Drafting A TE Early?

[MDS]

LJ, despite his flaws, is still one of the top 10 tight ends in football...though he may be like #10. Nevertheless, tight end should not be on the focuses of the offseason and draft. The need to add a blocking first tight end is essential, but more important things like wide reciever and offensive/defensive line, linebacker come a callin.

[NGM]

I would pretty irritated if the Eagles picked a tight end in the first round, that would be worse than drafting Holmes.  But if Leonard Pope was availbe when they picked in the second and they took him I would be happy.  Could find a bio on him but he is 6'7 250 pounds and he can block and catch. 

[JTrotter Fan]

The best thing they could do to improve the passing game is to improve the running game first.

Without a legitimate threat in the backfield, teams will simply tee off on McNabb like they did last year.  Just look at the four remaining teams in the playoffs.  All of them place a premium on running the ball and then killing teams with the pass.

That's not an accident.

If LenDale White is there at 14 and they don't take him, they're farging idiots.

I think LenDale White is Larry Johnson.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

If they feel that a TE is the best player on the board, especially if it's a kid that is extremely blocking-proficient, then so be it.  A versatile, athletic, blocking TE can function as a lineman, a fullback, or a receiver, depending on the situation.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I thought the same thing in regards to his response, Rome. That is the second time I have heard him say that they will be or could be active in the FA market.

I'm getting a good feeling.

[Diomedes]

A versatile, athletic, blocking TE can function as a lineman, a fullback, or a receiver, depending on the situation.

Thanks for the Football 101 refresher, Mrs. Heckert's Favorite.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Hey, I'm just saying... the team needs help in many areas.  A TE could be one of them.

[Diomedes]

The effect that a dangerous 2 TE set can have, as enunciated by Phreak earlier, would fit perfectly for this team.  But that's only strike number two against the idea.  Strike number one is that the Eagles have a powerful need at DT, LB, and WR well before we can start to dream about best case offensive scenerios with 2 good TEs.

[PhillyandBCEagles]

As much as I'd like to see the Eagles get Kiwi as a BC fan/student (the dude lives right downstairs from me) I'm not sure I see the team going that direction in the 1st round with the emergence of Cole.  Don't get me wrong, DE is a need, but if Cole is for real I think we have bigger needs.  I want White with the #14 pick if he's there and assuming we don't trade for Duckett, otherwise I want a LB (either Chad Greenway or DeMeco Ryans, or trade up to get AJ Hawk).

FWIW, I don't see Kiwi falling to #14 anyway.  Aside from Kiper I haven't seen a single mock with him falling past Cleveland at #12.  Now another BC guy that I'd love to get in the 2nd round is OT Jeremy Trueblood.

We do need a #2 TE but this is something I can see us addressing in the 3rd...I'd love to get Anthony Fasano there if he's available, and I say that as a committed ND hater.

[PhillyPhreak54]

They need help even though Cole has stepped up. They cannot count solely on him, bro.

Kearse
Cole
McDougle (can he rebound?)

Those are the DEs they have under contract next year. They need front 7 help and more importantly they need pass rush. Andy has said on numeroud occasions that it all starts up front on O and D.

And if Kiwi is the guy who they target, like MURP suggested earlier, they could trade up. Maybe ARZ wants White or Maroney or DeAngelo Williams and they can trade out to 14. That would put the Birds ahead of the Browns.

LB can be addressed in FA (Witherspoon) and I don't think I would want Reid picking any more LBs. Get them in FA.

As for White...I think he;s going to be good but I highly doubt they go RB in round 1 a year after giving Westbrook $25M and drafting Moats in te 3rd. They'll likely go with a late round pick or a FA (Duce?) for the 3rd RB spot.

[PhillyPhreak54]

PS

Go on downstairs and get Kiwi acquainted with the green jersey's, bro. Let him know how Philly is and tell him we'll see him in April.

[Feva]

Nah... no thanks on a TE in the 1st.  The ONLY way I want to see that is if they've already addressed all 3 spots in the front 7 (DE, DT, OLB) in FA.

There's a few other prospects that I'd take in the 1st if they're on the board and the front 7 spots are fixed... like McNeil or even White (not Holmes).

[Dillen]

FWIW, I don't see Kiwi falling to #14 anyway.  Aside from Kiper I haven't seen a single mock with him falling past Cleveland at #12. 

Kiwi doesnt fit the 3-4. He can fall to 14, for some reason his stock is really going down now. Dont know why, as theres no real reason for that.

http://www.draftstudio.com/mock.htm
http://www.draftshowcase.com/swmock06.htm
http://www.draftseason.com/index2.php?Page_Name=LupagusMock


All of these have Kiwi falling to/past 14. I've seen alot of others with Kiwi going later, but these are the most notable.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

I wouldn't be too happy about them taking a big name, high ranked TE in the first - even if one of the higher ranked guys slides to them/or Kiwi is gone. I would rather them take a stud O-Lineman at that slot like Winston, Justice or Jason Spitz out of Louisville. When you look at the amount of solid-looking TEs that will be in this year's draft, they could definitely make a nice addition in the second or third round. A rookie TE would not be able to come in and make a big impact in Reid's system, and with LJ already coming around (would have had a huge year had McNabb not gone down), they need a stud blocking TE more than another pass catching threat. The lines are the most important needs for this draft, and unless most of the highest ranked prospects are gone by the fourteenth pick (doubtful, but if so, they should go LB), they should really use it to address the lines.

[Dillen]

Jason Spitz would be a horrible pick at 14. You dont take G/C in the 1st round, much less top 15.