Maybe to you it is. But taking a TE at number four overall to be a Marcedes Lewis 2.0 seems more like a stupid decision and if anyone has lower expectations or similar expectations of that then they're just as stupid. 

 

Taking a TE at number four needs to merit a player of a high caliber. A player that can command coverage his way. A player that can put a OLB or secondary player on their [BAD WORD REMOVED] or run them down the field during a run play. 

 

Expecting a No. 4 overall pick to play on the same level as Gronkowski, Kelce, Olsen & Graham is plenty reasonable. Expecting him to last as long as Gonzalez and Witten is reasonable.

 

Considering that if we take Howard at No. 4 next month in this draft he's officially the highest drafted TE to ever be drafted since 1960. When the Rams took Billy Cannon No. 1 overall.

 

Just think about that. You're telling me this guy is so highly touted, regarded and graded as a dual threat and complete player at the TE position that he's somehow more worthy of being drafted ahead of hall of fame players like Mike Ditka, Kellen Winslow, Tony Gonzalez, John Mackey, Shannon Sharpe, etc. etc. 

 

Please. Cut the [BAD WORD REMOVED] man. Do your homework. You don't take a TE at number four overall unless you think he's another once in a generational type TE. And a once in a generational type TE don't put up sub par numbers. And if he's averaging anything less than 700 yards receiving and anything less than 6 TD receptions per season he's a monumental reach. 

 

 

Billy Cannon was drafted as a RB. The following year, Ditka was drafted #5 overall making him the highest TE drafted. Riley Odoms was drafted #5 overall in 1972 by the Broncos, but every other TE was drafted #6 or later.


 

As for Cannon, he played HB and FB his first three seasons for the Oilers who drafted him. In 1964 he was traded to the Raiders and they made him a TE.

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'02

You wrote this entire essay just to completely deviate from the original point which was


"Oj Howard needs to perform like one of the best tight ends to ever play as a rookie"


I have no problem having high expectations for a 4th overall pick. Expecting any rookie at any position to play like one of the best of all time immediately is objectively moronic.

 

I replied right after it to your butt buddy KYJaggy and still expect high impact from him on day one. And you skate around the fact that I said he needs to prove the LONGEVITY of the all time greats like Gonzalez and Witten. And that I wanted to see similar numbers that are posted from TODAY's current greats. Kelce, Olsen, Gronkowski, Graham, etc. 

 

Here's what I said since you take things out of context. 

 

"Taking a tight-end that high better yield hall of fame worthy type statistics. He needs to be on par with Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten longevity wise. And he needs to be an instant impact in both aspects of the game.

<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> 

<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I expect a Kelce, Gronkowski, Olsen and Graham type performance out of him at least every other week as a rookie. But drafting him to be another Marcedes Lewis where he just chip blocks here and there and is lucky to scrounge up 400 - 500 yards receiving every season is a waste of a pick there."

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"What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie? I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky. The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing; Rush in and die, dogs - I was a man before I was a king."

1. We all want Solomon Thomas first and foremost. Howard is just the best consolation prize. Allen and Fournette both have significantly more concerns than Howard. 

 

2. The RB class is even deeper than the TE class so I'm not sure why that's a point you are making. 

 

3. That's a leap to say not wanting Thomas around means we don't want to feature a receiving TE. It means we don't want to feature a lazy, out of shape, oft injured TE who gives away the play call because he can't block. That by no means we wouldn't like a young, freak athlete TE who also helps the run game and pass blocking when he isn't running routes. 

 

The RB class is deep but who are the scouts and analysts comparing Howard to? Oh. That's right. JULIUS [BAD WORD REMOVED] THOMAS....

 

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/o...id=2557856

 

Fournette is being compared to Adrian Peterson....

 

Hmm.... Peterson?... Thomas?....Peterson?....Thomas?....

 

How is it a leap with not wanting Thomas around and then turning around to bring in essentially the same receiving type of player just with maybe better run blocking ability? Again, if we want a run blocking TE who may scrape up 500 yards through the air we might as well wait it out and let Koyack and Sterling develop. 

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"What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie? I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky. The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing; Rush in and die, dogs - I was a man before I was a king."

Billy Cannon was drafted as a RB. The following year, Ditka was drafted #5 overall making him the highest TE drafted. Riley Odoms was drafted #5 overall in 1972 by the Broncos, but every other TE was drafted #6 or later.


 

As for Cannon, he played HB and FB his first three seasons for the Oilers who drafted him. In 1964 he was traded to the Raiders and they made him a TE.

 

Even better. So if we take Howard at number four overall with the intent to play TE he's officially the highest drafted player at this position since 1960 or of all time. 

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"What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie? I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky. The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing; Rush in and die, dogs - I was a man before I was a king."

Keep putting your faith in those terrible NFL.com comparisons.

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Keep putting your faith in those terrible NFL.com comparisons.

 

I will. I'll take their credibility and analytical skills over an armchair general manager and wannabe scout on a message board forum that watches a few highlight reels of players on Youtube in little 10 minute samples. 

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"What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie? I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky. The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing; Rush in and die, dogs - I was a man before I was a king."

I will. I'll take their credibility and analytical skills over an armchair general manager and wannabe scout on a message board forum that watches a few highlight reels of players on Youtube in little 10 minute samples. 

You see, your little ad hominem attack attempt might mean something if your ammunition wasn't a comparison of OJ Howard to friggin Julius Thomas. 

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You see, your little ad hominem attack attempt might mean something if your ammunition wasn't a comparison of OJ Howard to friggin Julius Thomas. 

 

I didn't compare him to that KYJelly. That's people who are getting paid A LOT more than what little ol' me and little ol' you might think about this draft class. But I guess you know more than those guys right?

 

I forgot. You're some legendary scout like Gil Brandt that's involved with football 24/7, 365 days a year and you've been to his actual games and have broken him down on a micro level.

 

You've spoken with Howard personally? You've spoken with Saban and his coaching staff? You've personally watched every single game he's played in since day one at Alabama and have your own NFL comparison for him right?

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"What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie? I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky. The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing; Rush in and die, dogs - I was a man before I was a king."

Even better. So if we take Howard at number four overall with the intent to play TE he's officially the highest drafted player at this position since 1960 or of all time. 

 

 

Yeah, although there have been quite a few taken at either #6 or #7.

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'02

I replied right after it to your butt buddy KYJaggy and still expect high impact from him on day one. And you skate around the fact that I said he needs to prove the LONGEVITY of the all time greats like Gonzalez and Witten. And that I wanted to see similar numbers that are posted from TODAY's current greats. Kelce, Olsen, Gronkowski, Graham, etc.


Here's what I said since you take things out of context.


"Taking a tight-end that high better yield hall of fame worthy type statistics. <span>He needs to be on par with Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten longevity wise
. And he needs to be an instant impact in both aspects of the game.</span>


I expect a<span> Kelce, Gronkowski, Olsen and Graham type performance out of him at least every other week as a rookie
. But drafting him to be another Marcedes Lewis where he just chip blocks here and there and is lucky to scrounge up 400 - 500 yards receiving every season is a waste of a pick there."</span>

I didnt skate around longevity, That longevity thing is pretty pointless since were not going to be able to judge that in the near future to get any sort of semblance as to how long his career will span.


And nothing you said here changes anything. You're expecting OJ to perform like two of the best tight ends ever(Gronk/Graham), one of the best of our era(Olsen), and one of the best in the league(Kelce) regularly as a rookie. I have no idea how to view this as anything but irrational. High expectations are fine, unreasonable expectations arent.

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imagine putting blind faith in people because of their paychecks

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Yeah, although there have been quite a few taken at either #6 or #7.

 

This actually surprises me.  You talking about recently?

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This actually surprises me.  You talking about recently?

Recent TEs in the first - in reverse chronology:

 

Ebron - #10

Eifert - #21

Gresham - #21

Pettigrew _ #20

Vernon Davis -  #6  - (2006)

Keller  - #30

Olsen - #31

Lewis - #28

Miller - #30

Winslow - #6 (2004)

Watson - #31

Dallas Clark - #24

Shockey - #14

Graham - #21

Heap - #21

Bubba Franks #14

Tony Gonzalez - #13 -  (1997)

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Recent TEs in the first - in reverse chronology:

 

Ebron - #10

Eifert - #21

Gresham - #21

Pettigrew _ #20

Vernon Davis -  #6  - (2006)

Keller  - #30

Olsen - #31

Lewis - #28

Miller - #30

Winslow - #6 (2004)

Watson - #31

Dallas Clark - #24

Shockey - #14

Graham - #21

Heap - #21

Bubba Franks #14

Tony Gonzalez - #13 -  (1997)

So 2? I wouldn't call that "quite a few."

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So 2? I wouldn't call that "quite a few."

Nope.  That's " a couple."   Not "quite a few."

 

This list makes #4 seem like quite a stretch from a value perspective. Especially in a draft that has a half dozen TEs generating some buzz. 

 

I mean - that's all of the first round TEs from the last 20 years right there. 

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I remember Vernon Davis but couldn't think of anyone else.  But looks like the norm is post #10.

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Nope.  That's " a couple."   Not "quite a few."

 

This list makes #4 seem like quite a stretch from a value perspective. Especially in a draft that has a half dozen TEs generating some buzz. 

 

I mean - that's all of the first round TEs from the last 20 years right there. 

Like with the top 10 safety list, it tells me if a player is really so good that they are breaking traditional molds for positional draft value then they are most likely going to be a hit. 

 

Running back seems to be the only position where a player that breaks the positional value mold is still a complete crapshoot historically. 

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So we are all shooting for Solomon Thomas then huh? Lol

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So we are all shooting for Solomon Thomas then huh? Lol

Im praying for him

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So 2? I wouldn't call that "quite a few."

 

 

Nope.  That's " a couple."   Not "quite a few."

 

This list makes #4 seem like quite a stretch from a value perspective. Especially in a draft that has a half dozen TEs generating some buzz. 

 

I mean - that's all of the first round TEs from the last 20 years right there. 

 

 

Well those two are "recent," but is saying "quite a few" I was going all the way back to the 60's.

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'02