My #1 draft target isn't a first rounder...what do we do?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

I’m starting to accept the TE in round 1 argument.

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[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

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Are you thinking an Aaron Hernandez-type to Kelce’s Gronk?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

Are you thinking an Aaron Hernandez-type to Kelce’s Gronk?

Honestly I think Kelce is more akin to Hernandez and Hock to Gronk.

Kelce is a fine blocker but it's not high on his list of attributes. He's a technician in that regard; very smart run blocker, but not someone who's going to be able to body many guys up and move them without an angle. He's essentially a giant WR with his ability to split out wide, his elite route-running and YAC ability. He can play in-line and do so effectively but he's at his most dangerous down the field and/or with a little space to work with.

Meanwhile Hock is an exceptional in-line blocker. Gronk doesn't get the credit he deserves there; dude might be the best run-blocking TE in football at this point. Hock can be that good and would also be a well-above average pass-catching TE. And I think he'll be a lot more powerful than Kelce so you can utilize more power running plays to his side; something I'd like to see us get a little better at.

So it gives you the ability to show a dozen different looks and really keep your plans disguised. I think you can/should have both guys on the field for 75% of your snaps or more given Kelce's ability to play the slot as well. If you can essentially hide whether you're in an 11 or 12 look while in the huddle (or simply go empty with Williams ability to split out), it makes it damn near impossible to try to adjust defensive personnel based on who we have on the field. You won't know what kind of formation we're going to show until we get out there and show it.

With so many defenses eschewing traditional base sets and trying to work from sub packages, the ability to simply not show your cards until you're on the LOS would really limit their flexibility there.