Player Types, Part Two: Potential Bills Tight Ends

by Kurupt on Apr 7, 2008 12:35 PM EDT in NFL Draft Comment 18 comments

Dustin Keller could be the receiving threat the TE position lacks (Ben Drinkut, Purdue Exponent)

Here comes part two of a four-part series examining the types of players, rather than specific players, that the Buffalo Bills may target during the draft. The aim of these articles is to try to come to a consensus on what type of player the Bills should be looking to add to the roster. Now up: Tight End. Should the Bills add an all-around TE or a receiving option only? Where will we address this position?

TIGHT END: Should the Bills draft an all-around TE or a one-dimensional receiving threat?

This is a pick that I've been going back and forth on. Should we bring in a player who is a solid blocker, but not a big time receiving threat, or should we go after a TE who's going to be more Dallas Clark than Jason Witten? To me, I have no idea which way the Bills will go, but I see the value in going either way. On one hand, we have Robert Royal as our only proven blocking TE with guys like Teyo Johnson, Courtney Anderson and Derek Schouman more known for the receiving skills if anything. If we take a player who's not going to help us as a blocker, where would that second short yardage blocker come from? However, there may be other players currently on our roster who can help in that area. With the (supposed) return of the true FB position to the Bills offense, we should have potentially two solid blockers available from there. Also, with the move of Matt Murphy to OT, we have a player who's been a TE his whole career with the ability to man the edge, assuming he sticks on the roster. Personally, I don't care which direction we go as long as the player we bring in has the ability to make plays as a receiver. I will say this though, I don't want another Robert Royal added to the roster. I'd love Martellus Bennett or Dustin Keller in the 2nd Round.

Potential All-Around TE's:

Early Rounds: Martellus Bennett (Texas A&M), John Carlson (Notre Dame), Brad Cottam (Tennessee)

Mid/Late Rounds: Craig Stevens (Cal), Joe Jon Finley (Oklahoma), Joey Haynos (Maryland), Tom Santi (Virginia)

Potential Receiving TE's:

Early Rounds: Fred Davis (USC), Dustin Keller (Purdue), Martin Rucker (Missouri), Jermichael Finley (Texas)

Mid/Late Rounds: Kellen Davis (Michigan State), Gary Barnidge (Louisville), Jacob Tamme (Kentucky)

All right folks, have at it. What type of Tight End do you think the Bills will fill their need with and who do you want that player to be?

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Comments

I'd much rather

see them draft a tight end who can be an all-around starter for them. I like Royal, but I like him near the goal line far more than I like him in the middle of the field. If we can relegate him to a #2, much like Gaines was used last year, with a rookie, then we're much better off at tight end.

I'm becoming smitten with Martellus Bennett. I think he's going to be the best TE in this class, and would not even be close to disappointed if he was our second round pick.

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by Brian Galliford on Apr 7, 2008 12:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

TE before WR?

Do you see us drafting a TE before a WR if we go Defense in the first?
I think, with our young QB (Edwards or Losman), the TE is most important. That is what the team has been missing, for five years or more, and we need it.
And yes, an all-arounder is what we need.
This guy has got to be good. Hands, blocking, route running. Everything.

by De-fense on Apr 8, 2008 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Martellus

If you're asking me, I think this is a guy who would be a good fit, and I think somewhere in the middle of the second round is where he should go. I don't think he'll be around in third.

I also have some love for Finley, just from watching his highlight videos. He's a pure receiving TE, but his athleticism is too incredible to pass on if he's there in the 4th.

by krytime on Apr 7, 2008 1:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

1st Pick???

It all depends on what happens with our first pick really. If we go corner in round one we have to go WR in round two. This pushes TE back to three or four. Cottam and Finley might be around in those rounds. If we go WR and Davis or Bennett are still around then we could take one of them in round two. That wouldnt bother me. I really think the best option is Cottam in the third or Finley in the fourth though.

Wood

by rwwrodeo on Apr 7, 2008 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Kurupt

That I don't really care what kind of tight end the Bills bring in. I like the concept of an all-around TE who never has to leave the field, regardless of circumstance. I am also intigued by an athletic receiveing threat and the possible immediate contributions they can make.

Unless Anderson or a rookie really emerge during training camp and preseason, I believe the Bills will keep 4 TEs this season. This will give them versatility and afford them the option of keeping a receiver like Teyo Johnson (or a rookie like Tamme or Keller) and a blocker like Masseqoui or Murphy.

I would be happy with any of the top three (Bennett, Davis, Keller) in the second round, Cottam in the third round or any of the other solid prospects (Rucker, Finley, Carlson, maybe Tamme) in the fourth round.

by kaisertown on Apr 7, 2008 1:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I love Rucker

I've really liked Martin Rucker for the Bills for a while - and I'm still shocked to see him slide down draft charts. He was a guy I thought we might take at #11, but if we could grab him in the 2nd or 3rd i'd be psyched!!!!

by DC Fan on Apr 7, 2008 1:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

EASY ANSWER

We need a receiving TE... someone with great hands, good speed and lots of YAC...the question is who and at what cost?

