2014 NFL Draft Prospectus
Tight Ends
If you need a TE in this draft, you had better grab one early, because
after the top four in this group, the talent level drops off considerably.
There are two first round talents, and two that could drop to the second. After
that group, it falls to 4th round talent. The TE position has been
devalued in the spread offense, but teams who are winning are getting it done
with quality players at this position. The Patriots seemed to make the TE cool
again, with the Colts, Ravens, and 49rs joining suit. TE is a valuable position
still, and to balance out the offense (this means you, spread teams), you have
to have quality here. Unfortunately, there isn’t a bunch of depth in 2014.
Top 5
Eric Ebron, North Carolina
Jace Amaro, Texas Tech
Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, Washington
Troy Niklas, Notre Dame
CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa
Most Overrated
Arthur Lynch, Georgia
Most Underrated
Rob Blanchflower, U Mass
Best Small School Prospect
Joe Don Dixon, Dixie State
Eric Ebron, North Carolina
6-4, 250
4.60 40 Time
Projected Pick: 7-15
Ebron was a three year, early
entry player at North Carolina. In 2011, he played in 10 games, posting a line
of 10-207-1, while averaging 20.7 yards per reception. He took on a bigger role
in 2012, and posted 40-625-4 in 11 games, averaging 15.6 yards per catch. As a
junior in 2013, Ebron lined up 62-973-3, averaging 15.7 yards per catch.
Pros: Ebron is an amazing athlete who has the ability to stretch
the field and keep a defense honest. He has decent speed for a big TE, and will
beat LBs in coverage, and can get past some slower Safeties in coverage as
well. Has excellent fluidity for a man his size, and will dominate small
corners when split out wide. Uses his frame well when catching the ball. Ebron
basically plays TE like an oversized WR.
Cons: Ebron has only been a starter for two years, and still has
some things to learn in the route running department. As physical as he is, he
too often waits for the ball rather than going to the ball, allowing balls to
get away from him. He is anot always as physical as he should be, and plays the
game with a WR mentality rather than using his frame to dominate as a blocker.
He sometimes will rely a bit too much on his raw athleticism. His blocking is a
bit suspect, and will be until he sheds that WR mentality.
Final Grade: A-
Final Assessment: If Ebron could start playing the game more like
his position should indicate, meaning learning how to power block, then Ebron
would have earned a solid A, if not an A+. Like Sammy Watkins at WR, Ebron is a
freakish athlete, but he still has a bit more to learn before he becomes a
dominant top flight TE in the NFL. I think that the Falcons would be foolish to
bust out a top ten pick on him, but all the mocks are pointing to Ebron going
to Atlanta with the number 7 selection.
Jace Amaro, Texas Tech
6-5, 265
4.74 40 Time
Projected Pick: 35-40
Amaro was a three year player at
Texas Tech, entering the draft a year early. In 2011, Amaro posted just 7-57-2.
His role was increased slightly in 2012, but he played in just seven games,
where he posted a line of 25-409-4. He averaged 16.4 yards per catch that
season, a career high at Tech. In 2013, in a return to the Air Raid days, Amaro
exploded by catching 106 passes for 1352 yards and seven TDs, averaging 12.8
yards per grab and 104 yards per game.
Pros: Amaro is another high production TE in the passing game. You
can throw out his first two seasons, because the offense was not geared to what
he can do. He has great size, and a long frame, and has excellent athleticism
in running the field. He reminds some of a pre-prison Aaron Hernandez, as he
can line up and devastate in the slot, or he can line up wide and use his size
against smaller DBs. Uses his body perfectly in traffic, and shields the ball
well. Amaro is also an excellent receiver downfield across the middle, as he
can go up and get the football away from smaller safeties. He has great hands
and overall control. His blocking isn’t perfect yet, but he is really coming
along in that department.
Cons: If there is one area of concern, it is that he has not
matured as a blocker yet. He is still learning how to block, and he may not be
an ideal fit with traditional power run teams. His speed is not great, so he
will never outrun anyone. When asked to play a more traditional role in 2011
and 12, he seemingly was non-existent.
Final Grade: B+
Final Assessment: If not for lacking speed and blocking finesse,
Amaro would be one of the best prospects in the draft. He is an eager student
of the game, and he will seemingly do what it takes to win and learn. He would
fit perfectly with the Patriots, or any team that runs a similar spread or west
coast type offense. If a good coach gets hold of Amaro, he could turn into a
super weapon on Sundays.
Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, Washington
6-5, 262
4.75 40 Time
Projected Pick: 40-45
Sefarian-Jenkins was yet again
another early entry plpayer after having spent three seasons with the Huskies.
He started immediately in 2011, posting 41-538-6. In 2012, He played in 13
games, and posted 69-852-7. IN 2013, as a junior, He posted 36-450-8.
Pros: Great size for a TE in any year. He is one of the best
scorers at TE in the class, having scored 21 career TDs at UW. He uses his body
well in traffic, and is an excellent underneath receiver. He will play the
middle of the field fluidly, and will dominate with his size. Unlike Ebron and
Amaro, He is a polished blocker, who plays with excellent leveredge and power.
Picks up blitzes and power rushers off of the edge with certainty.
Cons: Sefarian-Jenkins has a character flag, as he was hit with a
DUI before the 2013 season. As capable a blocker as he can be, he often will
take a play or two off, and not always delver the bell ringing blocks you would
like. He sort of pushes his target around, rather than flattening him. He won’t
be able to play off of the line too often, and does not possess solid speed. He
has some injury issues to consider, but nothing that locked him out of action
for too long.
Final Grade: B-
Final Assessment: Sefarian-Jenkins is an elite athlete at times,
and just slightly ok at others. You have to look at the DUI thing with some deep
concern, as he came back from it and really under produced as a junior, and
then bolted afterward, making me wonder where his focus is. I believe that he
can go on Sundays for the right team and coach, but he may need someone up his
ass a bit for the first few seasons, or maybe forever. It’s a shame that he has
a questionable motor and maturity, because he can certainly play the game.
Troy Niklas, Notre Dame
6-6, 270
4.84 40 Time
Projected Pick: 50-55
Niklas is yet another three year
player at Notre Dame who left early. He appeared in 12 games in 2011, but never
caught a pass. In 2012, Niklas caught just 5 balls for 75 yards and one score.
In 2013, he posted 32-498-5.
Pros: Niklas is built like a small tackle, or a large one from the
80’s. He moves well for his size, and has soft hands in the receiving game. He
won’t wait for the ball to get to his body when catching it, and will reach for
it. His blocking skills are solid, as that’s all he did for two years.
Cons: Major inexperience as a receiver in my book. He has caught
just 37 passes in three years, and looks more like a big H-Back or block only
TE to me. He is as slow as they come at this position. While a solid blocker,
his technique needs some work, especially when it comes to using his lower half.
Final Grade: C
Final Assessment: I am being kind with his grade, because I just
don’t see it in Niklas. He under produced at Notre Dame, and maybe that was
just the offense that Brian Kelly ran, but he certainly has opportunities.
Everyone likes him for his overall athleticism, but he just doesn’t blow me
away as a guy who should be picked in the first two days of the draft. Niklas
looks like more of a developmental project to me, and I am not sure he’ll ever
be a star.
The Next Group
CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa: Solid blocker, but not much of a game changer
as a receiver.
Arthur Lynch, Georgia: Ceiling is as a number two. Not much
impresses me about him.
Crockett Gilmore, Colorado State: Solid pass catcher, but lacks
first rate blocking skills. A specialist.
Xavier Grimble, USC: Underwhlemed at USC after being highly rated
as a recruit. Mid-round guy at best.
Joe Don Duncan, Dixie State: Our two time D2 TE of the Year. Just
gobbles up yards as a receiver.
AC Leonard, Tennessee: Character flags abound. Maturity ruins solid
talent.
Colt Lyerla, Oregon: Character issues, as he was kicked out of
Oregon after being busted on cocaine charge.
Rob Blanchflower, U Mass: High motor guy on a bad football team.
May be solid developmental project.
Richard Rodgers, California: Played WR for Sonny Dykes last season.
May be a tweener.
Marcel Jensen, Fresno State: Not a great receiver, but could be
solid number two on a power run team.
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