Tag: Tight Ends

Falcons 2020 roster breakdown: Wide receiver and tight end

At tight end, the Falcons could also use another player to team with Austin Hooper — assuming they re-sign him that is.

The Atlanta Falcons have a talented group of wide receivers and got good production out of the position in 2019. There isn’t much missing, but finding a replacement for slot receiver Mohamed Sanu wouldn’t hurt. At tight end, the Falcons could also use another player to team with Austin Hooper — assuming they re-sign him that is.

2019 Depth Chart and Results

WR Julio Jones

99 catches for 1,394 yards and 6 touchdowns; 2 carries for a loss of 3 yards

WR Calvin Ridley

63 catches for 866 yards and 7 touchdowns; 2 carries for 34 yards

WR Mohamed Sanu

33 catches for 313 yards and 1 touchdown; 2 carries for 3 yards; 1 punt return for 2 yards

Traded to the New England Patriots at the deadline

WR Russell Gage

49 catches for 446 yards and 1 touchdown; 4 carries for 12 yards; 1 punt return for a loss of 6 yards

WR Justin Hardy

19 catches for 195 yards

WR Olamide Zaccheaus

3 catches for 115 yards and 1 touchdown

WR Christian Blake

9 catches for 91 yards

WR Brandon Powell

Zero snaps played

TE Austin Hooper

75 catches for 787 yards and 6 touchdowns

TE Luke Stocker

8 catches for 53 yards

TE Jaeden Graham

9 catches for 149 yards and 1 touchdown

TE Carson Meier

Zero snaps played

Current 2020 Contracts

WR Julio Jones

4 years at $20.13 average

WR Calvin Ridley

2 years at $3.22 million average with an option year after

WR Russell Gage

2 years at $744,049 average

WR Olamide Zaccheaus

2 years at $631,666.67 average

WR Brandon Powell

1 year at $660,000

WR Christian Blake

1 year at $585,000

WR Devin Gray

2 years at $555,000 average

TE Luke Stocker

1 year at $3.35 million

TE Jaeden Graham

1 year at $585,000

TE Carson Meier

2 years at $555,000 average

Pending Free Agents and What Happens

WR Justin Hardy

Unless he takes a minimum deal, the Falcons shouldn’t even bring Justin Hardy back to camp. He’s been very disappointing as a wide receiver and just average as a special teams player. If he comes back, he will be in a fight to keep his job. Atlanta would be smart to go after some undrafted free agents or let Christian Blake or Olamide Zaccheaus take his role in 2020.

TE Austin Hooper

Austin Hooper’s base market value is around $10 million on average per season. The Falcons need to keep their franchise quarterback’s favorite safety valve this offseason. Hooper has put in the work to get better every year and bringing him back on a 5-year, $55 million deal would be best for both sides. And it’d be what Hooper is worth.

Possible Cuts

TE Luke Stocker

Cutting Stocker would save around $2.6 million for the Falcons to spend on Austin Hooper. They should cut him and not even think twice about it. Jaeden Graham could potentially fill his role and the mid-round tight ends in this draft won’t be too costly. Bringing in another free agent to replace him would be a bit of a waste.

Free Agents To Consider

WR J.D. McKissic

While a larger target over the middle would be nice, bringing back J.D. McKissic to be a utility player in the offense and a return specialist would be wise. McKissic has shown that he can be an explosive player if given the right opportunity, so the team should look into bringing him into the fold once again. His speed alone would be another asset on the field.

WR Pharoh Cooper

Pharoh Cooper is more of a true return specialist, but he’s shown some talent in the slot. He’s got the ability to challenge Russell Gage as an outside receiver in three wide receiver sets as well. Atlanta has some talent to work with already, but Cooper is an established player in a similar mold that could potentially beat out someone like Christian Blake.

TE Greg Olsen

Even if the Falcons bring back Austin Hooper, bringing in someone like Greg Olsen to help mentor Hooper on how to take that next step while playing the No. 2 tight end role would make a ton of sense. He shouldn’t be more than $3 million, but he could fill in the role that Mohamed Sanu played for the Falcons in 2016 to mid-2019 as well.

TE Eric Ebron

Eric Ebron is an almost ideal No. 2 tight end for a Dirk Koetter offense. He might drop passes but his value in the red zone and on third downs would give Atlanta the right kind of player to attack those inside seams. Ebron is the former No. 10 pick from the 2014 NFL Draft, but he won’t get the same kind of money that most former top-10 picks make since he’s more of a specialized player now.

Best Fits in 2020 Draft

WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan

As somewhat of a poor-man’s Roddy White, Donovan Peoples-Jones had a strong college career for the Michigan Wolverines. He was a possession target over the middle of the field, but more than that, he was yet another solid red zone option for the Wolverines to use. Atlanta needs someone like him to team with the smaller receivers the team has outside of Julio Jones.

