Falcons after Gonzalez

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

#55 ain't gonna' get it; NEXT!

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

#55 ain't gonna' get it; NEXT!

I'm sorry, but yes it will.

TE is already a de-valued position. There is no TE in the league that is worth a 1st rounder.

For a 33-year-old, it makes sense that a 2nd rounder is the best possible compensation we can get for a player that won't be here when we're good.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I'm sorry, but yes it will.

TE is already a de-valued position. There is no TE in the league that is worth a 1st rounder.

There have been 13 tight ends drafted in the first round since 2000. Seems to me that half the league thinks a tight end is worth a first-round pick.

Granted, in Tony's case age is a factor, but then again if he plays four more years and makes 350 catches, that's worth a lot.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

There have been 13 tight ends drafted in the first round since 2000. Seems to me that half the league thinks a tight end is worth a first-round pick.

Granted, in Tony's case age is a factor, but then again if he plays four more years and makes 350 catches, that's worth a lot.

How much of that was BECAUSE of Tony Gonzales, though? I think the position as a whole holds alot less value, we've just been spoiled because we've been watching the greatest ever.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

we've been watching the greatest ever.

Shhh, don't let milkman catch you typing that...

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

How much of that was BECAUSE of Tony Gonzales, though? I think the position as a whole holds alot less value, we've just been spoiled because we've been watching the greatest ever.

Let's check out the pattern.

2000s - 13 TEs in first round, 13 in second round (9 years, generally 32 picks per year)
1990s - 9 in first round, 17 in second round (10 years, generally 30 picks per year)
1980s - 5 in first round, 12 in second round (10 years, roughly 29 picks per year)
1970s - 16 in first round, 16 in second round (10 years, roughly 27 picks per year)

One might ponder that, once upon a time, tight ends were valuable in an era where defenses could knock receivers off their routes. When the new rules changes came about in 1979 to limit contact with receivers, it killed the tight end as a first-round position through the 80s.

So why have tight ends been making a resurgence since the low tide of the 80s? If anything, the rules changes have continued to make them less valuable, as defenders aren't allowed to touch quick little receivers.

One theory might be the growth of west coast offenses and short, high-percentage passing games. A tight end might be a sure-handed guy who can thrive in the land of linebackers. Another might be the rise of zone blitzes and more sophisticated pass rushes, where a good tight end who can block and catch has become more valuable.

And of course in the past ten years, we've had the rise of the freaks like Tony G., who are basically a receiver inflated up to 250 pounds.

Interesting pattern, but I think it's undeniable that the rules changes of 1979 killed the position for a while.