Because that's a terrible idea. The Jets don't need an "elite" TE. They have too many holes to even think about trading up.
Why do we not need an "elite" TE? Our best TE on the roster right now is Cumberland, who is a backup anywhere else in this league. One of the BIGGEST holes we have on offense is TE. Yes, WR is a gaping hole, but TE goes hand in hand with receivers.
Quick, name the last 5 elite TE's that won a superbowl? Now name the last 5 teams to trade up multiple picks in round one to win a superbowl? Now tell me again why we should be trading up in round one for a player?
I would love it. there are plenty of receivers to go around, we could get a good one in rounds 2-4. my dream scenario is we sign someone like Maclin or Nicks, draft Ebron and a receiver. we build a nice foundation for Geno to succeed. rest of the draft get OL, S and OLB.
I agree with what you say about Cumberland and about TE being a need. Still, that doesn't mean that the team "needs" an elite TE. Fiedorowicz has prototypical size (in fact, he's huge) and is already a better blocker than Ebron or Cumberland, and he has soft hands. He would be plenty good and a BIG upgrade at TE for the Jets. There are other good TE prospects in the draft who are probably already better than Cumberland: Crockett Gilmore, Marcel Jensen, Arthur Lynch, and Joe Don Duncan just to name 4.
This is such a bullshit claim. I hate the whole "name me a team with an elite ___ that last won a superbowl". That argument was even put to rest this year with Richard Sherman and the whole cornerback argument also. There are an absolute TON of factors that come into play with winning a superbowl. You can't use that argument with any single player or position except maybe QB. Look at the elite talent at TE and look at the offenses they are in and you can see why having an elite TE is something we need: New England, New Orleans, Atlanta (Minus this year), Dallas, San Francisco, San Diego, etc. You have power house offenses like New England, San Francisco, and New Orleans and you honestly believe that doesn't have to do a lot with a HUGE threat at TE? I think there are only 2 TE's in this draft that are going to be worth a damn in the NFL, Ebron and Amaro. I don't think the rest pan out
Dennis Pitta was pretty damn important for the Ravens. 3 TDs in 4 games for the Ravens. I consider Pitta an extremely good TE. Vernon Davis helped the 49ers win their first playoff game in years back when Alex Smith was throwing the football for them. Can't discount the importance of having a good reliable weapon out there.
Correct. Look at New England when Rob Gronkowski was healthy. Holy shit. Defenses were going absolutely crazy trying to stop him and Hernandez. It was almost impossible to stop them. Their offense would have never been that potent without them. That showed this year when they had neither.
Fair enough. I stongly disagree. I think there are probably at least 6, if not 7 or 8 who will be quite serviceable TEs in the NFL. Of that number, 3-4 of them will be among the tops at their position with a year or so. The rest will be solid, contributing TEs. At minimum, they'll be quality #2 TEs, and, could even develop into quality starters.
Not discounting the importance of a weapon at TE and I'm a proponent of drafting Ebron if he is there. What I think is just dumb is trading up for anyone in this draft.
If the Jets finish with 10 or 11 wins this year and show that they are there to stay for the foreseeable future, than by all means, trade up next year and get the guy (whoever that may be). Right now, with needs at WR/TE/CB/S/OL/OLB I don't think giving up multiple picks is a good idea. With so many picks it increases our chances of getting a Richard Sherman or a Kam Chancellor. Hitting on players with late round picks is what sets teams up for a 5 year run. I don't consider TE a greater need than any of the other positions I mentioned. The Jets need the most talent possible, decreasing our number of picks decreases the chances of getting these players.
If Watkins and Evans are gone, which is extremely likely, I wouldn't have a problem with drafting Ebron. He seems like he could be a stud TE.
Something tells me this guy is going to be the next "Jimmy Graham" like TE. I just watched the training video of him on NFL.com. I really am praying he's there when we are on the clock.
interesting take on Ebron for TOTJ: http://turnonthejets.com/2014/02/new-york-jets-specific-nfl-draft-rankings-tight-end/ "Ebron unfortunately reminds me of a certain tight end we know all too well when it comes to contested catches: Jeff Cumberland. Ebron can make tactful hands-catches and transition to a runner when not immediately faced with danger, but everything deteriorates as defenders get closer and bigger. He panics far too often in such situations, and bails on too many core necessities to complete the catch just to ready himself for contact. Even more concerning, when he locks in an focuses properly on completing the catch despite incoming danger or competing defenders, his struggles remain. His hands simply aren’t strong enough or synchronized with his arm movements for the ball to make these catches in traffic on a consistent basis. Sure he may possess the soft hands to make impressive one-handed grabs, but what is it worth when these become significantly weaker when passes are placed in tighter coverage?" *** this is the first time I've seen Ebron mentioned in a negative light, as is I'd rather a Wide Receiver join the team, just feels like a better value for the team to get a Lee than an Ebron, especially in the first year. though Ebron should theoretically have a higher ceiling than any WR prospect no named Watkins.
