BGC 2020 TE/PTP Thread

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Who is Patriots' next TE? Scouting draft prospects who could fill void

Lazar's Combine Watch List: Tight Ends on the Patriots Radar This Offseason | CLNS Media

 

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2020 Tight End Prospects- Targeting the Tight Ends

With the escalation of the multi-dimensional tight end over the past decade, scouts and personnel offices have changed the skill-set paradigm of the position.

Front offices seek the next prodigious DIFFERENCE-MAKER who can govern the middle of the gridiron, defeat Cover 2 defenses down the seam and be employed in multiple formations. One-dimensional blockers, who are essentially sixth offensive linemen, are late-round fliers or priority free agents in the modern game.

2020 Tight End Prospects


I feel most of the top TEs in the current NFL landscape do not fit the ideal image of a traditional Y-type (in-line blocker), but more of the F/H-type (move TE) even if they are the physical size of a Y-Type (Zach Ertz, Mark Andrews, Tyler Higbee).


Zach Ertz

Weaknesses
Inconsistent in-line blocker, can get after his man but also loses the leverage battle and gets pushed back too easily. Misses second-level blocks when lunging at targets instead of getting position. Nice job adding bulk to his frame, but needs to continue to develop his strength to sustain blocks at the line of scrimmage.

NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Zach Ertz

Mark Andrews

Weaknesses

• Gives poor effort as a blocker
• Lacks aggression
• Hand usage and angles to his work as a blocker are poor
• Big but unreliable in running game

NFL Draft & Combine Profile - Mark Andrews | NFL.com

Tyler Higbee

Weakneses
Still has work to do filling out his frame. Slow to adjust to blocking assignment during flow of play. Not powerful enough yet to handle NFL edge power as inline blocker. Doesn't run feet through block to sustain. Upright into his breaks.

Tyler Higbee: Combine Stats at NFL.com

2019 NFL TE Receiving Yards Leaders



National Football League Stats - by Player Position | NFL.com


The skill level of their football traits/techniques (catching/route-running/blocking) is more important than their athletic traits (size/height/strength/40-yds speeds) and contributes to higher overall offensive production and value for a team.

This paradigm shift is why Harrison Bryant is TE1 in the draft, imo, because his draft profile is more aligned with that of most of the top NFL TEs, and offer a safer transition into the NFL than the other TE prospects.


Harrison Bryant

Overview
Bryant's plus athletic traits, high football IQ and toughness as a blocker make him one of the most talented, well-rounded tight ends in this draft. He's a little light to be considered for full-time work as a "Y" tight end, but his technique and tenacity should not be discounted in his ability to help the running game. He's instinctive in space with speed and separation talent to work all three levels and gives offensive coordinators the freedom to line him up all over the field. Bryant could become an early starter and has the talent to be a high volume pass-catching target as a move tight end.

NFL Draft & Combine Profile - Harrison Bryant | NFL.com

What separates Bryant from the rest of the nation's tight ends, however, is his prowess in the other facets of play. There were 171 tight ends who logged at least 30 snaps in pass protection this season, and Bryant ranked 11th in pass-blocking grade, not allowing a single quarterback pressure on his 34 snaps. In the run game, he was just as dominant, grading out as the eighth-best player among all tight ends in the country with at least 150 run-blocking snaps.

College Football: Group of 5 Players of the Year | College Football and NFL Draft | PFF

Situational Stats:

2019 yards per reception (YPR) on non-red zone targets: 16.4 (3rd)

2018 and 2019 touchdown rate on red zone targets: 30% (10th)

Where he lined up the most: slot (52%)

NFL Draft Preview: Early NFL Draft TE Rankings (Analytics) - Fantasy Columns

 

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New England Patriots


Jeremiah said three tight ends in the draft, Notre Dame's Cole Kmet, Dayton's Adam Trautman and Florida Atlantic's Harrison Bryant, would be nice options for the Patriots to address a need at a position that had long been a strength in New England prior to the 2019 season: tight end. Kmet is "not nearly as athletic as (Rob Gronkowski)," Jeremiah said, "but he's somebody with that big catch radius. He's tough to tackle." If the club chooses to wait until Day 2 to pick up a tight end, three other options include Cincinnati's Josiah Deguara, Charlie Taumoepeau of Portland State and Hunter Bryant of Washington.

2020 NFL Draft: Daniel Jeremiah identifies team fits for prospects

 

[Ochmed Jones]

2020 NFL Draft: Daniel Jeremiah identifies team fits for prospects

there is a lot of helium on trautman, especially considering he can’t block!

I have kmet with a second round grade, if he runs well. Unfortunately, we traded our second round pick for a wooden Indian!

if Bryant runs a 4.6 or better, he becomes immediately viable in our offense, especially considering how many deep seam routes our tight ends run.

