This offseason, TE needs to be a priority.

[Bobblehead]

Why did fant always look like he was running in concrete

On the radio, they say he takes off then stutter steps to make a move and all his speed is lost and can never regain it afterwards.

 

[Grand Strand Hawk Fan]

Me to JS: "Fix the damn O-line 1st and then do whatever the hell you want."

 

[Sperrydogg]

That is true, maybe technique? Is he not good at getting separations? Can someone with more football knowledge chime in?

Even though he looked slow he could run people over too

 

[Sperrydogg]

Tight ends among all NFL teams are somewhat limited.

You only have a handful of teams, maybe, 5-6 teams at most that have dedicated game plans each game that the tight end gets the ball frequently enough.

It’s very hard to just shift an offensive focus to incorporate the tight ends for every game. Seattle, even when they got Jimmy Graham, was used primarily as a red zone target.

I wouldn’t say Seattle needs to make tight end a top priority cause AJ Barner and Noah Fant is “enough” for a team that wants to clearly run the ball as the main offensive identity.

If you have a Brock Bowers of the Raiders or the Cardinals tight end or La Porta of the Lions, then, you have a solid TE but most teams do not have a league top echelon tight end and they are able to make their offense work just fine.

Seattle’s number one need will always be offensive line….

Chiefs bills falcons rams lions packers redskins bucs… that’s off the top of my head. I think there’s more tight ends out there than a few

 

[Ozzy]

I hope they don't waste a pick on TE in round 1. Barner and Fant can be used in 2 TE sets

Neither are difference makers though. A great blocking TE that can make plays like a Kittle? That would help this team a ton.

 

[Scout]

IMHO, Third and fourth and fifth round picks provide the best return on draft capital. Lots of position options to address team needs. As the AJ Barner selection demonstrated last year.

It is a deep draft for TEs so it would be another great value selection in the 4th or 5th round. I suspect a veteran TE will be the primary TE with Barner as the 2nd so adding a rookie as the third or fourth TE off the bench to develop would be just fine.

 

[Ozzy]

Neither are difference makers though. A great blocking TE that can make plays like a little? That would help this team a ton.

And I’m not saying it’s the ideal first round only that I could see it unfold that way depending on the board.

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

Chiefs bills falcons rams lions packers redskins bucs… that’s off the top of my head. I think there’s more tight ends out there than a few

Chiefs - Kelce (past his prime, has not been great in the regular season; good in playoffs)
Bills - Knox and Kincaid, fairly quiet contributors
Rams - higbee not bad but not a lot better than the Seahawks TE
Packers - Musgrave Kraft; Kraft not bad, occasional red zone targets, averages around 4-5 catches per game
Ertz - really productive in playoffs
Bucs - Cade Otton; only productive when Mike Evans does not play

 

[Jville]

It is a deep draft for TEs so it would be another great value selection in the 4th or 5th round. I suspect a veteran TE will be the primary TE with Barner as the 2nd so adding a rookie as the third or fourth TE off the bench to develop would be just fine.

I'm not gonna under estimate Barner for a second year in a row. The offense revision will only enhance his play. Not sleeping on Brady either. He's under the radar of most fans.

 

[Sperrydogg]

Chiefs - Kelce (past his prime, has not been great in the regular season; good in playoffs)
Bills - Knox and Kincaid, fairly quiet contributors
Rams - higbee not bad but not a lot better than the Seahawks TE
Packers - Musgrave Kraft; Kraft not bad, occasional red zone targets, averages around 4-5 catches per game
Ertz - really productive in playoffs
Bucs - Cade Otton; only productive when Mike Evans does not play

I would love to see the hawks have a good te game. Nothing like throwing out of tight and running out of spread

 

[Sperrydogg]

Chiefs - Kelce (past his prime, has not been great in the regular season; good in playoffs)
Bills - Knox and Kincaid, fairly quiet contributors
Rams - higbee not bad but not a lot better than the Seahawks TE
Packers - Musgrave Kraft; Kraft not bad, occasional red zone targets, averages around 4-5 catches per game
Ertz - really productive in playoffs
Bucs - Cade Otton; only productive when Mike Evans does not play

Don’t forget the browns, Njoku, and the chargers, uncle will dissley, and the chiefs have Noah Gray, I like him

 

[Sperrydogg]

On the radio, they say he takes off then stutter steps to make a move and all his speed is lost and can never regain it afterwards.

