Pass catching TE needed?

[NorthDallas40oz]

I posted this in another thread before seeing this one, but given the personnel on hand and the direction the coaching staff is taking the offense, what the Hawks really need is a "Move TE" (in the modern day TE nomenclature), who runs/plays well in space. This is particularly important for offenses like Seattle's which employ a mobile QB with read-option elements, as these are the offenses which are gradually moving towards a more 'space the field' strategy which is particularly common in the college game due to the spread offenses and wider hashmarks at the collegiate level. Thus I wouldn't be the least bit surprised (or disappointed) if the Hawks target/take Florida's Jordan Reed in the 3rd round range, which is a player who profiles perfectly in this regard and is eerily similar to Aaron Hernandez.

 

[Hawks46]

I think we're fine at TE for the time being, but I can still see them drafting someone if the right guy fell far enough to give tremendous value.

Miller's contract was front loaded (as posted earlier ), so we're not hurting for a true #1. Just like our WR's showed "slow" development at the beginning of the year, so did the TE's. Once Wilson was unchained, you saw a progression and a chemistry take place. Miller literally took over that Atlanta game; he was gashing the Falcons something fierce.

The title of the post is "pass catching TE needed?"....so we're not talking blocking here. Are we going to find a TE in the draft better than Rice, Harvin, Tate and Miller ? Because with the addition to Harvin, we're going to be seeing a LOT more 3 WR sets, and go away from the 2 TE sets that Carroll was envisioning 2 years ago. Miller is capable of splitting out wide, and coming in to block; you have bubble screens with Harvin and Tate, and Rice and Harvin can stretch a defense deep.

We have too much money and talent tied up in the WR position to not be running these 3 guys all the time. Harvin creates space for Tate and Miller; we'll be seeing the field open up a ton. I'm not worried about the TE position at all. McCoy showed he can find open holes in the zone and also gash defenses, so I really think we're fine in the depth dept. as well.

 

[AgentDib]

I voted for the draft option but we would be fine this year if we stand pat on TE. The acquisition of Harvin is going to put less emphasis on our two tight end packages, and we appear to have no issue with Miller's salary for the upcoming season given that we see an immediate window of opportunity. McCoy and Morrah would likely be serviceable platooning as blocker and receiver respectively, and we have McGrath and Helfet on the roster as developmental prospects.

On the other hand, TE is the position we have the least value in terms of effectiveness per dollar. The real question here is "are we comfortable with McCoy or Morrah as the #1 in 2014?" and my answer to that is no. As a result, value will be the main incentive for us to address this position in the draft (and/or UDFA) with a high value rookie if one is BPA for a given pick. We could have two rookies make the 53 man this year and provide enough competition for Miller in 2014 that we feel comfortable asking him to restructure.

 

[onanygivensunday]

On the other hand, TE is the position we have the least value in terms of effectiveness per dollar. The real question here is "are we comfortable with McCoy or Morrah as the #1 in 2014?" and my answer to that is no. As a result, value will be the main incentive for us to address this position in the draft (and/or UDFA) with a high value rookie if one is BPA for a given pick. We could have two rookies make the 53 man this year and provide enough competition for Miller in 2014 that we feel comfortable asking him to restructure.

According to spotrac.com, Zach Miller has the 7th highest average salary for a TE in 2013... even though his cap hit is $11M, which is entirely on the Seahawks since they felt that 2013 was the best year to absorb a lot of Miller's contract.

Zach's average salaries for 2014 and 2015 will be the 5th highest for a TE... at least at this point in time.

I don't see the Hawks asking Miller to take a pay cut. Asking him to restructure doesn't make much sense either as the team still has cap space for 2013 and this is the year that Miller eats a lot of cap space.

And after this year, he's due no more guaranteed money and he only represents $2M in dead money after this year... and only $1M after 2014.