 

[sircole]

there is a lot of helium on trautman, especially considering he can’t block!

I have kmet with a second round grade, if he runs well. Unfortunately, we traded our second round pick for a wooden Indian!

if Bryant runs a 4.6 or better, he becomes immediately viable in our offense, especially considering how many deep seam routes our tight ends run.

I like Trautman and feel his blocking can improve. He's raw because he played in the Pioneer Football League, an FCS conference that doesn't offer football scholarships and the competition is closer to NCAA Division II level.

Really, Trautman, Kmet, AsiAsi and Hopkins are all probably Day 2/3 TE prospects that I'm okay with drafting because they offer potential offensive talents.

IMO, they're harder to project a smooth transition to the NFL TE position which is why I prefer Harrison Bryant over them.

 

[Snooky97]

Hunter Bryant Size matches up with AH... Double Dip TE please

 

[captain stone]

2020 NFL Draft: Daniel Jeremiah identifies team fits for prospects

Don't know if either Deguara or Taumoepeau are Day 2 prospects.

 

[captain stone]

Hunter Bryant Size matches up with AH... Double Dip TE please

Harrison Bryant's < 31" arms (at 6'4-3/4) is disappointing.

 

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Harrison Bryant's < 31" arms (at 6'4-3/4) is disappointing.

Slightly shorter arm length than his Senior Bowl measurement, but nothing that really detracts from his profile as an all-around TE prospect.



2020 Senior Bowl Weigh-Ins and Measurements | Pro Football Network

 

[Gator Mike]

 

[Snooky97]

Tape doesn’t lie.. Hunter Bryant is still the best move TE in this class. Albert O that 40 time just doesn’t show up on tape

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Tape doesn’t lie.. Hunter Bryant is still the best move TE in this class. Albert O that 40 time just doesn’t show up on tape

it does when looking at his 2018 tape. But in 2019 he suffered from bad qb play.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I like Trautman and feel his blocking can improve. He's raw because he played in the Pioneer Football League, an FCS conference that doesn't offer football scholarships and the competition is closer to NCAA Division II level.

Really, Trautman, Kmet, AsiAsi and Hopkins are all probably Day 2/3 TE prospects that I'm okay with drafting because they offer potential offensive talents.

IMO, they're harder to project a smooth transition to the NFL TE position which is why I prefer Harrison Bryant over them.

Agreed, personally I’d rather them swing for the fences with Trautman who had a great week at the senior bowl, but would definitely be ok with Bryant who is more polished.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Thaddeus Moss has a fractured foot that requires surgery, didn’t work out and dude looked like he was gonna run a 5.40 anyway

7th rounder?

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Agreed, personally I’d rather them swing for the fences with Trautman who had a great week at the senior bowl, but would definitely be ok with Bryant who is more polished.

trautman’s 3 cone time was off the charts.

however going from division 3 to the nfl means he might be injured a lot early in his career due to the physicality of the nfl players.

 

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Thaddeus Moss has a fractured foot that requires surgery, didn’t work out and dude looked like he was gonna run a 5.40 anyway

7th rounder?

Yeah, he wasn't going to run fast, but his blocking and hands are good. His injury will drop him some in the draft, though, he still could contribute to our bad TE group if we pick him.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Trautman moved well in drills. Great on the sled. Wish he did a lil better in the 40 but he had a really nice combine. 3C was

 

[Patriot Missile]

Trautman moved well in drills. Great on the sled. Wish he did a lil better in the 40 but he had a really nice combine. 3C was

Right, was expecting a better 40 for sure. Both Bryants ran about where they were expected to which was 4.70ish which is good for their size.

 

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it does when looking at his 2018 tape. But in 2019 he suffered from bad qb play.

Albert O probably secured a Day 2 draft position today with his 40-yards time. He does have good hands, even though his route-running and blocking is inconsistent, and that could be enough if a team can envision a way to use him effectively with their offense.

Cole Kmet did good overall today, also, especially at his weight. Harrison Bryant didn't test high athletically but did well in the field drills which matches what he displayed on his tape. Hunter Bryant did well in the field too. Devin Asiasi still looks like an intriguing inline prospect who I hope will be there in the 3/4 round.

C.J. O'Grady also didn't test well athletically today. However, he did pretty well in the field drills, just as he did on his tape. He could be worth a flyer in the later rounds if his off the fields issues checkout and are okay.

Some of the top TEs don't test well athletically in individual components (<4.6 40-yds dash, vertical/broad jump or 3-cone) when you look at their draft profile but are well-rounded football players and very productive in the league.

*C.J. O'Grady did test okay in the vertical/broad jump and not too bad in the 3-cone.

*Dalton Keene and Josiah Deguara tested well athletically overall and probably increased their draft stock.

Josiah Deguara is being pretty underrated with how well he looks on film.