I think Fred Davis and Dustin Keller are the best of the "receiver" TEs... with Keller seperating himself with a great combine and a shocking 38" vertical... while Davis had an awful combine and refused to run the 40. Plus Keller has been consistent.. putting up amazing #s in 06 and 07.

Rucker on the other hand looks and plays like a WR... during the senior bowl DEs and LBs were throwing his body around... but this guy plays fast (the only TE I know that runs reverses).

However, Davis-Keller-Rucker can only be had with a 1st or 2nd rd pick. If any of the three are there in the 3rd round, then lets take them.

BEST VALUE--> me thinks is Kellen Davis... this guy can catch anything (great diving catches, over the shoulder etc) and has the size to be a red-zone threat... plus he can block...

Name (Ht,Wt,40) Team Rec Yds Avg Y/G TD
Fred Davis (6'3,255,??)    USC 62 881 14.2 67.8 8
Dustin Keller (6'2,242,4.55)    Purd 68 881 13 67.8 7
Martin Rucker (6'4,251,??)    Mo 84 834 9.9 59.6 8
Gary Barnidge (6'6,244,4.65)    Loui 53 655 12.4 54.6 7
Jacob Tamme (6'3,236,4.58)    UK 56 619 11.1 47.6 6
Martellus Bennett (6'6,259,4.68) TA&M 49 587 12 48.9 4
Jermichael Finley (6'4,243,4.82) Tex 45 575 12.8 47.9 2
Kellen Davis (6'6,262,4.6) MISt 32 513 16 39.5 6

by osmanBAE on Apr 7, 2008 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bennett so low?

I don't agree at all with ranking Bennett so lowly. People pigeon-hole him because he's a tight end from a predominant run offense, but Bennett is one of the more natural receivers available this year. He ran a 4.68, can make plays after the catch, and he's already a good blocker. Why would we wait to add a one-dimensional player like Keller when we can draft a potential long-term starter, in the mold of Alge Crumpler (but a bit smaller), in Bennett?

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by Brian Galliford on Apr 7, 2008 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

huh?

I'm not ranking Bennett low... that list is sorted by total yards... (should have made that clear)...

In my book he's the 4th best TE among the group. Bennett has great all around skills and size... plus its impressive that he has so many catches in a triple option offense... (although i think Mcgee goes to him b/c A&M doesn't have many dangerous WR options).

by osmanBAE on Apr 7, 2008 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fred Davis

Seems he is dropping fast with a lot of drops in combine and pro day. I would rather not have him even if he dropped to 3rd. I do like Kellen Davis for the value, athleticism and hands.

The Bills can win every game

by killascript on Apr 7, 2008 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Choking

Yeah... his choking during the combine was very strange (dropped balls, not running 40 and skipping vertical jump).

Among USC fans he's considered to have better hands than their entire WR core... so the drops were surprising. In fact, he has a higher Yrds/catch than any other USC WR... and he has more touchdowns then their whole WR core combined... meaning he's an extremely reliable target.

But if he falls to the 3rd round, you gotta consider picking him up b/c his track record is too good... but he def choked himself out of the 1st round.

by osmanBAE on Apr 7, 2008 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

that a couple of drops really hurt Davis' draft stock. He didn't drop many balls at USC and scouts will notice that. I don't think the scouts really care if they catch the balls at the combine. What they really want to see is their form. Scouts are looking for players who catch the ball away from their body and use their fingers more than the palms of the hands.

by kaisertown on Apr 8, 2008 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What hurt his stock

was his movement drills at his Pro Day. He looked awkward and not fluid running around USC's field. That's what will knock him down to the later portions of round 2, in all likelihood...

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by Brian Galliford on Apr 8, 2008 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

later portions of round 2

Does pick #42 count as the later portions of round 2?

Man do I miss #78

by sireric on Apr 8, 2008 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That

makes much more sense.

by kaisertown on Apr 8, 2008 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe, but....

If he can't make the catches at the Combine/Pro Day, how is he going to perform with NFL LB's and Safeties trying to take his head off? If he was pressing too hard, what makes anyone think he'll be a bigtime player when the bright NFL lights are on him? I agree with Brian that he looked awkward, stiff, even a tad bit unathletic in his workouts. I loved what I saw from Keller, Bennett and Finley in workouts. They look like much better athletes, who didn't struggle catching passes.

by Kurupt on Apr 8, 2008 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Davis never had a problem catching the ball in college when DBs and LBs were all over him.

I don't think there is any correlation between him being nervous at the combine and him playing nervous at the next level. I think the Lights at USC were pretty bright themselves.

His hands and his head aren't going to be a problem.

If he is a stiff athlete, that is entirely different. I didn't watch much of the TE workouts at the combine and none of us actually saw anyones pro day. If he isn't as smooth or explosive as people expected, that could hurt him.

Also I am not trying to defend the Davis as a top prospect or anything. I would be OK if Davis' name was called by the Bills in the second round, but he certainly wouldn't be my favorite choice either. I have been pretty vocal in my belief that Martellus Bennett is the best TE for the Bills.

by kaisertown on Apr 8, 2008 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm ALL 4 Martellus

I would even consider trading up to get him-he's THAT good. Some believe he could go Round 1 to Seattle, but I doubt that. Guess we'll see in a little over 2 weeks!

by BBFan4Life on Apr 10, 2008 6:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs