2014 NFL Combine - Players - The TEs
 

Tight Ends:

Jace Amaro, Texas Tech
6'5", 265 lb., 34" arms, 9" hands
Bench: 28

Rob Blanchflower, Massachusetts
6'4", 256 lb., 33 3/4" arms, 9 5/8" hands
Bench: DNP

Trey Burton, Florida
6'2", 224 lb., 31" arms, 9 3/8" hands
Bench: DNP

A.D. Denham, Utah
6'4", 235 lb., 33 3/8" arms, 10 1/2" hands
Bench:

Joe Don Duncan, Dixie State
6'3", 268 lb., 32 3/8" arms, 10 1/8" hands
Bench: 35

Eric Ebron, North Carolina
6'4 1/4", 250 lb., 33 1/4" arms, 10" hands
Bench: 24

C.J. Fedorowicz, Iowa
6'5", 265 lb., 33" arms, 10 1/4" hands
Bench: 25

Crockett Gillmore, Colorado State
6'6", 260 lb., 33 3/4" arms, 10 3/8" hands
Bench: DNP

Xavier Grimble, USC
6'4", 257 lb., 33 5/8" arms, 10 1/4" hands
Bench: DNP

Nic Jacobs, McNeese State
6'5", 269 lb., 34 1/8" arms, 10" hands
Bench: 15

Marcel Jensen, Fresno State
6'6", 259 lb., 34 7/8" arms, 9 7/8" hands
Bench: 24

Reggie Jordan, Missouri Western State
6'3", 240 lb., 32 1/4" arms, 9 5/8" hands
Bench: 24

A.C. Leonard, Tennessee State
6'2", 252 lb., 33" arms, 9 1/4" hands
Bench: 20

Colt Lyerla, Oregon
6'4", 242 lb., 32 3/4" arms, 10 1/4" hands
Bench: 15

Arthur Lynch, Georgia
6'5", 258 lb., 32 1/2" arms, 10 1/8" hands
Bench: 28

Jake Murphy, Utah
6'4", 249 lb., 31 3/4" arms, 10" hands
Bench: 24

Jordan Najvar, Baylor
6'6", 256 lb., 32 1/4" arms, 10" hands
Bench: 18

Troy Niklas, Notre Dame
6'6 1/2", 270 lb., 34 1/8" arms, 10" hands
Bench: 27

Jake Pedersen, Wisconsin
6'3", 239 lb., 31 3/4" arms, 9" hands
Bench: DNP

Richard Rodgers, California
6'4", 257 lb., 32 5/8" arms, 10 1/8" hands
Bench: 16

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington
6'5 1/2", 262 lb., 33 3/4" arms, 9 3/4" hands
Bench: 20

D.J. Tialavea, Utah State
6'3", 267 lb., 33 5/8" arms, 9 1/4" hands
Bench: DNP


2013 Highest TE Draft Pick & Combine Results:

Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
6'5", 250 lb., 33 1/8" arms, 9 1/8" hands
Bench: 22
40: 4.68 seconds
Vertical: 35.5"
Broad Jump: 119.0"
3 Cone: 6.92
20 yard shuttle: 4.32 seconds
60 yard shuttle: 11.52 seconds

This entire group seems to scream "prototype" with only Florida's Burton on the small size. Very similar bunch of players from a physical perspective. Deep class talent wise as well.

And, as I noted, while Trey Burton is on the small side for the tight end group, but he was originally recruited as a potential quarterback by Florida, and ended up playing RB as a freshman, an H-Back as a sophomore and junior and full time wide receiver as a senior.

And while on the subject of former QB's, I'm still mildly surprised Logan Thomas decided to work with the QB's at the combine versus moving over to the TE group despite his marginal at best year in the pocket in 2013. (He was originally recruited by VT as a TE.)

Biggest surprise so far: Colt Lyerla and Nic Jacobs only benching 15 reps. While bench isn't the end all, be all, if you are 6'4", 242 lb. and play the game of football at the tight end position, you've got to do better than 15 reps.

It'd be more of a surprise if Lyerla wasn't a massive cokehead.

Niklas is a ****ing mountain.

Literally a huge difference between this TE class and last year's TE class.

Jensen, Gilmore, Njavar, CJ, Amaro, Lynch, ASJ, Jacobs, and Niklas all look like monsters for safeties to cover.

http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/arti...3041105320.jpg

Would draft.

Jace just ran a 4.66 at 267 pounds. Pretty damn dynamic.

Ebron just ran a 4.5

Yes, please.

Burton ran a 4.5.

Interesting

I wouldn't be surprised to see him go in the top 10 like they said.

I don't see any freaking chance Ebron falls past 15. He's Vernon Davis coming out.

Lyerla might be the best athlete of all of them, and may not get drafted

Just ran a 4.47

Niklas is next. This 40 should be interesting.

Niklas isn't running because he'd probably run over a 5 flat.

I know coke is a helluva drug, but if he's of the sauce, I'd take Lyerla in the 3 or 4.

He's a legit top 15 talent

After Ebron and Lyerla I wouldn't either

Yeah...it's probably time to move on from my hope of drafting Ebron, but ya never know.

I could honestly see Tampa Bay taking him as high as 7. Tim Wright isn't anything special and Glennon needs weapons if they aren't drafting a QB high. Shit....he could go to Atlanta if they want to pass up defense again. Julio, Roddy, Harry Douglas and Ebron?

I don't see Ebron getting past the Jets.

However, with Lyerla doing what he's doing, damn.

It's ****ing crazy how deep the TE and WR class is this year. Jesus....

Give me Beckham and Lyerla and this offense gets pretty interesting.

Amaro is strong.....damn.

Yup, I want us to use one of our 6th round picks on him. However, I think a team is going to take a chance on him as soon as the 4th. Kind of like Mathieu.

I'd just be worried about the allegations, or whatever they are and that he may be more athlete than football player.

I'd rather take Amaro

And he is very fast for a guy his size. He also runs crisp routes, has great hands and is football smart.

I'd be happy with him at 23, too.

I think I've given up the ghost for Hageman, I'll take beckham

I'd be ok with that pick. He obviously will be there while Ebron won't. Ebron is now a pipe dream.

@JoshNorris: Official TE numbers are out.
Jace Amaro 4.74.
Ebron 4.60.
Fiedorowicz. 4.76.
Leonard 4.50.
Lyerla 4.61.
Rodgers 4.87.

Gillmore reminds me a lot of McGrath. Slow and steady.

Sean McGrath ran a 4.78 (with a 1.64 ten yrd split)
fldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=86894&draftyear=2012&genpos=LS

Travis Kelce ran a 4.61 forty with a 1.61 ten yrd split
nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=83323&draftyear=2013&genpos=TE

Anyone else disappointed in their verts? Both Amaro and Ebron only jumped 30". No Vernon Davis in this draft, lol.

Kelce really ran a 4.61?

Yeah. Not at the combine though, so his "official time" would probably be around 4.7. Similar timed speed to Amaro.

Word on twitter is that Ebron is the only te likely to go in the first round

@TerezPaylor: Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans said the #Chiefs were the first team he met with yesterday. Said he talked to WR coach David Culley.

you can watch his pro day workout here:
youtube.com/watch?v=9_hOMcjJRx4

you can try to discount his speed all you want, but some things are undeniable. He is an explosive athlete. A 35'' vertical and 10' 4'' broad show that. That not something that can really change based on the field or conditions. Further, his play on the field seems to confirm other numbers from his pro day....mainly that he is quick and as athletic as any TE in this draft.

I am really intrigued by Leonard.

Positives:

The speed carries onto the field, he is a TE who can really take the top off of a defense.

He is good with the ball in his hands, he looks more like a WR on the field than a TE. I think that is where his future is. He was used on reverse runs if that tells you anything about how explosive of an athlete that he is.

His hands look pretty solid.

Negatives:

He doesn't have the strength to be a traditional TE. Like I said, he looks more like a big WR trying to play TE. If he wants to remain at TE, he's going to have to get a lot stronger for the NFL. Sometimes he can make the block but he also gets blown back more often than you would like.

His route running is raw and sometimes a little lazy. When he wants to though, he can turn on the jets and burn safeties and LBs alike.

Played against a low level of competition so you don't really know what you'll get when pitting him up against NFL level defenders.

Transferred from Florida because he beat his GF.

I would take him in the 4th or 5th.

I am not worried about his athleticism. More the fact that he sucked during pre-season, the game looked too big for him, and his injury. Some players who have had the same injury that he had were never the same again, it pretty much ended their careers. I want insurance for Kelce incase he follows their path.

He is 6'2.3'' almost the exact height as dwayne bowe. I'd rather have a bigger TE.

West Coast offense is not simple. lot to learn.

valid concern. I personally dont want to draft "insurance" early when the chiefs have such few picks and still have Fasano and McGrath available.

I dont expect a rookie TE in Reid's offense to provide more than their combined 50yrds 5tds last yr.

Garbage and more garbage.

He is a WR in a TE's body. Think Shannon Sharpe.

Hernandez wasn't a big TE and was even slower than Leonard, I think Leonard can be the same type of TE with slightly more speed. It would be great if we could find a TE who was 6'5" and ran the same time as Leonard did, but I don't think that you will ever find that. Leonard is a guy who can stretch the field from the TE position while Kelce/Fasano/McGrath works underneath.

exactly where I hold your opinions

true

Personally, I expect the field to be stretched from the WR position. The offense can only have 11 men on the field. Team already has 7 dedicated to 5 lineman, a QB, and charles (who you want to keep on the field).

That leaves 4 players. Reid's runs a quick strike offense, and he wants Alex to get rid of the ball quickly. Guys like Avery and Jenkins can get down the field much more quickly than any TE.

No Notre Dame TEs

Twitter scouts (if you believe them) are saying Ebron is the only 1st round te right now. Could possibly trade back and still get Amaro, if that's your flavor.

I like burton a lot and he could be had later, same with Lyerla who's prolly an udfa.

I doubt the chiefs spend their first pick on a TE.

Chiefs are likely losing 3 offensive lineman, and 1 starting defensive lineman. Although Reid doesnt have final say in the draft, he likes big uglies.

The only way I see the chiefs drafting a TE early is if their trainers/docs say that Kelce is not progressing in rehab. The team should have a clear understanding of that before the draft in May.

Yes, but TEs who can run are far more dangerous than WRs who are fast but don't have the speed of, say, a Mike Wallace or Randy Moss. Fast WRs like Avery and Jenkins don't really have the ability to box out DBs and out-jump them for the ball. That's why a fast TE is a much deadlier threat, IMO.

You have to keep in mind, Leonard is putting up these numbers at 250+ pounds, not 190-210 like your typical speed WR. As a TE, he'll be going up against safeties and LBs the vast majority of the time vs Avery and Jenkins who have to try to outrun CBs who are just as quick and fast as they are. And if an offense sticks a CB on the fast TE instead of a S or LB, the TE is going to be able to outmuscle virtually any CB in this league (not named Sherman).

That's why the Gronk and Hernandez combo was so deadly, no one had/has the players to match up against them.

you are confusing the issue of vertical seperation and horizontal seperation. Avery and Jenkins can create horizontal seperation. They dont have to "box out dbs and out jump them for the ball" because they have created seperation. Players like Bowe and Baldwin have to "outjump" defenders because they havent created horizontal seperation and thus have to create vertical seperation.

Alex Smith doesnt like to throw to guys covered. He doesnt like throwing to a crowd and depending on his reciever to "box out and out jump".

Sure, its a game of matchups, and Reid likes to get his skill players in space. Having a reciever (whether a TE or wr) who can stretch the field will open up things for the running game (less men in the box) as well as JC as a reciever. JC and Bowe will continue to be the primary receiving options in Reid's offense. I just dont see Reid sending a TE out to "outrun" anyone. He wants guys who can get horizontal seperation very quickly. That has been his M.O. and a pillar of his West Coast offense.

against them as a combo, sure. Gronk is a big matchup problem by himself when healthy.

cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24452983/nfl-combine-gilmore-impresses-amaro-struggles-in-te-positional-drills

From listening to dorsey talk yesterday he seems pretty helk bent on staying disiplined and taking the bpam in other words we have no idea who he going to take. Very well could be a te though.

We should just stop talking about Ebron at 23. He's easily a top 15 pick now

kansascity.com/2014/02/22/4842870/players-whose-stock-went-up-and.html
Here are the players whose stock rose and fell, according to Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com and CBSSports.com.

Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro: “I was a little disappointed in Jace. He wasn’t quite as fast I was expecting, and he struggled a little bit catching the ball. You see that a little bit on tape, but I thought I saw him drop as many passes today as any of the tight ends that tested, and considering he’s in the first-round conversation, that’s obviously alarming. He’s earned some Jimmy Graham comparisons, and he certainly didn’t look like Jimmy Graham today.”

In other words, his less-than ideal sized hands may actually be an issue.

Sadly, is very true. The gap got wider today.

Can always trade back and try to get a combo of Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Jordan Mathews.

Or sub Mathews with Moncrief or Beckham

The combine is overrated

Love for him to be there at the Chiefs pick.

I really like Crockett Gillmore in the 5th round. At 6'6", 260, he's not fast, 4.89, but he is a good blocker and also a very good receiver. He really was the best receiving TE in the Senior Bowl.

cbssports.com said this about him -

We already have him, Sean McBeard.

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/b...0/77316041.jpg

I liked Sean and he helped KC last year. Sean is not as good a blocker and also not as good of a receiver as Crockett. Speed rushers went right around Sean this year.

Dang, haven't heard this guys name... but you REALLY have to like that experience, the guy is an athlete/football player in every sense of the word.

He can do it all, gotta love that if you're a coach.

Yeah, but still. If we draft a TE this year, he better be one who can take the top off of a defense. I don't want another slow and steady Fasano on the roster.

Know what I'm really interested in? Seeing if Demetrius Harris has developed at all with his year on the practice squad.

blocking can be coached.

As for recieving, I think Clay posted some PFF stats of all the chiefs receivers and that McGrath had a very low drop rate.

How many TEs consistently do this in the NFL?

There are various ways of doing it, I'm not just referring to pure speed when I say that.

Guys like Gronk, Graham, and Cameron are threats down field because they have just enough speed to outrun LBs and get 15-25 yards down the seem in under 3 seconds and then they have the size to box out and high point the ball over any DB that might be there.

Who can do that in this draft? ASJ and Amaro.

Then you have Walker and Davis who aren't particularly big or great at high pointing the ball but are able to just outrun coverages to get open deep. Too fast for LBs and too fast for most safeties and some CBs.

That's Burton, Lyerla, and Leonard.

And Ebron is a combination of both types of what I consider TEs who can take the top off of a defense: He has enough speed to win deep on that alone, but also the size ball skills to dominate at the point of the catch. He does have some concentration issues though when it comes to catching the ball; needs to work on it like VD did.

I can't shake Fiedorowicz as my guy if we have to draft a TE. I don't think we have a shot at Ebron or Amaro, nor do I think it'll be worth drafting them in the 23rd with who we will have available. I think we can get Fiedorowicz extremely late in this draft, and he comes as one of the most well rounded guys at the position in the draft and comes from a pretty solid lineage of college TE's there at Iowa.

Alex's old BFF Vernon Davis for one.