When concrete is moving it’s hard to stop but when it stops….

 

[Shane Falco]

Seems like anytime that Fant is called to block on an outside zone run, he gets pushed back 5 yards and the play goes for a loss.

It's happened way too many times imo. I'm not impressed at all with his blocking ability.

As an all-around TE, Zach Miller was the best we've had imo.

Dissly was that guy for us I think. IIRC, he was banged up frequently though.

 

[jammerhawk]

I'd bet that Fant will either be traded or or released as he is really not very reliable.'

This is a good year for TEs and good TEs are available quite deep in the draft.

After Fant the only player we have on the roster that is signed is Barner who has been a lot better than many initially thought he'd be. I can see the team re-signing Brady Russell as well.

 

[Rat]

Crazy some of the teams you guys are forgetting:

Niners - Kittle missed two games and still went 78/1106/8 and is a tremendous blocker
Ravens - Andrews/Likely is a stud combo that had 17 TDs between the two of them this season
Steelers - Freiermuth has been a very reliable option in their ball control offense
Dolphins - Jonnu Smith's 88 receptions led the team this season

You could include the Vikings too when Hockenson is healthy.

 

[Rat]

I just want to see the team add talent. If there is a TE like Warren or Loveland that falls and the team thinks they can be a true difference maker, they'd be doing a huge disservice passing on them for someone they see as an average guard prospect.

 

[Spin Doctor]

I'd bet that Fant will either be traded or or released as he is really not very reliable.'

This is a good year for TEs and good TEs are available quite deep in the draft.

After Fant the only player we have on the roster that is signed is Barner who has been a lot better than many initially thought he'd be. I can see the team re-signing Brady Russell as well.

Exactly, Fant is often injured and as a receiver he doesn't live up to the hype. He gets pushed back consistently every time he has to make a block. Barner i'd argue was much better of an all round TE.

Just to be clear, I'm not advocating drafting a TE in the first. I think we do need to take a look at a potential TE in the draft though. In addition to potentially helping our run and pass blocking, a good TE could also be shoved to slot in passing situations. A good pass catching TE could fill in as our third receiver and I'd argue would be better overall bang for buck than a slot receiver.

The versatility that a good TE provides a team is understated. The Chiefs and Patriots are both dynasties that ran their offenses through their TE's in the passing game. Gronk and Kelce have been the main weapons for both Brady and Mahomes for quite some time.

 

[Spin Doctor]

I just want to see the team add talent. If there is a TE like Warren or Loveland that falls and the team thinks they can be a true difference maker, they'd be doing a huge disservice passing on them for someone they see as an average guard prospect.

Absolutely! A TE is also a huge contributor in the runblocking and pass blocking game as well.

 

[DarkVictory23]

I'd bet that Fant will either be traded or or released as he is really not very reliable.'

This is a good year for TEs and good TEs are available quite deep in the draft.

After Fant the only player we have on the roster that is signed is Barner who has been a lot better than many initially thought he'd be. I can see the team re-signing Brady Russell as well.

Outside of this year, Fant has been pretty reliable only missing 1 game of the previous 34, so I don't think the ding on reliability is really fair.

I think the real issue with Fant is he's just got a really big cap hit relative to his production to this point. Some of that is on us, we were below average in terms of TE targets, but his numbers remain his numbers.

I could definitely see him getting cut for that $9M in savings... but that's just another TE spot we need to fill and I don't know that given how reliant Kubiak's scheme is on TE play that I'd want the unit to be filled entirely of Barner on his 2nd year, Brady Russell who has played a grand total of 3 games, and a rookie.

 

[NoGain]

I just saw an interview with Michael Penix, and, as a Husky fan for years, I watched him do what he does...did we eff-up and not move up to get this guy? It was doable. It would have cost, but...did we not eff up in not moving up in the draft last year...