You are going to see 1 million tweets from here to the draft over various "experts" and people with "sources" and the vast majority of them will be completely wrong.

 

I think they have to see Egnew in Ertz and we already have him....the only TE that separates himself in this draft is Eiffert. He could go that early, but I don't know if I see him as top 10 talent. In fact, in this particular draft, most draftniks and likely teams as well, think that the talent level from 5-50 is very, very close so we may in fact see an Eiffert go early. This is the draft for teams to go with need after possibly the first 5. In fact there is talk now that Milliner may even go later than many have anticipated...

Every draft class is different, but this is one of the more different I've ever seen... Usually you have a top 10-13 players and then another level down to about 35-40 and then the rest...this draft is really different. This one we might see an Eiffert or Mingo or Werner drop into the latter part of the first round or later... Makes it very interesting for us. We may just end up with some jewels out our second round picks, moreso than in past drafts...

 

I think the Fins would have to consider Eifert if he made it to #12, but I don't see them moving up to get him. The only players I see us moving up for would be Fisher or Johnson at OT.

 

For starters I don't think the tweet is accurate, 2nd I am afraid they might be happy with Escobar in the 3rd rd (which is not a good idea, I think he is Egnew 2.0).

 

I think if we don't take Eiffert - we would just draft a blocking TE late and go with Keller this year, with the hope Egnew improves.

 

I think it is too early to write off Egnew - I mean he could improve and be the guy we are looking for - or not. I think this year will tell a lot. I could see them just looking for a blocking TE, go with Keller and monitor Egnew's progression. Also could see them taking Eifert at 12 too though, if they think he is the next Gronk.

 

Eifert is an elite tight end prospect imo with a very unique set of skills..if we don't get him at 12, then move on from the position, stick with Egnew and Keller..

 

IMO he has elite catch radius, but not elite quickness. I think it's debatable whether he'll be an elite TE in the pros at the level of a Gronkowski or Graham. It seems more likely that he'll be a good TE like Heap. I'm not sure his ceiling is even as high as Hernandez.

 

Tight End and Wide Receiver should be strictly a BPA-type affair at this point. You don't need both high, you need one or the other, and if one isn't appealing you don't need to touch them.

 

As much as he doesn't have the quickness of Hernandez or the beastness on gronkowski, he may be better than both at making athletic catches

 

I see what your saying, and damn are you good, running a 4.6 flat with a 36 inch vert at 6'6 tells me that his body has the potential to get quicker, more explosive...with that kind of height and youth, a little lack of quickness is understandable, but it also comes with other advantages..I think your concerns coincides with CKs one concern, and that is Yac, you don't see him in the open field a lot, however, I've watched most of his reps as a college player, this kid was double teamed a lot, especially in the red zone.

 

Hey Rafs, do you, or maybe Todd, have any data off hand as to where he fits in terms of his shuttle and cone times, and his 10/20 split times? Relative to Gronk and Graham and Dwayne Allen?

 

Agree, Raf. He doesn't possess elite, freak-like, Vernon Davis talent or the 2 players you mentioned to warrant a top 10 pick. Eifert is basically Greg Olsen w/o Olsen's 4.5 speed, although Eifert may be a hair better at playing the ball in the air, but it's negligible. I think he belongs in the 20's but I wouldn't complain if we reached for him at 12.

[video=youtube;77qvn0ppDkw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77qvn0ppDkw[/video]


EDIT: make that "wouldn't complain". Accidentally wrote "would complain".

 

he has eloquent talent my brother..lol

 

Eifert: Shuttle 4.32, Cone 6.92
Allen: Shuttle 4.37, Cone 7.12
Grahm: Shuttle 4.45, Cone 6.90

Couldn't find any numbers on Gronk or 10/20 split times.

 

BTW, what the original poster saw wasn't a prediction, it was Greg Cossell's mock draft. It's fairly unconventional:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...ell-mock-draft-picks-1-16-142026171--nfl.html

He's not predicting Eifert at 6. He thinks Eifert would be a good fit in Cleveland.

