Best Available? Draft a TE

While I would certianly agree that a #2 WR is our biggest need, and probably a pass rushing DE, I think an in-line TE would be a huge boost as well. And I think this is the draft to do it as it is amazingly deep at TE. I realized this after reading Mel Kiper's mailbag...essentially picking at #22 in the 2nd round we could get a guy who would normally go in the mid-late first round (and Im not talking specifically about Mercedes Lewis) because of the insane depth of the 2006 TE class. I am a huge proponent of choosing the best available player, and not necessarily drafting for need...I am curious to hear what you all think.

The portion of the article to which I am refering is posted below:

Why do you have Mercedes Lewis as the sixth-best tight end in this year's draft? I know there are three really good juniors in the draft, but you had Lewis as the best senior tight end for most of the season. -- Wes, Santa Barbara, Calif.
His stock dropped late in the year. Lewis didn't finish as strong as some of the others and didn't distinguish himself at the Senior Bowl practices or game. USC's Dominique Byrd (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=137031) had a better Senior Bowl week, as did Colorado's Joe Klopfenstein (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=135535). Owen Daniels (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=113746) has great pass-catching abilities as an H-back.


The juniors (Vernon Davis (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=145820), Leonard Pope (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=133497), Anthony Fasano (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=134719)) already were ahead of Lewis. In a year this strong with tight ends, being ranked sixth is not criticism. What Lewis had to do was play great football at the end of the year, and I don't think he did. I wanted to see him take over the practices at the Senior Bowl as a pass-receiving option, but he did not. The tight end position is one of the best, if not the best, position in this draft. In a normal year, Lewis would be one of the top two or three at the position, but this is a great year for tight ends.

I would be really suprised if we took a tight-end with our first pick, unless Vernon Davis somehow, which won't happen, fell to us.

In Gibbs' system the tight-end is more of a role player. Used more for blocking, creating different looks and formations, and then a receiving threat.
Besides, Cooley plays the pass catching part of that role well for us and he's a good blocker.

In my opinion, Robert Royal will start the '06 season unless someone emerges from nowhere to take his job.

But unfortunately it's not really Gibbs's system anymore. It's going to maintain the basic form but it's Saunders system and he had TG playing a significant role in that system.

But unfortunately it's not really Gibbs's system anymore. It's going to maintain the basic form but it's Saunders system and he had TG playing a significant role in that system.

If anything, Cooleys role might expand, if that's possible. Perhaps, even Royals.

But personell wise, I think we have what he needs at that position.

Then again, I'm no OC....hell, I don't even know the answer to Q3.

I think if we draft a TE, first and foremost he needs to be awesome at run-blocking. We need to add more pop to our goalline offense, and a bulldozing TE would help a lot.

If that TE happens to be a great pass catcher too, all the better.

We have other priorities though. If we can satisfy our needs at WR, offensive line depth, and CB depth; then I'm all for drafting a TE. My guess is though, that we'll need our 2nd rounder to address one of those other needs I mentioned.

Maybe a decent TE will be there in the third.

at 2nd round klop is available, in the 3rd tim day is available (7th best, but the best blocking tight end and he's still faster and has better hands than royal if only slightly). I'd take spencer (OG) in the 2nd and day (TE) in the 3rd, even though that's not really sexy. If day falls to the 4th or we get a 3rd comp pick, then the skins could get mcclover too (fast DE/OLB pass rushing type).

if blocking is important, its pope, klop, day (all 6'6" or 6'7").

Byrd is a bit like cooley in finding open spots, but isn't that fast or a super blocking (and he's not close to 6'7" either). Davis is sshort but super fast for a TE and a terrible blocker right now.

yeah you don't need to waste your first pick in a TE having Cooley there believe me we know lol you have more pressing needs like wr, safety,cb, DE and lb

yeah you don't need to waste your first pick in a TE having Cooley there believe me we know lol you have more pressing needs like wr, safety,cb, DE and lb
wr, yes. de, yes, cb, yes. safety or lb? no

you need a SS, who do you have helping taylor really, and you need another ILB this isn't huge need urgent needs but still it is a need

you need a SS, who do you have helping taylor really, and you need another ILB this isn't huge need urgent needs but still it is a need


at safety, i think clark and pierson p. (sp) fill the spot pretty good.
at lb, alot depends on if arrington stays or goes.