This offseason, TE needs to be a priority.

Spin Doctor

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Ah, yes, TE the often forgot position on the Seahawks. We've had a few come through here that were good or showed promise but none that stuck. Our TE have been nothing but glorified blockers and they weren't even good at that. I'd even argue that this needs to be a priority above having a third receiver, which is what I see many clamoring for here on .NET.

Why is this position so important? First of all, TE is a jack of all trades. Most TE's are adept blockers and good pass catchers, as well as giant targets for the QB to hit in key goal line and third down situations. They add a great deal of versatility to what an offense can do.

Want to play smashmouth football? Great! Want to look to emulate the air raid offense in the NFL? Sick! Want to run a balanced offense? Even better, a good TE can help facilitate all of these things. The first thing a TE adds is an invaluable outlet receiver. They can be an inline blocker, adding extra time for the QB, then disengage, sneak out and catch a pass. Want to run the football? Well, it sure helps having a 250+ pound 6'3+ behemoth on the line rather than a wide receiver for blocking. In addition teams will rotate their top TE's to the H BACK position and have them function like a FB.

This adds a great deal of extra blocking, but also with play actions they can also be deadly in this context, or just used to buy extra time.

A TE is a great remedy to an ailing line and above all else, a good TE can be had at a fraction of the price as a good WR. This means if you find a good one there is potentially huge salary cap savings.

Our current guys aren't really the greatest. Not really impressed by Noah Fant from a blocking or pass catching prospective. Brown is just a depth guy and functions more like a blocking TE than anything.

I think that we need to draft a TE this year and make more usage of them. Why we haven't been using them more as outlet receivers, especially with a QB like Smith who likes operating within the confines of the offense. TE's are invaluable safety nets for the trenches and in the passing game.

The TLDR version of this is Seattle could use better TE's.
 

Wsumatt1982

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I like where you’re coming from, but a priority? I wouldn’t go that far. It’s a need in my eyes but trenches are the priority. Young QB to groom is a priority. I think we can add pieces but I’ll push back a little on priority.
 
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Spin Doctor

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Ah AJ Barner called and has a few words for you.
He was okay, he did well with opportunities given to him -- but I'm still lukewarm on him. I see us as having a bunch of depth pieces. I want a TE that is a legitimate receiving threat, I'm not sure if I'd consider Barner that.
 

DarkVictory23

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TE was a very important position for Kubiak's offense when it was at its best in New Orleans this season, so I don't entirely disagree.

His offense was big on utilizing TEs (and FBs or TEs lining up at FB) and being able to line up in 12, 22, and 13 personnel was big at creating looks that you could either run or pass out of.

That said, I don't think we actually have bad TEs. Noah Fant is underrated here as a receiving threat and Barner was coming on as the season progressed. I'm not sure Fant is worth his contract, but we probably can't get someone better in the FA market for cheaper.

Should we draft a guy? I think so and have heard this is supposed to be a pretty deep draft for TEs (someone correct me if this isn't right), but I don't think this is a first-round level priority for the Seahawks.
 
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Spin Doctor

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TE was a very important position for Kubiak's offense when it was at its best in New Orleans this season, so I don't entirely disagree.

His offense was big on utilizing TEs (and FBs or TEs lining up at FB) and being able to line up in 12, 22, and 13 personnel was big at creating looks that you could either run or pass out of.

That said, I don't think we actually have bad TEs. Noah Fant is underrated here as a receiving threat and Barner was coming on as the season progressed. I'm not sure Fant is worth his contract, but we probably can't get someone better in the FA market for cheaper.

Should we draft a guy? I think so and have heard this is supposed to be a pretty deep draft for TEs (someone correct me if this isn't right), but I don't think this is a first-round level priority for the Seahawks.
This is mainly what I'm advocating for, I want to draft a guy.
 

Ozzy

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Agree 100% and I wouldn’t be shocked if one of their early picks is on a TE either.
 

gmor

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I agree that they need to come away with a good TE in the draft. Spending big money on Fant when he comes up for contract isn't a good direction to go IMHO.
 

cymatica

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He was okay, he did well with opportunities given to him -- but I'm still lukewarm on him. I see us as having a bunch of depth pieces. I want a TE that is a legitimate receiving threat, I'm not sure if I'd consider Barner that.
He wasn't used much but I loved what I saw. I think McCarthy was right, he's going to be a stud
 

sutz

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I guess it depends on what your definition of "priority" is. Our TEs were pretty serviceable when healthy. Barner did well for a rookie, he should get even better as he gains experience. The Seahawks have a weird history at the TE position, having had a few pretty good ones go through here, but never really finding a lot of use for them. Hopefully the new regime can improve on that.

As for priorities, there are certainly other areas that I would go before we worry about TE. but 2d/3d day, yeah snag one.
 

Ozzy

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It will be interesting though if they see an elite difference maker in round 1 at TE. Kubiak uses a lot of two TE sets so having a stud there could be massive for the offense and you can still improve the line in the following rounds. Not saying that’s what they will do but it’s a possibility.
 

Scout

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Hawk will be playing more 12 personnel so another drafted TE is highly likely. Still, Fant and or Brown should be re-signed IMO.
 

Shane Falco

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Hawk will be playing more 12 personnel so another drafted TE is highly likely. Still, Fant and or Brown should be re-signed IMO.

Fant still has a year on his deal. They have an out though, he's pretty highly paid considering the level of TE he is, so you never know. They might use it.

I'm of mind that you pay em if they are Kelce or Kittle .. that caliber or else go cheap - rookie contract or cheap FA. But it only ever seems like there are 3 or 4 TE's of that level any given season.
 

toffee

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TE? An undersized OT + oversized slot WR ?

Noah Fant has all the measurables:
6 ft 4 in · 249 lb · prototype or a slight bit undersized?
Fant's 40-yard dash time 4.5 sec was in the 96th percentile for tight ends.
He also had a 39.5 inch vertical jump, which was in the 96th percentile.
Fant's 3-cone drill time was 6.81 seconds, which was in the 96th percentile.
His broad jump was 127 inches, which was in the 95th percentile.

May be time to use Fant more as a slot WR?
 
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Kamcussionator

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I'm on board with getting a TE. Brown was horrible this year, both performance wise and too many mental mistakes.

Even with Barner and Fant on the roster, we need a 3rd quality TE to make sure we have enough depth to run 12 personnel all year.
 

pittpnthrs

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Seattle has never used the TE as a priority in the pass catching aspect (Jimmy Graham is the all time leader as a perspective and that's pathetic). Seriously, since their inception in 76', they've never had any type of dominant TE. It's just the way it is. The football God's won't allow it.
 
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