 

Jmo, and has been all offseason, but any team that covets the best playmakers in the draft, are gonna go with Eifert or Austin, so that could be very early in the draft..

 

thank you Sensai...quicker than Allen and Graham in his shuttle, basically even with Graham in his cone drill, and graham is a very quick explosive athlete..

 

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"]40[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]10 yard[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]shuttle[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]3cone[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]vertical[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Eifert[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.65[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.65[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.32[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6.92[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]35.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Allen[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.85[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.66[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.37[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7.12[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]32[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Fleener[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.51[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.56[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.30[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7.12[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]37[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Rudolph[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.83[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.67[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.37[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7.24[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]34.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Davis[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.38[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.51[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.17[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7.00[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]42[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Gronk[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.68[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.58[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.47[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7.18[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]33.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Graham[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.53[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.53[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.35[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6.90[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]38.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Gresham[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.66[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.58[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.45[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6.90[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]35[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Hernandez[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.64[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.65[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.18[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6.83[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]33[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Cook[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.49[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.50[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.56[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7.25[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]41[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Keller[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.53[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.62[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.14[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6.88[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]38[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Finley[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.66[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.63[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.38[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7.15[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]27.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Olsen[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.51[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.59[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.41[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7.04[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]35.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

Sorry Deej, I accidentally typed "would complain" when I meant to say "wouldn't".

 

damn, impressive numbers by Keller, and Eifert imo, lets not forget Eiferts size.

 

It's probably from Cosell's mock where he at the beginning puts a disclaimer on how he does his mock. It's not what he thinks will happen. It's what he thinks each team should do based on need.

EDIT: Damn, Disgusted that Disgustipate beat me to it ;)

 

I read that you would be happy with Eifert at 12.

I understand we're not dealing with some of the attributes of the two best tight ends in the league in Gronk and Graham, but I'm also thinking about what Eifert is, and that's a wide receiver skillset in an extraordinary large frame, radius and unique finesses athletic ability, so there are some different things I can do with Eifert that will make up.

 

I wouldn't be against Eifert at 12 even if he is a notch below Gronk & Graham b/c he's good enough to warrant being a mainstay of the team's core for the next decade. IMO it's important having 2 guys (1 receiver & 1 TE) whom the QB can develop with and build a long term, on field relationship with so that the chemistry is always consistent. You know with drafting Eifert that you can take tight end off the checklist for 10 years b/c he's a player you should never want to lose to free agency b/c of the relationship he'll develop with Tannehill, which is unique compared to other 1st round positions we'd be more inclined to let go in FA.

IMO great teams have those handful of integral core guys the organization can continually shuffle pieces around due to the salary cap and losing players.
For me that's, on offense, QB, 1 WR, 1 TE, LT, C, and another lineman at either G or RT. On defense it's 1 but preferably 2 pass rushers. 1 DT. MLB. 1 but preferably 2 dynamic S. I would want top players at these positions who serve as the team's core, mainstay, and identity, and the rest of the team would be the transient pieces that would need replacing due to salary cap & age. For instance, Balt & Pitt have done a great job of this on defense.

 

Something I heard a little while ago made me suspect that Eifert is Cleveland's man and that they'd prefer to trade down in order to get him.

 

I think Vance McDonald is going to end up being the best TE in this class. If you can end up with DJ Hayden, Albert, and McDonald by the time Friday is over, then that's a great use of resources IMO.

 

Has the pure ability to be very good, but in order to be the best TE in this class Vance's hands are going to have to go from about a 4 which is where they are right now, to like an 8. That's tough.

 

i'm pretty shocked about keller's numbers....wow

 

You'd need to add an extra couple players to that list or else that means we took Hayden at 12 and traded up both 3rds for McDonald, which I'd probably vomit over <despite liking both players>.

 

Ertz can be more of a Jason Witten type. Wouldn't mind getting him if they don't go for Eifert.

 

Witten is big and strong, Ertz is not that kind of player imo, more of a finesse guy, smaller frame.

 

Hayden at 12. McDonald at 42.