2014 Draft
Tight Ends
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1	Eric Ebron	TE	17	North Carolina	Jr	6040	250	1st
Combine Forty Time: 4.60...Can beat coverage with strength, athleticism and quicks...needs to strengthen lower-body and work on in-line blocking...Decent height...but lean with room to grow...can line up outside or in slot, creating mismatces...unpolished but developing as a route runner...inconsistent ball-skills (body-snatcher)...fast enough to work the seam...as a blocker, he's more of a leaner than an exploder...One AFC personnel exec says he's overrated - "a pain in the butt. and don't ask him to block because he's not going to do it." (Note - BA places blocking above receiving on his TE wish list)... Pro Day - Looked the part(& talks the talk) but it's fair to say he didn't improve on his combine showing...not as strong or sure-footed as anticipated...biggest knock is lack of consistency as a pass catcher (confirmed when he dropped a couple of passes early in drills)...But he got his act together later in the drills...still considered a top 20 prospect many observers....Proved to be a somewhat flawed prospect at his pro day but "easily the best TE in the draft" - Bleacher Report... Combine (TE06) - Arm: 33.25; Hand: 10.0"; BP: 24; VJ: 32.0; BJ: 120
4	Jace Amaro	TE	54	Texas Tech	Jr	6050	265	1st
Combine Forty Time: 4.74...Nice size (room to grow)...more like an overgrown receiver than a pure TE...lacks bulk, base and functional power of a prototypical TE..a bit stiff and "north-south...needs to roll hips when base blocking...projects more as a receiving TE than a traditional in-line TE who can block as well as catch....(Note - BA wants his TE's to block first and catch second). Pro Day - Posted a 4.69 forty...VJ: 33.5"; BP: 24; looked smooth running routes. Could go as high as the late 1st round - Brandt. Combine (TE01) - Arm: 34"; Hand: 9.0"; BP: 28; VJ: 33; BJ: 118; 3C: 7.42; 20S: 4.30; 60S: 12.26;.
3	Austin Seferian-Jenkins	TE	51	Washington	Jr	6050	262	1st-2nd
Est. Forty Time: 4.75...Has the prototypical size that pro teams look for...a bit inconsistent...DUI arrest a year ago...Bigger than Ebron or Amaro...big hands/long arms...durability not an issue...Off field incident (DUI wreck)...Smooth but not explosive off the mark. or in and out of cuts...ball-skills less than elite...seam-buster...good leaping ability...lacks intensity...above average blocker but with plenty of room to improve...The upside is there; question is what Sef-Jenk will do with it...     Pro Day - Will miss due to surgery on stress fracture in foot...."More complete than Ebron" - Charles Davis...Reminds Curtis Conway of The Gronk... Combine (TE21) - Arm: 33.75"; Hand: 9.75".; BP: 20; .
2	CJ Fiedorwicz	TE	46	Iowa	Sr	6050	265	2nd-3rd
Combine Forty Time: 4.76...Throwback TE who can block as well as be a receiving component...Adept at escaping jam at LOS and getting into route...Nice size/lacks speed...durable...Dad a power lifter...lacks explosiveness...developing as a route runner...inconsistent ball skills but catches away from frame..ball security a concern...willing competitor but not an animal...can be outquicked by speedy edge rushers...must learn to bend and play low..needs technique work... Pro Day - 28 NFL attended....workwed out by Cincy TE coach..."not great at catching the ball but a really good blocker" - Brandt Senior Bowl - One of the few TE's who apparently caught anyone's eye.. Combine (TE07) - Arm: 33"; Hand: 10.25"; BP: 25; VJ: 31.5; BJ: 116; 3C: 7.10; 20S: 4.26...
9	Arthur Lynch	TE	122	Georgia	RSr	6050	258	3rd
Combine Forty Time: 4.82...Good size...can adjust/extend to catch (& can run afterwards)...willing blocker...Team captain...hand-snatcher...FB smart, but needs to get stronger to take on NFL defensive ends...lacks functional speed, athleticsm, agility and explosiveness...will have to improve as a blocker to warrant much consideration as a #3...Cards said to have met with him... Pro Day - .Scheduled for April 16... Combine (TE15) - Arm: 32.5"; Hand: 10.13"; BP: 28; VJ: 29.5; BJ: 116; 3C: 7.38; 20S: 4.35; Senior Bowl - Brooks says he helped himself with an outstanding week ofpractice but never really got involved in the South passing attack on game-day...Combine - TBD..
