Wide Receivers and Tight Ends Analysis - 2014 Draft

[BleedinBlue]

Three men love NFL draft for wide receivers, so-so for tight ends

 

Every Sunday up until the start of the NFL Draft on May 8, a different position of the draft will be analyzed with the help of three of the NFL’s top talent evaluators: a scout for a NFC team, an executive in personnel from an AFC team and a scouting director from a NFC team who have all been a part of Super Bowl winners. These aren’t guys in their basement with a laptop. These are the men who actually make the picks.

 

According to the not-afraid-to-say-what’s-on-his-mind personnel man, the biggest myth in this draft is the quality of tight ends.

 

“No,” he said when asked if this was a good draft for tight ends. “It’s not good at all. I wish it was. But it’s not. It’s actually a bad year for tight ends. There’s nobody even close to (Tyler) Eifert (whom went to Cincinnati in the first round last year). (Zach) Ertz (whom the Eagles got in the second round) is better than these guys.”

 

That goes against much of what you’ve heard and read so far about the game-changer from North Carolina, Eric Ebron, the next Rob Gronkowski from Texas Tech, Jace Amaro, and the massive man from Washington, Austin Seferian-Jenkins.

 

The personnel man does agree with the popular consensus that it is a good draft for wide receivers.

 

“It’s not bad,” he said. “There are some good ones, and there’s a lot of depth, too. Overall, it’s a good group.”

 

Let’s look at the tight ends first.

 

• Eric Ebron, North Carolina, 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, 4.6 40-yard dash time.

 

“Hell no,” the personnel man said when asked if he was as good as Eifert. “He’s OK. He’s completely overrated, and he’s a pain in the (butt). And don’t ask him to block anybody, because he’s not going to do it.”

 

“He can run, and he has good hands,” the AFC executive said. “He could be (as good as Eifert). He can go deep for you. He probably needs to improve his blocking.”

 

“He’s a player,” the scout said. “He’s definitely a first-round pick. It’s just a matter of how high someone takes him.”

 

• Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington, 6-6, 266, 4.68

 

“He’s more overrated and a bigger pain in the (butt) than the other guy,” the personnel man said. “And he blocks like a wide receiver. I don’t want any part of him.”

 

“There’s great size, but he’s a little lazy,” the executive said. “I’m not sure where he goes.”

 

“If you can get him in the second or third round, it’s not bad,” the scout said. “No, he’s not a first-round pick.”

 

• Jace Amaro, Texas Tech, 6-5, 265, 4.76

 

“He’s a glorified possession slot receiver,” the personnel man said. “He can catch the ball, but he’s not real tough.”

 

“He lines up in the slot 99 percent of the time,” the executive said. “He’s an underneath guy. He’s not going downfield. He does have good hands, catches everything.”

 

• C.J. Fiedorowicz, Iowa, 6-5, 265, 4.76

 

“So-so, good No. 2 guy for you, if you have a good starter and you play a lot of two tight-end stuff,” the personnel man said.

 

“He’s not bad,” the scout said. “You can get him (in third or fourth round). He’s a pretty good blocker.”

 

And now a look at the wide receivers.

 

• Sammy Watkins, Clemson, 6-1, 211, 4.35

 

“He can do everything,” the personnel man said. “He’s fast. He makes plays. He can be your return guy. He’s definitely in the top 10 (overall); some might even have him top five.”

 

“He’s lived up to all the hype,” the executive said. “He’s explosive, real explosive. And he can outrun everyone.”

 

“He’s not just a fast guy,” the scout said. “He can play. He’ll be a top pick.”

 

• Odell Beckham Jr., LSU, 5-11, 190, 4.4

 

“I really like this guy,” the personnel man said. “He’s not Watkins, but he’s right there. He can run, and he runs great routes. And he has the same return ability, if you need that.”

 

“He’s real good after the catch,” the executive said. “He’s a big-play guy. No, he’s not Sammy, but he’s darn good.”

 

• Marqise Lee, USC, 6-0, 195, 4.4

 

“He’s a dynamic player,” the personnel man said. “He has good speed. He had a rough year, because he didn’t have a quarterback. He can play outside; he’s not just a slot guy.”

 

“Very athletic and will make plays,” the executive said. “He was hurt last year with terrible quarterback play. He’s a talented guy.”

 

“Good player, lots to like,” the scout said. “He’ll go somewhere in the middle to late first round.”

 

• Mike Evans, Texas A&M, 6-5, 231, 4.55

 

“He’s not real fast, but he has real good hands,” the personnel man said. “He’s big and strong. Throw it up there, and he’ll go get it.”

 

“I like this guy,” the scout said. “In my opinion, he made Johnny Manziel, not the other way around. A lot of times, Manziel just ran around and threw it up for grabs, and he came down with it.”

 

“Big, strong guy,” the executive said. “He could cause some match-up problems with his size.”

 

• Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State, 6-5, 234, 4.55

 

“I think he’s a second-rounder, but somebody might take him in the first,” the personnel guy said. “He’s a physical specimen, and people are going to fall in love with that.”

 

“Kind of guy who can take over a game but just isn’t consistent,” the executive said. “He needs to run better routes, too.”

