I really don't, Te's have such a huge learning curve, they have to know Wr routes and blocking schemes I'd prefer just paying someone else for training up a Te.
And yet the ones that get drafted early routinely seem to stick as quality players and have lower "bust" rates then other skill positions such a WR and CB.
Heh, look at Jim Graham's rookie year, Cook did not set the world alight as a rook, Finley was train wreck as a rook etc. What does worry me is Ireland is soo committed to the ideal of a Te who can block and run routes we may miss out on opportunities to upgrade or take a lesser player b/c they are a better blocker.
I don't know if that's true given that Michael Egnew and Charles Clay are on the roster. Philbin doesn't seem to have a lot of issue accommodating someone who can't block.
If those are the only two options then I'd agree. I think we can sign a UFA tight end,(Cook, Bennett, et al) and still draft one in the top 5 picks (one of the Killer Es, Kelce, McDonald or Reed) and we can sign a WR like Jennings and still draft one in the top 5 picks ( Austin, Allen, Woods, Bailey, Swope, etc). There are going to be good TEs and WRs well into the 3rd round, or so it appears to me. Bennett would pair well with Ertz or Reed as the Y and the H, IMO. Cook would pair well with Kelce or McDonald for example as the H and the Y. If we do resign Hartline which seems inevitable now, signed Jennings, and drafted Bailey or Woods for example, I'd be feeling pretty good about the targets Tannehill had to throw to.
Quality TEs are much easier to identify than quality WRs. There is a lot of data that leads me to believe that identifying quality TEs in the draft isn't very difficult. Creating a model based only on 40-times and bench-press numbers actually yields decent results.
But all those guys you mentioned did make a significant impact eventually. Instant impact? Not always. But a safe bet for reliable production? Absolutely.
Don't count on Cook. Most likely will be a Ram and re united with Jeff Fisher like Finnegan did last year.
The man did not do a miraculous turnaround in 9 days. Like I said, the team had no choice after Hicks went down. He was listed at 328 but was actually, 360. He got down to 350 but it all ended there. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/n...194/dolphins-hard-knocks-episode-three-review-
