TE 2018 -- wait or pounce? (1 Viewer)

[TripItUp]

I’m not saying McDonald has tremendous upside but he does remind me a lot of Heath Miller who put up some good seasons in Pittsburgh. He was a former second round pick so the talent is there.

He does profile similarly to Miller.

Jesse James got quite a few snaps too, I'd be surprised if he completely disappears.

 

[Bri]

The best TEs, the absolute best have extreme athletic abilities and always produce. Whether ya think Gronk or ol Tony G or Gates, their bad games have one or two catches and a TD. They're wow athletic specimens from day one. Even if you give a year or two to get acclimated to the NFL, you can remember rave moments in camp.

Brate is a get'r done guy, he's no bluechip. Howard is wow. Everyone in sports always gets burned thinking this way. When Howard "gets it" then it'll be his team. Brate's time is limited in Tampa. It's more likely (imo) Howard steps up and then Brate gets traded and does well elsewhere.

Doyle was a UDFA with the Titans. Because he had sure hands and Luck hit him regularly does not make him an elite athlete. Ya gotta give him a ceiling with projections. 

Along these lines, Jimmy Graham and Ben Watson would have been washed out of the league at any other position.

Jared Cook has had a gazillion chances to thrive in the NFL and hardly taken advantage of it. I see a lot of Jared Cook's mentioned above. 

I prefer steady eddy types like Doyle over Cook types, but man this thread is littered. There are one maybe two diamonds, not thirty- cmon now.

Delanie Walker is curiously not mentioned. To steal someone else's line from an article I read, he becomes Jason Witten for FF. The reliable old guy that's probably gonna finish fifth or so amongst TEs. There's value in the predictability and the accompanying spot in the draft. Delanie seems to trigger a second run of TEs in drafts I've been in. I'm not sure why but he seems to make people jump. In my opinion, you either draft Delanie or wait a few rounds. I don't find much difference in the quality.

 

[Bri]

Last year was a completely different coaching staff with a totally different philosophy.  I don't think Shaheen is any way comparable when evaluating what Burton will do.  They paid Burton a lot of money and the new staff brought him in specifically to fill a role.  I don't know if Burton turns into Kelce in this offense but if he even gets 75% of that he is worth taking a chance. 

This isn't totally reasonable. Shaheen was in a deep TE draft and IIRC he went in the second round and was one of the better prospects. Ya can't discredit a rookie needing a year to learn in a "his career is done" fashion. Burton is curious because it's not like he lit it up previously. The contract was considerable and that's what it took to get him there. I still think ya gotta concede this is a camp battle.

Further, the Bears WRs are not that good. I would put more stock in them using more two TE sets than their WR corps rising up and becoming special in camp.

I like the Burton love, but I think you're just too quick to chuck Shaheen to the side

 

[Ilov80s]

End of draft guys that could turn into top 8-10 TEs

Vance McDonald: Big, athletic, good offense  and had 16 targets in the playoff game against the Jags

Ricky Seals Jones: hybrid WR/TE, team is in need of weapons for the passing game, showed some flashes during the middle of the season, new offense is likely to feature a TE more than Arians

Benjamin Watson: 3 years ago he was a top 7 TE with the Saints, I know he's very old but even last year he was pretty productive (led the Ravens in receptions, was 2nd in receiving yards). 

 

[Gally]

This isn't totally reasonable. Shaheen was in a deep TE draft and IIRC he went in the second round and was one of the better prospects. Ya can't discredit a rookie needing a year to learn in a "his career is done" fashion. Burton is curious because it's not like he lit it up previously. The contract was considerable and that's what it took to get him there. I still think ya gotta concede this is a camp battle.

Further, the Bears WRs are not that good. I would put more stock in them using more two TE sets than their WR corps rising up and becoming special in camp.

I like the Burton love, but I think you're just too quick to chuck Shaheen to the side

I wasn't chucking Shaheen to the side....or at least that wasn't what I meant.  The OP was using last year's Shaheen performance (being hyped and not living to the hype) as a reason not to expect Burton to live up the expectations.  My point was you can't use Shaheen's performance last year as an indication that Burton (or Shaheen) isn't going to perform this year because the offenses will be completely different with the new coaching staff.  A coaching staff that has proven they like to use a talented TE as a focal point so there will be opportunity for the TE to perform.  

I think Burton will be the passing game threat at TE because this coaching staff brought him in with a big contract to fill a particular role.  I think Shaheen is solid and will have a role but it won't be the move TE that Burton will be.

I also think you are wrong about the Bears WR's not being good.  They signed Allen Robinson & Taylor Gabriel as well as drafted Anthony Miller somewhat high.  The Bears now have a good WR group.  I know this is a reason to downgrade Burton (or Shaheen) but I still think Nagy has a plan for Burton and he will be utilized. 

 

[jmo87usc]

My problem with McDonald is his low ceiling....when is the last time the Steelers had a top 5 TE?  

I'd rather draft guys like Watson/ASJ/Njoku whom I have with higher ceilings.

Heath Miller had some very productive seasons with Ben not too long ago.  I don’t think you need top 5 TE.  If you look at the per game point spread between TE5-TE12, it’s not enough to warrant using a higher pick on a slightly better TE

I’d rather grab a TE later and use those earlier picks on players at other positions who will make a bigger impact on my weekly score.  

Unless you can land Kelce, Gronk or Ertz type production, it’s not worth drafting a TE in the first 8 rounds in my opinion.  

 

[TripItUp]

Heath Miller had some very productive seasons with Ben not too long ago.  I don’t think you need top 5 TE.  If you look at the per game point spread between TE5-TE12, it’s not enough to warrant using a higher pick on a slightly better TE

I’d rather grab a TE later and use those earlier picks on players at other positions who will make a bigger impact on my weekly score.  

Unless you can land Kelce, Gronk or Ertz type production, it’s not worth drafting a TE in the first 8 rounds in my opinion.  

depends on the format...FFPC awards 1.5 PPR for TEs so TEs go early and often.

I think we are generally saying the same thing in terms of waiting...we just have different TEs we are targeting.  Some like McDonald others like ASJ and Watson etc. etc.

 

[ratbast]

Seattle, Dallas and Chargers. What’s the thoughts on their depth charts? Might be opportunity