He's the only starting Te with a 4.3 that I know of...

Colt Lyerla said some controversial things last year about the Sandy Hook shootings

NFL Media recently provided a broad, vague assessment of former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla, calling him “[o]verly emotional and prone to outbursts following a dysfunctional childhood that offered little direction and much confusion related to a divorce.”

In March 2013, Lyerla had one specific outburst that could create some red flags for one or more NFL teams interested in Lyerla. At that time, Lyerla posted multiple Twitter messages expressing support for the idea that the mass shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut were in some way the result of a governmental conspiracy.

“The parents of the kids that supposedly died in the sandy hook situation are liars,” Lyerla tweeted and later deleted, according to Graham Watson of Yahoo! Sports.

The University of Oregon at the time denounced Lyerla’s tweets on the topic, calling them “insensitive and offensive.” Lyerla was dismissed from the team in October 2013 for an unspecified rules violation, and he later pleaded guilty to cocaine possession.

Multiple NFL teams may feel the same way, and some teams (especially the Giants, Jets, and Patriots, who all play in the region containing Newtown) will surely remove Lyerla from their draft boards based his comments about Sandy Hook — unless he persuasively and unequivocally denounces them and apologizes for them, or at a minimum explains that cocaine is indeed a hell of a drug.

Teams presumably knew about Lyerla’s remarks, and teams presumably grilled him for them at the Scouting Combine. Beyond the interview room, Lyerla had a mixed bag of Combine results. He managed only 15 reps in the 225-pound bench press, the fewest for all tight ends. In contrast, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds, putting him behind only Eric Ebron and A.C. Leonard at the position.

Lyerla also pocketed $100,000 for generating the fastest 40-yard dash while wearing a specific Adidas shoe. The prize was promoted in Indy by Snoop Dogg, who may have advised Lyerla to switch to marijuana.

CJ is the best TE out of Iowa since Marv Cook. He's just a freakish combination of size, speed, and catching ability.

Ehhhh, that's heavily debatable and I don't like Cook as a reference there since he's kind of iconic to my family (from Iowa, families are intertwined deeply lol).

Dallas Clark has been the most NFL productive since cook, Moeaki had the best combination of pass catching and blocking I've probably ever seen come out of Iowa at the TE position, just didn't have the durability, could have been a great one if he did. Brandon Myers has been fairly stout the last year or two in the NFL, wasn't nearly as good back at Iowa.

The person I think that really kind of fell off the radar who I thought would translate well to the NFL was Allen Reisner. Solid blocker, pretty good hands, pretty good size. Haven't really heard anything on him in the NFL.

I think CJ is that in between type, between Moeaki's talent, and Reisner's kindn of "Brick shithouse" toughness on the field. CJ's got quite a long way to go in the NFL, but he has a set of skills and is easily molded, I think he can do well in a WCO type, heavy on TE's. Will not be surprised one bit though, if he gets snatched up by New Orleans, New England, San Francisco, or Houston.

Clark was the most productive, but he wasn't the best PROSPECT. Clark wasn't a prototypical TE and he went to a team that new exactly how to use him.

Moeaki's health problems just can't be overlooked. For that reason, I put CJ above him as well.

He'll fit right in... posting in DC.

Can see him as a Raider

I didn't say Clark was the best prospect, just the most productive in the NFL. I elluded to the point that Moeaki was much better talent-wise but not durable, and that Reisner and Myers were quite a few steps behind in talent, with Reisner being the surprise non-producer, for me at least.

There's no telling what CJ will do until we find out where he goes.

I was all about us taking a tight end until the wide receivers hit the field.

I'd say give Kelce a chance, but draft another TE in the 4-6th rounds that can be developed.

I'd like to see the Chiefs trade out of their pick unless something sweet falls in their laps and get an extra 2nd and 3rd. This draft is rich in DBs and Wrs..which happen to be part of the team's needs.

I still want Amaro, but I have to put Mike Evans at 1a now.