Tight End class in draft

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WestCoastRam

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At the end of the day, I don't see anything about Taylor that says special talent or game changer to me. I see solid. A guy that has impressive movement skills as a lesser Loveland, smooth as a route runner, and a solid consolation prize in the late 2nd/early 3rd. I don't really see the aggressiveness or physicality those top tight ends seem to have. And I'm not basing my opinion off of bulk stats, media scouting reports, or keeping up with the hype. I've watched every target both guys had last year. A few times actually I've been more locked into the draft this year than usual. And no, I don't think Taylor does what Fannin does if the roles are reversed.

Anyway we all know that "F them picks" Les Snead isn't looking for "solid" in the first round. And McVay wants a shot of adrenaline to keep his passion for the game going. They want a guy that's going to make plays like this:


Why do you think the consensus boards have Fannin in the 3rd round??
 

jjab360

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Anything can happen, but I'd be surprised if Taylor was still on the board in the late 2nd/early 3rd.

And maybe Fannin Jr. could provide that shot of adrenaline for McVay. I just can't help but to believe that's he's already had a better version of this kid on the roster years ago.


View: https://youtu.be/aPxLK5sEcqQ?si=KHi6faP5UUQ276nJ

The comparison is certainly there. Both are super YAC flex TE types, I just like Fannin's route running and ball skills a whole lot more than Everett.

I think Fannin is what McVay wanted Everett to develop into when he envisioned his Jordan Reed to be a focal point of the offense. Even more reason why I feel like he could be a target for us.
 

Memphis Ram

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Yeah, I think how our offense was set up hid his talent a little bit but people really don't recognize what he offered as a blocker both in the run and passing game.
And that's the key. A quality difference maker at TE MUST BLOCK if he's not a separator who doesn't have to be schemed open as a slot.
 

WestCoastRam

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And that's the key. A quality difference maker at TE MUST BLOCK if he's not a separator who doesn't have to be schemed open as a slot.
What's hard is some of that is a projection with tight ends every year... in fact, so much is a projection with tight ends every year that's why some pundits just argue it's a position where you just draft for traits and pray.

And well, there are a lot of very athletic TEs in this draft to draft on traits... some not so much.
 

8to12

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Want to know how many tackles Mason Taylor broke? 5. 14 missed tackles his entire career. 9.9 yards per reception last season. Game high of 77 yards against UCLA.

Sure Mason Taylor is a solid in-line tight end but even if he reaches his full potential we're looking at maybe being as good as Higbee. And that's good but not worth a first round pick. Maybe worth a late second round pick.

Fannin could be a game changer in the right offense. Taylor could be a decent role player.
First, I'm not advocating for either player. I do prefer Fannin over Taylor. But, in Taylor's defense, he was not given the same opportunity in the LSU offense that Fanin was given in the Bowling Green offense. Approximately 85% of Taylors targets were within 10 yards of the LOS. Why didn't the O/C send Taylor down field more often? He's very athletic, has great body control. I love Fanin's production but I'm not holding Taylor's lack of production against him. IMO, Taylor was under utilized at LSU.
 

jjab360

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Why do you think the consensus boards have Fannin in the 3rd round??
The main two reasons are because he played for a smaller school and doesn't have prototypical TE size. The first is the reason Cooper Kupp fell and the second is the reason Aaron Donald fell. Good teams zig when the consensus opinion zags.

That being said, I still wouldn't take him in the first. His change of direction can be a bit lumbering in his routes which will have more of an impact in the NFL and his duck toed running style is a bit off-putting if ultimately inconsequential.

I'm just saying I'd almost certainly take him higher than Mason Taylor if we're looking for a player that can be a focal point of the offense. And if you're taking someone in the 1st/2nd round they should be someone that can develop into an integral player.
 

TheTackle

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And back when Higbee was drafted teams could find good tight ends in round 4. Now, thanks to the success of some of these tight ends recently they get overvalued.

If this class was not so shallow in high end talent Warren and Loveland don’t get projected as top 15 picks. In last years draft I think they end up being 20-32 picks or later.
We got a steal because Higbee had off the field problems which never proved to be a concern. He would otherwise have been drafted earlier
 

Memphis Ram

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The main two reasons are because he played for a smaller school and doesn't have prototypical TE size. The first is the reason Cooper Kupp fell and the second is the reason Aaron Donald fell. Good teams zig when the consensus opinion zags.

That being said, I still wouldn't take him in the first. His change of direction can be a bit lumbering in his routes which will have more of an impact in the NFL and his duck toed running style is a bit off-putting if ultimately inconsequential.

I'm just saying I'd almost certainly take him higher than Mason Taylor if we're looking for a player that can be a focal point of the offense. And if you're taking someone in the 1st/2nd round they should be someone that can develop into an integral player.
Gee. Donald wasn't necessarily a fit for all defenses, but he still went 13th overall.

And I'd say it was that 4.62/40 that got Kupp.
 

WestCoastRam

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The main two reasons are because he played for a smaller school and doesn't have prototypical TE size. The first is the reason Cooper Kupp fell and the second is the reason Aaron Donald fell. Good teams zig when the consensus opinion zags.

