FanPost

Is TE Worth a first round pick?


I remember back in 2006 I went to the Landing for the lame Draft party the Jags put on. It was hot because the Draft was in the middle of the day back then. There were a few plasma screen tvs broadcasting the draft in the direct sunlight so the few Jags fans that showed up were squinting trying to see what was happening. I remember telling my friend I don't care what they do, I just don't want a TE in the first. I think I was pulling for Joseph Addai. Marcedes Lewis was drafted and I left sunburnt and disappointed and never went to another Jaguars hosted Draft party in the Weaver Era. (Now they are wayyyyy better!)

In hindsight it was good they took Marcedes instead of Addai because well Jones freaking Drew in the second round! Marcedes Lewis was a good player for the Jags but not for what they drafted him for. The Jags had Kyle Brady who was like having a 6th Lineman on the field and they needed Lewis to come in and be the pass catching, route running TE that they were missing. It never really happen.

This year there is talk of a TE in the first round again and those old feelings are creeping back into my head. The difference is the game has changed since 2006. The Game favors offense more and a pass catching TE is incredibly valuable. Three teams had 1,000+ yard receiving TE's Last year! Of those three, two of them made the playoffs. Three teams had 8+ receiving TD TE's last year and all three of those teams made the playoffs. The importance is there, but is the value?

So lets look back at the First round TE's since the Jags took Marcedes Lewis

2006

RD 1 Pick 6 Vernon Davis 49ers

RD 1 Pick 26 Marcedes Lewis Jaguars

Notable Picks

RD 4 Pick 98 Owen Daniels Texans

2007

RD 1 Pick 31 Greg Olsen Bears

Notable Picks

RD 2 Pick 38 Zach Miller Raiders

RD 5 Pick 153 Kevin Boss Giants

RD 5 Pick 162 Brent Celek Eagles

2008

RD 1 Pick 30 Dustin Keller Jets

Notable Picks

RD 2 Pick 61 Martellus Bennett Cowboys

2009

RD 1 Pick 20 Brandon Pettigrew Lions

Notable Picks

RD 3 Pick 89 Jared Cook Titans

2010

RD 1 Pick 21 Jermaine Gresham Bengals

Notable Picks

RD 2 Pick 42 Rob Gronkowski Patriots

RD 3 Pick 95 Jimmy Graham Saints

RD 4 Pick 113 Aaron Hernandez Patriots

2011

None Selected

Notable Picks

RD 2 Pick Kyle Rudolph Vikings

RD 4 Pick 102 Jordan Cameron Browns

RD 4 Pick 129 Julius Thomas Broncos

2012

None Selected

Notable Picks

RD 2 Pick 34 Coby Fleener Colts

RD 3 Pick 64 Dwayne Allen Colts

2013

RD 1 Pick 21 Tyler Eifert Bengals

Notable Picks

RD 2 Pick 35 Zach Ertz Eagles

RD 3 Pick 63 Travis Kelce Chiefs

RD 3 Pick 85 Jordan Reed Redskins

2014

RD Pick 10 Eric Ebron Lions

Notable Picks

RD 2 Pick 38 Austin Seferian-Jenkins

2015

None Selected

Notable Picks

RD 5 Pick 160 Jesse James Steelers

(173 O'shaugnessy, 229 Koyak, 246 Swaim)

2016

None Selected

Notable Picks

RD 2 Pick 35 Hunter Henry Chargers

RD 3 Pick 81 Austin Hooper Falcons

2017

RD 1 Pick 19 O.J. Howard Buccaneers

RD 1 Pick 23 Evan Engram Giants

RD 1 Pick 29 David Njoku Browns

Notable Picks

RD 5 Pick 146 George Kittle 49ers

2018

RD 1 Pick 25 Hayden Hurst Ravens

Notable Picks

RD 2 Pick 49 Dallas Goedert Eagles

Looking at the above List of names it just seems like the 2nd round is the best place to start drafting TE's. Just look at the 2010 draft, Jermaine Greshaim went in the first when Rob Gronkowski went in the second and Jimmy Graham went in the third. With names like T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant likely going in the first round at the end of the month just remember Gronk, Kittle, Ertz, Kelce, Reed, Graham, and Bennett all went after that first round ended.

So when I sit with my family in Daily's place at the end of the month, I will once again be rooting for the Jags not to take a TE in the first round (at least not at 7th overall) because recent history shows that there will be plenty of talent available when they pick in the second round.

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