TE is a 2nd to 4th round position unless you have a potential all-time great sitting there. Nothing against Ebron who I think is a good prospect but TE is not a position that you draft in the 1st round unless you think the guy is worth 80+ catches a year and a beast in the red zone. Even then he's got to be the whole deal, blocker and all that.
I'd "do fucking back flips" if our draft looked like this : Rd 1) Kelvin Benjamin WR FSU(This kid is going to be better than Mike Evans in the NFL...I GUARANTEE IT!) or Odell Beckham Jr-LSU Rd 2) BPA @ WR,OLB or S...so either Jarvis Landry, Jordan Matthews,Davante Adams, or Paul Richardson..Or S (if those WR's are all gone) one of..Telvin Smith,Jimmie Ward,Ed Reynolds, Kyle Van Noy, Trent Edwards ,or Christian Jones Rd 3 a & then b) TE Iowa CJ Fiedorowicz(This guy is going to be a steal)..If he is off the board then I hope we draft a different big WR in Martavis Bryant-Clemson, or either Terrance Brooks-S-FSU, Craig Loston-S-LSU or CB - Victor Hampton. CB Stanley Jean Baptiste(my personal favorite, or OLB Adrien Hubbard-Alabama Rd 4) I would really " shit my pants and do back flips" if we could get this guy in the 5th rd,but I don't think it's likely....RB/WR-Kent State- Dri' Archer..(Playmaking STUD) Rd 5) Seanthrel Hendreson-OT-Miami or CB Deion Belue- Alabama Rd 6) If we dont draft TE CJ Fiedorowicz, A. we've made a big mistake, and b...Maybe we could get TE Crockett Gilmore here...If not then pencil me in for OLB-Jordan Tripp-Montana, OLB Denicos Allen-Michigan State or OG Brandon Linder Rd 7) We need to draft a bruising RB here. Storm Johnson-UCF or Tyler Gaffney-Stanford...If they aren't there then give me another playmaker..Either Josh Huff WR-Oregon or De'anthony Thomas-Oregon. Those are my "Big Board / "Must Have " Guys for each round...if you like it cool...If not...Whatever, go look up some more tape on them.
Benjamin may wind up being a better NFL WR than Evans, but that still doesn't mean Benjamin will be worth a flip. I think Benjamin has more bust potential than any of the other top 5-10 WRs in this draft. Even if he develops fully and reaches his ceiling, it may take two years for him to develop, and the Jets don't really have two years to give their 1st round draft pick to be productive. At this point, I'd prefer Beckham, Cooks, Lee or maybe even Robinson or Landry over Benjamin. I'd love it if Kyle Van Noy fell to us in the 2nd round, but I just don't see it happening. I'd love to add Davante Adams in the 2nd as well. Fast, excellent hands and a pretty good blocker, which is important in the Jets scheme. If they're going S in round 2 and Pryor, Dix and maybe Bucannon are gone, then I'd prefer Ward over any of the other guys you mention, although I think the Jets need a FS much more than a SS. I think Allen may continue to develop and be a pretty good SS, or at least serviceable. Though Christian Jones may go in the 2nd, I think that's actually a bit high for him to go. He's a good prospect, but I'd only take him there if he's the highest rated BPA on their board by a wide margin. If Fiedorowicz is still there at their first pick in the 3rd round, I absolutely hope they grab him. I'm not very high on Martavis Bryant at all, but if the Jets have already added Beckham or Cooks, then I wouldn't grouse about Bryant. I like Loston and Brooks at S. Would be happy with Jean-Baptiste, but would much prefer Attaochu as OLB over Hubbard. In general, I'm not very high on Alabama players. I think most of them are overrated. I'd also be very happy to add Dri Archer, but don't know if the 4th is too high. I wouldn't be happy with either of those 5th round picks. I like Gilmore, think the Jets like Tripp, and an OG like Lindner could be a good thing. Denicos Allen is NOT a fit for the Jets unless he converts to S. He weighs something like 218 pounds. Waaaay too small to play OLB. I don't like either of those RBs very much. I liked Storm for a while, but he has fumbling issues. I'd love the Black Mamba. Based on what I've been reading, Huff will go higher than the 7th round probably by 1-2 rounds.
I'm okay with any of the top 3 TE's in the draft, they all have strengths and weaknesses. Trading up? No way, if anything trade down and get one of the 3 TE's in round 1 and then a WR in rounds 2 and 4.