14	Marcel Jensen	TE	176	Fresno State	rSr	6060	259	3rd-4th
Combine Forty: 4.85...Big target who can anchor the edge...Prototypical size and surprising speed but must get stronger...somewhat tight-hipped...better running routes straight ahead than making cuts...fairly raw...not real instinctive ("thinks too much")...switch to spread offense from pro scheme limited his progress last season...has the tools to develop into a balanced Y tight end...smart and coachable... Pro Day - Forty: 4.84 & 4.89; ....Since the combine, his arm "grew" (from 34.8" to 35.5"). His hand "grew" (from 9.8" to 10")..20S: 4.47; 3C: 7.50; "A good blocker who can catch the ball, but is held back because he doesn't have exceptional speed" - Brandt..... Senior Bowl - Injured/replaced by Gilmore... Combine (TE11) - Arm: 34.8"; Hand: 9.8".; BP: 24; VJ: 35.0; BJ: 115; 3C: 7.38' 20S: 4.60;.
5	Joe Don Duncan	TE	97	Dixie State	RSr	6030	268	4th
"Big fish in small pond.:...(Dixie State?)...Very strong...Big soft hands...adjusts well to ball...Outstanding FBI...good at settling into zones...Very good RAC skills...can separate vertically from slow defenders....not sudden as a route runner...inconsistent second-level blocker...Versatile (long-snapper)...has the intelligence and leadership-skills to move up the roster ladder...Injury issues.. Pro Day - Scheduled for 4/16..... Senior Bowl - Broke foot during week... Combine (TE05) - Arm: 32.4; Hand:10.2"; BP: 35; .
10	Rob Blanchflower	TE	135	UMass	RSr	6040	256	4th-5th
Est. Forty Time: 4.85...Nice size/so-so athleticism...but gritty, tough competitive "Y" tight end...needs to improve route running...Projects as a #3 TE andshort-yardage receiving option....missed a load of games the past two seasons due to injuries...Caught 7 passes vs. Vandy the first game back from injury Pro Day - Didn't work out (no reason given)... Combine (TE02) - Arm: 33.75; Hand: 9.6...
8	Colt Lyeria	TE	105	Former Oregon	Jr	6040	242	5th-6th
Combine Forty: 4.61. Gifted athlete who was dismissed from Ore (for unspecified reasons) and subsequently arrested for cocaine possession...Considered a high-maintenance guy who "really struggles when he gets away from a structured environment" (remind you of anyone)? More of a Housler type right now...Est. Forty Time: 4.59...nice size/speed combo...OK durability...no off the field issues...Athletic and explosive, but raw...above average ball skills....seam-buster....good RAC skills...competitive/fights for extra yards...strong but must improve technique as blocker... Pro Day - Attended Portland State's pro day and not Oregon because (according to one writer) they didn't want him there...Caught 8 of 8 passes thrown to him and participated in RB drills ("looked to be ready to be that guy that teams can build a franchise with")...Amazing athlete who (when asked to) immediately posted two 10'-8" broad jumps.... Combine (TE14) - Arm: 32.75; Hand: 10.25".; BP: 15; VJ: 39; BJ: 128;.
13	Crockett Gilmore	TE	169	Colorado State	Sr	6060	260	6th
Combine Forty Time: 4.89...Lunch-pail blocker who needs a lot of weight-room work...Lacks top-end speed..."scrappy move blocker who plays with a good base" - USA Today...clutch catcher in traffic but lacks suddenness and burst out of his breaks...must improve base blocking and hand-use...competitive (rises to a challenge)... Pro Day - Ran 4.80 and 4.84 forty's before pulling up lame and missing the rest of the workouts. Combine (TE08) - Arm: 33.75"; Hand: 10.4"; VJ: 33.5; BJ: 120; 3C: 7.42; 20S: 4.44;.. Senior Bowl - Late replacement for Jensen (might be a more complete prospect than Jensen)..despite only participating in one full practice and a walk-thru, scored the first TD of the game and had 5 catches for 61 yards.....
15+	Richard Rodgers	TE	196+	California	rSoph	6040	257	6th-7th
Combine Forty Time: 4.87...Moved from TE to WR after losing 30 lbs...dependable short-to intermediate recevier who's somewhat tight-hipped, straight line and not very sudden..potential as a move blocker....Progress limited by team's move to 4 receiver sets...not asked to in-line block much...Worked in an "F" tight end role for new coaches...Could turn out to be better pro than college player... Pro Day - Ran 4.82 and 4.96 forties; VJ: 31.5; BJ: 9-4; 20S: 4.63; 3C: 7.31...dropped a couple of passes early in his positional workout but then settled down and looked good as a receiver... probably a Day 3 prospect...... Combine (TE20) - Arm: 23.6; Hand: 10.16; BP: 16; VJ: 31.5; BJ: 116; 3C: 7.23; 20S: 4.47; ..