That being said, I still wouldn't take him in the first. His change of direction can be a bit lumbering in his routes which will have more of an impact in the NFL and his duck toed running style is a bit off-putting if ultimately inconsequential.

I'm just saying I'd almost certainly take him higher than Mason Taylor if we're looking for a player that can be a focal point of the offense. And if you're taking someone in the 1st/2nd round they should be someone that can develop into an integral player.
I like Fannin, I think he'll be a useful player, I doubt he'll be a focal point for an offense. I think he was the product of a lot of highlight reel buzz and shallow film watching early in the draft process and now that people have watched his film (looks like he's running in mud) and taken in his measurables (tests like he's running in mud) people are really split on him. His production is undeniable though (and actually seems a better blocker than people early gave him credit for). Perhaps one of the most polarizing players in the draft. I like him as a guy in the late third/fourth round. I think you have to have a plan for him as he's not gonna be able to do everything you want a Y TE to do NOR everything you want an F TE to do. I think his ceiling is a guy who flashes in games ala say a Whittington (I know different positions) but isn't able to produce consistently enough to be a focal point or a top 3 receiver on a team.

Taylor's ceiling will be a third receiver - maaaaybe 2nd - for an offense and it looks like he might be able to turn into a plus blocker. That's nothing to sneeze at.
 
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jjab360

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First, I'm not advocating for either player. I do prefer Fannin over Taylor. But, in Taylor's defense, he was not given the same opportunity in the LSU offense that Fanin was given in the Bowling Green offense. Approximately 85% of Taylors targets were within 10 yards of the LOS. Why didn't the O/C send Taylor down field more often? He's very athletic, has great body control. I love Fanin's production but I'm not holding Taylor's lack of production against him. IMO, Taylor was under utilized at LSU.
That could be the case, there weren't many downfield targets. Could be misuse, could be a lack of separation. Either way it's a projection of something we haven't seen much of that we have already seen from Fannin.
 

jjab360

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Gee. Donald wasn't necessarily a fit for all defenses, but he still went 13th overall.

And I'd say it was that 4.62/40 that got Kupp.
You find me a defensive coordinator that says they don't have a use for Aaron Donald and I'll show you a defensive coordinator that doesn't deserve a job.
 

Memphis Ram

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View: https://x.com/BenjaminSolak/status/1904965182201147769

People don't realize how less functional this team's offense was without Higbee in the lineup just because they only look at how many receiving yards he gets game in and game out.

The 1st might be too high for Taylor but I absolutely salivate at a younger version of Higbee in this offense (who at the bare minimum has lost his burst over the years).

Might be an LSU bias but former Cowboys Scout Bryan Broaddus believes he's the best TE in the entire draft class.
 

Memphis Ram

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You find me a defensive coordinator that says they don't have a use for Aaron Donald and I'll show you a defensive coordinator that doesn't deserve a job.
A DC that has his interior linemen 2 gapping just to free up his LBs to make plays wouldn't have much use for Donald. Well I guess he could have been a situational pass rusher. But teams don't typically spend such high selections on either.
 

jjab360

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I like Fannin, I think he'll be a useful player, I doubt he'll be a focal point for an offense. I think he was the product of a lot of highlight reel buzz and shallow film watching early in the draft process and now that people have watched his film (looks like he's running in mud) and taken in his measurables (tests like he's running in mud) people are really split on him. His production is undeniable though (and actually seems a better blocker than people early gave him credit for). Perhaps one of the most polarizing players in the draft. I like him as a guy in the late third/fourth round. I think you have to have a plan for him as he's not gonna be able to do everything you want a Y TE to do NOR everything you want an F TE to do. I think his ceiling is a guy who flashes in games ala say a Whittington (I know different positions) but isn't able to produce consistently enough to be a focal point or a top 3 receiver on a team.

Taylor's ceiling will be a third receiver - maaaaybe 2nd - for an offense and it looks like he might be able to turn into a plus blocker. That's nothing to sneeze at.
Yep so slow, look at all that mud he's running in. It's a wonder he somehow beat projected second round pick Kevin Winston on this route.


 

Elmgrovegnome

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Let's not forget, Higbee has the character concerns (which turned out to not be a problem) that helped drop him in the draft and also I just think we got lucky and hit on him.

I agree, this years draft is pushing Warren and Loveland up but not a crazy amount.
That remains to be seen. If this was an average draft they’d be closer to 30 than 10 imo
 

Memento

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Fannin is my favorite midround tight end by far. If Warren and Loveland aren't at 26, if we had to take a tight end at that spot, it would be Fannin, not Mason Taylor - and I do like Mason Taylor.

Fannin is different than the other tight ends. He is absolutely faster than you'd expect on the field, a monster when it comes to YAC, breaks tackles at an insane rate, and he is a far more talented and willing blocker than you'd expect for his size. It's just his size that will make him fall, but if he's still there in the high third, I'd trade #90 and #101 to move up and take him. He is going to be what Jordan Reed was for Washington except better if he's healthier than Reed ever was for some lucky team. I'd even give out an Aaron Hernandez comparison for what Fannin brings on the field.