02-08-2014, 10:05 PM
This TE class, just like the WR and RB classes, is extremely impressive from top to bottom. There's a lot of subjectivity to rankings TEs, as the importance of blocking varies from evaluator to evaluator. My personal belief is that it's not that important for a teams TE1, just good enough will do. Anway, here they are:
1. Jace Amaro - Most rankings I see have Ebron #1, and it's really just a preference here. I like that Amaro has more wiggle to his game and could dominate as more of a Hernandez move TE type. When splitting hairs I will also take the guy who is a year younger and should have a little bit more growth potential in him.
2. Eric Ebron - More of a 1b than 2 really. Might be the first TE drafted as he is more developed as a blocker and has more of a track record. Will be more of a seam buster than move TE, as he has good acceleration and very good straight line speed, but not the agility of Amaro.
3. Troy Niklas - Fast riser of the TE group, but really most are just catching up because he wasn't expected to declare at first. Huge, mountain of a man and unquestionably the best blocker in the class. Underutilized at ND, but showed very solid hands when given the chance. Comps to Gronk lite are not far fetched.
4. Austin Seferian-Jenkins - Was the top TE (along with Lyerla) going into the season, but work ethic and effort questions pushed some others ahead of him. Has the talent to be the best pure inline receiving TE in the class if he reaches his potential. Not as good of a blocker as he should be, but could improve easily with effort.
5. Richard Rodgers - This starts the next tier of TE to me. 5/6 will purely be a personal preference ranking. Rogers is one of the new age pure receiving TE. Not much of a blocker, but probably won't be lined up inline often anyway. Pretty raw and most think he should have stayed in school, but is still top 6 TE based on potential and athleticism.
6. CJ Fiedorowicz - Wouldn't argue with anyone who wanted to rank him 5, is a very solid TE prospect but edged out by the receiving, big play potential of Rodgers. Very big and was the best blocker in the class until Niklas declared. Underrated athlete and will be a good red zone target at worst.
7. Marcel Jensen - Nice sleeper TE, underutilized in the Fresno St. spread despite being a big, reliable, athletic target. Wowwed at Senior Bowl weigh in with big hands and a massive wingspan, but disappeared during practice.
8. Arthur Lynch - Had the best week of Senior Bowl practices of all TE. Established blocker with reliable hands. Just a good all-around underrated TE prospect.
Wild Cards:
Xavier Grimble - Could be the second best pure split out TE behind Rodgers if he clicks, but underwhelmed compared to expectations at USC. His story is a lot like Jordan Reed's, and his NFL emergence could be similar too if he lands in the right spot and gets to develop properly.
Joe Don Duncan - Not a lot is known about him. Impressive that he got a Senior Bowl invite from such a small school, but unfortunately had to drop out due to injury. He is supposedly a good athlete and he had great production at Dixie State. Will be one to pay extra close attention to at the combine.
Colt Lyerla - Can't be a TE list without at least some mention of Lyerla. Huge talent and would definitely be in the mix for the #1 TE spot if not for major off field issues including being arrested for cocaine possession and refusing a drug treatment program. Now unlikely to be drafted or a very late rounder.
EDIT: I don't see how it would happen, but please please please keep Teddy, Manziel, and Clowney conversation out of this thread! Dumb that I even need to mention that in a TE thread, but it is warranted as every other thread devolves into petty arguing over those 3 no matter what.
1. Jace Amaro - Most rankings I see have Ebron #1, and it's really just a preference here. I like that Amaro has more wiggle to his game and could dominate as more of a Hernandez move TE type. When splitting hairs I will also take the guy who is a year younger and should have a little bit more growth potential in him.
2. Eric Ebron - More of a 1b than 2 really. Might be the first TE drafted as he is more developed as a blocker and has more of a track record. Will be more of a seam buster than move TE, as he has good acceleration and very good straight line speed, but not the agility of Amaro.
3. Troy Niklas - Fast riser of the TE group, but really most are just catching up because he wasn't expected to declare at first. Huge, mountain of a man and unquestionably the best blocker in the class. Underutilized at ND, but showed very solid hands when given the chance. Comps to Gronk lite are not far fetched.
4. Austin Seferian-Jenkins - Was the top TE (along with Lyerla) going into the season, but work ethic and effort questions pushed some others ahead of him. Has the talent to be the best pure inline receiving TE in the class if he reaches his potential. Not as good of a blocker as he should be, but could improve easily with effort.
5. Richard Rodgers - This starts the next tier of TE to me. 5/6 will purely be a personal preference ranking. Rogers is one of the new age pure receiving TE. Not much of a blocker, but probably won't be lined up inline often anyway. Pretty raw and most think he should have stayed in school, but is still top 6 TE based on potential and athleticism.
6. CJ Fiedorowicz - Wouldn't argue with anyone who wanted to rank him 5, is a very solid TE prospect but edged out by the receiving, big play potential of Rodgers. Very big and was the best blocker in the class until Niklas declared. Underrated athlete and will be a good red zone target at worst.
7. Marcel Jensen - Nice sleeper TE, underutilized in the Fresno St. spread despite being a big, reliable, athletic target. Wowwed at Senior Bowl weigh in with big hands and a massive wingspan, but disappeared during practice.
8. Arthur Lynch - Had the best week of Senior Bowl practices of all TE. Established blocker with reliable hands. Just a good all-around underrated TE prospect.
Wild Cards:
Xavier Grimble - Could be the second best pure split out TE behind Rodgers if he clicks, but underwhelmed compared to expectations at USC. His story is a lot like Jordan Reed's, and his NFL emergence could be similar too if he lands in the right spot and gets to develop properly.
Joe Don Duncan - Not a lot is known about him. Impressive that he got a Senior Bowl invite from such a small school, but unfortunately had to drop out due to injury. He is supposedly a good athlete and he had great production at Dixie State. Will be one to pay extra close attention to at the combine.
Colt Lyerla - Can't be a TE list without at least some mention of Lyerla. Huge talent and would definitely be in the mix for the #1 TE spot if not for major off field issues including being arrested for cocaine possession and refusing a drug treatment program. Now unlikely to be drafted or a very late rounder.
EDIT: I don't see how it would happen, but please please please keep Teddy, Manziel, and Clowney conversation out of this thread! Dumb that I even need to mention that in a TE thread, but it is warranted as every other thread devolves into petty arguing over those 3 no matter what.