15+	Jacob Pedersen	TE	196+	Wisconsin	rSr	6030	238	6th-7th
Combine Forty Time: 4.89...nice height but a bit thin...versatile - played in multi-use/multi-rotation scheme in college...solid intangibles...Zone buster and savvy route runner but lacks explosive separation...very good ball skills...clumsy-footed near sidelines...decent but not extraordinary speed...runs hard and fights for yards after contact...effective positional blocker (willing but lacks the core strength to really dominate and doesn't hit with the desired "pop" you want from a blocker)...good intangibles....,,,H-Back potential.. Pro Day - Ran 4.87 and 4.89 forties...caught well in passing drills....... Combine (TE19) - Arm: 31.75; Hand: 9.0; VJ: 28.5; BJ: 111; 3C: 7.55; 20S: 4.40; 60S: 12.19;...
11	AC Leonard	TE	160	Tennessee State	Jr	6020	252	6th-7th
Combine Forty Time: 4.50. Fairly loose athlete with some shake and bake and RAC ability as a receiver...Can't ignore 4.50 at 252 lbs....Tad short...marginal size and strength to block in-line...ball security issues...route running needs work... Pro Day - VJ: 33"; 20S: 4.40; 3C: 7.14...caught the ball OK in position drills... Combine (TE13) - Arm: 33"; Hand: 9.25".; BP: 20; VJ: 34.0; BJ: 128;.
15+	Kane Friel	TE	196+	BYU	rSr	6040	261	7th
Est. Forty Time: 4.90...Long arms/big hands...started slow last season but picked up steam as the season progressed...Hand-catcher with good RAC skills....inconsistent blocker in space......
15	Ted Bolser	TE	184	Indiana	rSr	6060	252	7th-FA
Est. Forty Time: 4.85...Usead mainly as a blocker in high-tempo offense...executes wham and hook-blocks effectively...narrow blocking base...lacks separation speed running routes.... Pro Day - Improved forty time to 4,74 & 4.78...VJ: 31"; BJ: 9-3; 20S: 4.50; 3C: 7.11; BP: 19; Late round pick or priority UDFA..
15+	Gabe Holmes	TE	196+	Purdue	rSr	6050	243	7th-FA
Est. Forty Time: 4.80....No major write-up info...
12	Asa Watson	TE	162	North Carolina St	rSr	6030	237	7th-FA
Est. Forty Time: 4.68...Kind of thin....Ben Watson's brother...very good receiver....excellent hands; runs very good routes...likely to go on Day 3... Pro Day - Forty: 4.65 & 4.71; VJ: 32"; BJ: 9-9; 20s: 4.44; 3C: 7.05; BP: 26...
7	Troy Niklas	TE	105	Notre Dame	xx	6060	270	2nd-3rd
Est. Forty Time: 4.75...Surprise addition to draft class...impressive size, strength and athletic ability...durable...somewhat inexperienced...needs to improve blocking consistency and core strength... Pro Day - All 32 NFL teams represented....Did not work out or run following double-hernia surgery in mid-March...Arms "shrank" from 34 1/8" at the combine to 33 5/8" Former LB who switched to TE a couple of years ago... Combine: Arms: 34 1/8; Hand: 10"; BP: 27; VJ: 32; BJ: 114; 3C: 7.57; 20S: 4.55; 60S: 12.19.
15+	Nick O' Leary	TE	196+	FSU		6030	250	2nd-3rd
Est. Forty Time: 4.75...No major write-up info... Pro Day - (All 32 teams in attendance)...not mentioned.
5	Jordan Najvar	TE	88	Baylor	Sr	6060	356	xx
Combine Forty Time: 4.85...Big smart Stanford transfer used mainly as a blocker but does not excel in that dept...Injury issue (fractured transverse (spinal) process)...not a whole lot of athleticism...Described by nfl.com writer as having "terrific size" and as a "functional seal, 'move' or wham blocker..."can stay frontal long enough to keep QB clean in the quick game..."....catches the easy ones (i.e. short-to-intermediate" throws... Pro Day - Forty: 4.86 & 4.90; 20S: 4.66; BP: 22; Good job catching the ball but some concerns over lack of speed. Combine (TE17) - Arm: 32.25; Hand 10"; BP: 18; VJ: 32.5; BJ: 112; 3C: 7.14; 20S: 4.47; 60S: 12.02..... Senior Bowl - Backup - no significant mention...