TE needed from the draft

[Southpaw]

No problem with Housler. Problem with Jeff King.

Available after the 1st round

Ertz and Eiffert could be had in 2nd but we know about them.

Travis Kelce - