Rookie Draft

speaking of rookies.... I am betting on Noah Fant being a top 12 TE this season....

I think the rookie TE stigma is overblown... and don't think it is much of a factor if you are a receiving TE...

MilkSpiller22 said:

speaking of rookies.... I am betting on Noah Fant being a top 12 TE this season....

I think the rookie TE stigma is overblown... and don't think it is much of a factor if you are a receiving TE...

Click to expand...

They can't get on the field enough. Most TEs are useless until they're 25. Fant is 21.

eaglesnut said:

They can't get on the field enough. Most TEs are useless until they're 25. Fant is 21.

Click to expand...

they have trouble making the field because of blocking though... Don't you think a receiving TE wont have that issue??

SteelersPride said:

I guess yeah. Just funny that some of the alarms aren’t an issue here, arm strength, character etc.

I think we all ignore things when we like a player

Click to expand...

I wouldn't say ignoring as much as its just as big of an issue.
The character issue, we've already discussed, and its not even in the same ballpark. I almost don't care what the issue is, if its a one time time deal, and not a pattern, I tend to put little stock into being a big deal.

As to the arm strength issue, I never really have cared a whole helluvalot there, so long as the label isn't "weak". Average or mediocre, by scouts standards, is good enough to succeed, its the weak guys who can't threaten the short to intermediate sidelines without getting picked, those dude who have problems. NFL history is littered with " average" arms coming out of college being successes. Pretty sure all of Brady, Brees, Peyton, Montana..all were rated with average or mediocre arms coming out. Hell even Pennington, who was labeled "weak", was able to have modest success for a little while. History is even more so littered with "rocket" arms who stunk it up. So, "average", is good enough, that if you've got everything else, it won't hinder you all that much. I don't think being aware of that reality is ignoring anything

MilkSpiller22 said:

they have trouble making the field because of blocking though... Don't you think a receiving TE wont have that issue??

Click to expand...

No, it just means there are fewer packages for them.

Why would you throw it to a rookie TE when you can just use a big veteran WR? What advantage does the rookie TE offer?

These young receiving TE's get absolutely abused on the inside.

Grier...are we talkin' about Rosey?

eaglesnut said:

No, it just means there are fewer packages for them.

Why would you throw it to a rookie TE when you can just use a big veteran WR? What advantage does the rookie TE offer?

These young receiving TE's get absolutely abused on the inside.

Click to expand...

But the point is that he will be in there and he will have he opportunities. That’s all a player needs.

People use history too much. They say te end is the hardest position for a rookie. But how often is there an actual te stud?? And how often is he already the teams starter??

Sure, for all I know Fant won’t be the starter, but you kind have to assume he is. And if he is then how wouldn’t he get his action??

MilkSpiller22 said:

But the point is that he will be in there and he will have he opportunities. That’s all a player needs.

People use history too much. They say te end is the hardest position for a rookie. But how often is there an actual te stud?? And how often is he already the teams starter??

Sure, for all I know Fant won’t be the starter, but you kind have to assume he is. And if he is then how wouldn’t he get his action??

Click to expand...

There are stud TEs every year. The only ones that were really any good young are Gronkowski and Tony Gonzalez.

Flacco does like TEs and Mark Andrews had a solid year last year as a rookie. But they are rare and the guys don't end up with as many opportunities as you think they will because coaches can't count on them.

eaglesnut said:

There are stud TEs every year. The only ones that were really any good young are Gronkowski and Tony Gonzalez.

Flacco does like TEs and Mark Andrews had a solid year last year as a rookie. But they are rare and the guys don't end up with as many opportunities as you think they will because coaches can't count on them.

Click to expand...

Yea, but that is mostly because of blocking. And lack of it. A receiving te is basically a receiver but in te packages. So maybe Fant has the longer leash. Because he is not expected to block.

MilkSpiller22 said:

People like Joe use history too much.

Click to expand...

averagejoe said:

Click to expand...

My point about history is that people use it as gospel.

The truth is rookies have it just like everyone else. They have to earn their job. And if there is not much competition then they will probably win their job. Doesn’t matter the position.

But TEs are a weird position because overall the position is not a good fantasy position. So just because rookies have not been good in general doesn’t mean an individual can’t be good.

TEs can prosper on teams with so-so talent at WR, rookies included. Denver could be one of those teams in 2019 with Sanders recovering from injury. I wouldn't doubt Fant can do it especially with a guy like Flacco at QB. The thing standing in Fants way is the likelihood he needs to be a better weapon than the 3rd WR. Make Denver coaches utilize more 2TE sets than 3 WR sets. Dawson Knox is another rookie in a decent situation this year.