were 3rd-round picks, there were few diamonds to be found in the UDFA TE rough.

patchick said:

Yeah, the sad fact is that all of the buzz about Housler's availability came from outside Arizona. It's starting to like like pure wishful thinking.

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Wishful thinking?


Here?


No f.....ing way?

Over the past 15 years, name the UDFA TEs who have made a significant impact during their rookie year. I'll wait. Gates may be the first name that comes to mind but his rookie year production was fairly pedestrian. Let's stop crying over lost binkies who will likely never amount to anything.

As for drafted TEs, we will know by February whether they missed an apportunity in May. My guess is that none of the drafted TEs who were available to them will be difference makers as rookies.

As long as Gronk stays healthy, they'll be fine (as mentioned many time on this site, see offensive production in 2013 when he was healthy).

BelichickFan said:

Duncan is still unsigned.

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Does anyone know what his story is? I know he attended Colts rookie camp but didn't sign.

Patsgofor4 said:

Over the past 15 years, name the UDFA TEs who have made a significant impact during their rookie year. I'll wait. Gates may be the first name that comes to mind but his rookie year production was fairly pedestrian. Let's stop crying over lost binkies who will likely never amount to anything.

As for drafted TEs, we will know by February whether they missed an apportunity in May. My guess is that none of the drafted TEs who were available to them will be difference makers as rookies.

As long as Gronk stays healthy, they'll be fine (as mentioned many time on this site, see offensive production in 2013 when he was healthy).

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Joseph Fauria caught 7 touchdowns last season as an UDFA.

Was kind of hoping Gonzalez would change his mind at the last minute. One can dream.

patchick said:

...and I'll go out on a limb and say that none of them (except for the special case of Lyerla) would have been much help.

In a year when Richard Rodgers and Crockett Gillmore were 3rd-round picks, there were few diamonds to be found in the UDFA TE rough.

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I really liked Rodgers in the 5th but when he went in the 3rd I was blown away. Over drafted to say the least. It really did show the lack of depth in this class.

Brady6 said:

Joseph Fauria caught 7 touchdowns last season as an UDFA.

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Come on now. Three came in one game (on three recs) and he had a grand total of 18 receptions all year. 7 TDs in 18 catches is an anomaly that will never happen again. He was not a true "impact" rookie and was a liabity as a blocker, meaning he problably would not have seen the field for the Pats. The Lions seem to agree, given that they resigned Pettigrew and drafted Ebron in the 1st round.

Patriot Missile said:

Was kind of hoping Gonzalez would change his mind at the last minute. One can dream.

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I'm not giving up all hope just yet. I don't think that a late(r) season signing is impossible, for the Pats or another stud team.

In retrospect, the Patriots should have re-signed Mulligan. He would have been a better option as
a blocking tight end than Maneri and Hartsock. I think the Patriots are in panic mode to come up with
a couple of capable TEs to fill the bill until Gronkowski, Hooman, and Williams return.

I would be surprised if they don't put in a claim for a tight end when the rosters are cut to 53.

Jimke said:

Jensen, Leonard, Murphy, Grimble, Duncan (Inj?), , Lyeria, Pedersen, Bayer, Navjar, , Annen, and Jacobs
were all ranked better than the top UDFA the Patriots signed.

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Ranked better by whom?

Alas Justin Jones we hardly knew you. Obviously after BB looked a the tape he decided to move on . Dropping that pass didn't help. Houston once he put that ball on the ground the writing was on the wall. Warning to Finch put the ball on ground again and you will be next

patchick said:

The optimistic view is that they feel comfortable with their pass catchers; pessimistic is that pass-catching TEs are one of the league's scarcest commodities and there just weren't any decent options.

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Houston and Jones were my 2 UDFA candidates to make the team going into training camp. Shows how much I know. Sigh.

patchick said:

Yeah, the sad fact is that all of the buzz about Housler's availability came from outside Arizona. It's starting to like like pure wishful thinking.

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Jake Ballard retiring doesn't help in terms of Arizona's TE depth chart.

So not loving the tight end situation this more than likely guarantees a spot for the 3 remaining tight ends and Develin to fill in when needed.

Wish we never cut Lee Smith.

As far as binkies Finch made it one more week and I'm all about the Tyms express. I just badly want to see us beat Denver handily and have Tyms have a monster game against a team that cut him.

The kid has got fire and passion and you can't coach that, that is deep from the life that that he has had and the problems he has overcome.

I strongly believe he will not let an opportunity slip so easily.

The coaches are going to find it extremely difficult to cut this kid because he will give it his all and the best part is his ceiling is a number 2 receiver in the league with his floor being at worst a 6th target.

I have my eyes on the other teams tough cuts I would look at linebackers being cut by Seattle and San Fran as guys we may bring it to the practice squad.

mayoclinic said:

Houston and Jones were my 2 UDFA candidates to make the team going into training camp. Shows how much I know. Sigh.

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I'm right there with you. Meanwhile I dare anybody to say they were excited to hear about the Pats signing some slow, weak, shrimpy CB from West Alabama!

Every UDFA is a longshot, and in the deep outer reaches of the draft class how they were "ranked" doesn't end up meaning much.

Brady6 said:

Joseph Fauria caught 7 touchdowns last season as an UDFA.

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My draft binkie ... ouch!

Brady6 said:

Tight End should have been addressed in the draft. I don't know why it wasn't especially considering there were far better UDFA options than Watson and Jones.

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Been saying this since May 10th. So many good TEs were available,and even the project TEs are better than what we have in camp. Obviously this will remain an issue until addressed in the draft or FA.

Patriot Missile said:

I really liked Rodgers in the 5th but when he went in the 3rd I was blown away. Over drafted to say the least. It really did show the lack of depth in this class.

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All reports out of Green Bay indicate that Rodgers is having a terrific camp. He had a reception in last nights preseason opener as well.