WR Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty

Antonio Gandy-Golden might remind some of Michael Jenkins with his build, but his route running and hands are much better. He’s not a first-round talent, but Jenkins shouldn’t really have been either. Gandy-Golden has the length that over the middle would be great for third and fourth downs and red zone situations.

TE Thaddeus Moss, Louisiana State

The son of Randy Moss flashes his dad’s receiving skills on the field at times, but Thaddeus is an all-around solid tight end. He’s the kind of player worth gambling on for the Falcons if they want a true No. 2 tight end for the 12-personnel that Dirk Koetter prefers to run. Using Moss or Hooper in the slot could be lethal for this offense.

Out-of-box move that Atlanta could consider

Letting Austin Hooper walk and trading a 2021 second-round pick for O.J. Howard of the Buccaneers 

While the idea of letting Austin Hooper walk is tough to swallow, if the Falcons decided that they could afford to let him go, trading a 2021 conditional second-round pick for Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard would make a ton of sense. He has the talent to be a top-five tight end in the NFL. Howard just needs the right situation to take advantage of it, and that’s not in Tampa Bay.

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New additions should open up the Georgia football passing game

With the addition of an elite tight end recruit and a grad transfer, UGA football improves on offense.

The University of Georgia Bulldogs have the top recruiting class in the whole nation as of noon on National Signing Day. In the Early Signing Period, head coach Kirby Smart and his subordinate recruiters were already able to sign 19 key incoming high school recruits, including a run on top talent from out of state. None looms larger than 5-star Darnell Washington, the 6-7 tight end out of Las Vegas, considered one of the elite athletes at any position.

Under outgoing one-year offensive coordinator James Coley, the Bulldogs struggled to pass the ball to the middle of the football field, and at times had trouble converting on third downs. Thusly, the defense had to keep UGA in low-scoring games. With Air Raid expert Todd Monken taking over the play calling duties, and a couple other very experienced coaching minds added to the offensive think tank, scoring should increase in 2020.

Dec 30, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA;Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The spotlight shines brightest on Wake Forest grad transfer Jamie Newman, the presumed starter under center in Athens. But also keep an eye out for FSU grad transfer Tre’ McKitty (6-5), another tall tight end weapon.

Newman’s dual-threat arsenal includes his ability to run the football, which will draw defensive attention. The plan seems to be for Monken to open up the passing offense. Georgia loses stud runner D’Andre Swift to the NFL along with four offensive line starters, but the middle of the football field should be relatively open for tight ends to roam free and move the chains.

State of the position: Bills tight ends

Here’s how the Bills look at tight end entering the 2020 offseason.

Here is Bills Wire’s position-by-position breakdown of the team’s roster, continuing with the tight ends, including the season that was and projecting forward:

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

The Buffalo Bills made a minor splash during last year’s free agency period by signing former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Kroft. The team bolstered the position by drafting Dawson Knox and Tommy Sweeney in the draft after that move.

Things did not go swimmingly for Kroft, as he missed substantial time with a foot injury. Thus, Knox and Sweeney were thrust into duty earlier than anticipated. Both showed solid physical ability, especially as a part of the aerial attack. Knox ended the season with 28 receptions, good for fourth on the roster. Sweeney added eight catches in limited duty.

Kroft only reeled in six catches on the season, one of which was a touchdown. He was signed to give quarterback Josh Allen another reliable option in the intermediate passing game. Unfortunately, injuries and the emergence of Knox limited Kroft’s impact on the field.

Lee Smith acted as the sixth offensive lineman at times. He provided the Bills with another big option to help with blocking. Smith, however, took eight penalties on the season, a large number for a player who saw limited snaps and whose main role was to block.

Buffalo Bills tight end Lee Smith. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cap situation

All four of the prior players are under contract for next season. Knox and Sweeney are under their rookie contracts, so their cost is quite team-friendly. Their combined cap hit for next season is about $1.5 million.

Smith is signed through 2021. His cap hit is $3.25 million next season. It seems to be a high figure for a blocking tight end, as he made more than starting guard Quinton Spain’s salary. Nevertheless, head coach Sean McDermott and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll see the value in having a player such as Smith on the field to help with the run game.

Which leads to Kroft. He has the potential to be a very good tight end in all facets of the game. However, injuries have limited his time on the field. In addition, he could not supplant Knox at the top of the depth chart when the veteran returned from injury. Kroft’s salary cap hit is $6.4 million. Still, the Bills could release him at a smaller dead cap hit of $1.6 million with so many bodies already in the unit.

Buffalo also has Jason Croom as an option, as he is an exclusive-rights free agent (ERFA). The Bills could bring him back into the fold to complete for a depth spot.

The future

Knox looks to be a bigger part of the offense next year on paper. His athleticism is something the Bills have been looking for at the tight end spot. After he rumbled over multiple Cincinnati Bengals defenders in Week 3, it was apparent that the rookie could hold his own at the next leve, even if he’s a bit raw at the position. Knox also displayed solid skill as a blocker at times, making him an ideal prospect moving forward at the position. He’s the center piece here and like Josh Allen in Year 2, Knox will also have to take a step forward.

Kroft is a possible cut candidate, as the team would save about $4.8 million this year on the cap. Buffalo probably won’t be in any salary cap danger, but the price is a bit much for a player who might not earn the snaps necessary to justify the price tag.

The Bills love Smith’s physicality, even if it comes at a cost. Sweeney provides a competent depth player. He also surprised folks with his hands.

Croom could be an odd-man-out, or he could be a Kroft replacement. His status is up-in-the-air after missing last season due to injury.

The Bills could stand to find a tight end in the draft. With several teams in the league finding mismatches with their tight ends against opposing secondaries, Buffalo may look to follow suit if the opportunity presents itself. It’s simply tough to predict if the Bills will do something at the position because of their heavy depth at the group, although with them lacking a bit in talent, it’s possible. Certainly not the highest of needs because of Knox’s potential, though.

Note: All cap figures are reported from Spotrac’s web site.

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Texas Longhorns have new leading candidate for tight ends, special teams coach

Oklahoma’s special teams coordinator and running backs coach Jay Boulware may return to Texas for a similar position.

It appears the Longhorns have narrowed in on a potential tight ends and special teams coach. Although the current special teams coordinator and running backs coach at Oklahoma, Jay Boulware has previous ties to the University of Texas.

According to Rivals.com reporter Anwar Richardson, head coach Tom Herman could sway Boulware back to where his coaching career began.

Boulware was a backup offensive tackle at Texas in 1991-92, before his collegiate career was prematurely ended due to cardiac arrhythmia. As a student-athlete, Boulware became a student-assistant coach before ultimately working with the tight ends as a graduate assistant in 1996.

An extensive resume of Boulware’s coaching experience includes Stanford, Auburn, Utah, and Oklahoma.

 

 

 

Notre Dame Football: Tight End U Past, Present and Future – A Conversation

This conversation began moments after Cole Kmet declared for the NFL Draft.  It was entirely conducted through Twitter DM’s which may as well be the modern-day AOL Instant Messenger.

What a week to be a Notre Dame tight end, whether it be from past, present or future.

It began with Cole Kmet declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft after previously saying he’d be around for his senior season.  It’s impossible to fault the top-rated tight end in the class but still stings when you wanted to see him in blue and gold and as the ultimate weapon for Ian Book in 2020.

The week continued into the Saturday when Michael Mayer, part of Notre Dame’s latest recruiting class playing in the Adidas All-American Game.  Not only did he play but he provided one of the biggest highlights of the afternoon, going 37 yards on a touchdown reception.

Finally, perhaps one of the best to ever play tight end at Tight End U sent the Vikings to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs as Kyle Rudolph pulled down a Kirk Cousins pass in overtime to send Minnesota to the second round and the Saints home.  We’ll leave the pass interference debate for a later date.

With that in mind, Nick Shepkowski and I had a conversation.  It includes a bunch of former tight ends at Notre Dame and discussion as to what the future of the position may hold.  I hope you enjoy a slightly different post than you’re probably used to at Fighting Irish Wire.

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Irish in the NFL: Kyle Rudolph Finds the End Zone. Again.

After failing to find the end zone the first six weeks of the season, Rudolph has now done so six times in the six games since.

For the sixth time in the last six games, Minnesota Vikings tight end and Notre Dame product Kyle Rudolph found the end zone, cutting the Seahawks lead on Monday Night Football to just four.

Like we’ve seen from Rudolph time and time again, it was a one-handed snag that wound up a score.

It’s starting to feel like a weekend tradition here on Fighting Irish Wire, recapping Rudolph’s score.

After failing to find the end zone the first six weeks of the season, Rudolph has now done so six times in the six games since.

Rudolph’s catch and score wasn’t enough however as the Vikings fell to Seattle, 37-30 and to 8-4 on the season.

Packers will have healthy TE group for first time in 2019 vs. 49ers

Robert Tonyan is expected to make his return against the 49ers on Sunday night.

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The Green Bay Packers will have their top four tight ends available for the first time this season on Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers.

According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Robert Tonyan is expected to make his return against the 49ers after missing five straight games with a hip injury.

Coach Matt LaFleur said the bye week was big for Tonyan to get over the injury.

“He’s looked good out there,” LaFleur said Thursday.

Tonyan will re-join a tight end group that includes veterans Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis and rookie Jace Sternberger, who came off injured reserve on Nov. 2 and played in the last two games.

In the first five games, Tonyan caught four passes on five targets for 66 yards, including two receptions over 20 yards. He was injured in Dallas on Oct. 6 and hasn’t played since.

The Packers went into the 2019 season with Graham, Lewis, Tonyan and Sternberger as the team’s top four tight ends. Sternberger got hurt to end the preseason, and Tonyan went down in Week 5.

Having both Tonyan and Sternberger available should provide LaFleur with a pair of athletic “move” tight ends who can threaten in the passing game and also hold up as inline blockers in certain personnel groupings.

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