 

• Allen Robinson, Penn State, 6-3, 204, 4.6

 

“I like him a lot,” the personnel man said. “Just a solid player through and through. And he’s a damn good route runner.”

 

“People are going to look at the 4.6 and not like that,” the scout said. “But he’s pretty good. I like a lot of what he does.”

 

• Brandin Cooks, Oregon State, 5-10, 186, 4.48

 

“He’s fast, and that goes a long way in some people’s minds,” the personnel man said. “He’ll get drafted higher than he should. But that doesn’t mean he can’t play.”

 

“People are torn on him,” the executive said. “To me, he plays kind of small. I don’t like that.”

 

WHAT THE LOCALS MIGHT DO

 

Eagles: In light of DeSean Jackson being released Friday, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Eagles took a WR at No. 22. They will certainly take one somewhere.

 

Giants: They probably won’t bite at 14 (????), although they could. But a second-round selection is very possible.

Jets: If they get DeSean Jackson, then probably not. If they don’t, they then could definitely go here in the first round.

[Treehugger]

I've figured out who the "personnel man" is (pictured right):

 

[Bigblue25]

Sounds like a writer took pieces of an interview from a "personnel" man and used it to say Ebron is overrated.

[Tempest]

Its good info that like many things you take with a grain of salt. Three people had different evaluations of each player and in some cases agreed with each other. Giants have about 14 people in their scouting dept., that is 14 opinions not including the coaches, GM and ownership.

 

Ebron overrated? Possibly when you compare him to other TE's who have been drafted in the past and have performed exceptionally well in the NFL. I have never been a fan of comparing potential draft picks to current or former players. One thing for sure is there is at least one team in the NFL that is drafting a tight end and they will take who they can get this year instead of waiting for a better group next year.

[Sephiroth]

I love C.J. Fedorowicz. I think he really could be a difference-maker, and you could probably get him in the second.

 

I wouldn't want to wait till the third because Giants draft picks always suck if they're taken in the third.

[Nas]

I love C.J. Fedorowicz. I think he really could be a difference-maker, and you could probably get him in the second.

 

I wouldn't want to wait till the third because Giants draft picks always suck if they're taken in the third.

I'd like him on the 2nd if Yankey is gone

[JMFP]

Don't want a TE in the 1st, don't want a WR in the 1st either.

[Chuck Wagon]

I love C.J. Fedorowicz. I think he really could be a difference-maker, and you could probably get him in the second.

 

I wouldn't want to wait till the third because Giants draft picks always suck if they're taken in the third.

 

What the personnel guy didn't say about him is he didn't have any Good QBs throwing to him when he was at Iowa.....we would go nuts watching games were he was wide open they couldnt get it to him.

 

He is huge...moves very well....has solid hands and became a outstanding blocker because eventually...all they could do was run during his first 3 years at Iowa.

 

He'd be a steal.

 

C. Wagon

[Nas]

So... what the fuck is up with Adrien Robinson then? If we're going to draft a TE in the top 3 rounds....

[gmenroc]

So... what the fuck is up with Adrien Robinson then? If we're going to draft a TE in the top 3 rounds....

 

The unknown. He's athletic...that's what we know. We have nothing to show that he can actually perform. Of course, same could be said about whatever draft pick we might take.

 

Kellen Davis, Adrien Robinson, and a draft pick does not a reliable TE grouping make. But, we don't have a lot of options now, do we?

[Bigblue25]

Giants were at Penn State's pro day yesterday and apparently like Robinson. I could see him in the second.

[BlueInCanada]

So... what the fuck is up with Adrien Robinson then? If we're going to draft a TE in the top 3 rounds....

 

Some guy taken in the fourth round who has relied more on pushing 5ft 2 white guys around and out jumping them then actually learning how to play the TE position.

 

He was a "project" player, just like JPP. Has all the raw phsyical tools to get it done, but didnt learn how to use it in college and they try to make it work in the pros.

 

Shit Barden was the same thing.

[Allstarjim]

 

What the personnel guy didn't say about him is he didn't have any Good QBs throwing to him when he was at Iowa.....we would go nuts watching games were he was wide open they couldnt get it to him.

 

He is huge...moves very well....has solid hands and became a outstanding blocker because eventually...all they could do was run during his first 3 years at Iowa.

 

He'd be a steal.

 

C. Wagon

 

 

I'm with you, Chuck. I think a few years down the road and people will look back and think, "how was this guy not a first rounder?" I think CJ is going late 2nd, but if he gets to us in the 3rd it's fantastic. I wouldn't mind him in the 2nd, either, but it's about what else are we passing up on in the 2nd to get him? There are great WR's with big upside and value in the 2nd round, I think, and I'm hoping that's where the Giants go with the 2nd rounder. You might try to grab one of Martavis Bryant, Allen Robinson, Donte Moncrief, or Jordan Matthews. I think you get a little competition for Rueben Randle at the X position of the offense, and then you have that 3rd round value to get your tight end... I think there's around a 50-50 chance CJ is there for us in the third, I'm leaning towards him being gone, though. But then maybe you look at a guy like Arthur Lynch. I don't love him as much, but he can be a useful player at the next level.

[Bigblue25]

Fiedorowicz will be there in the 4th.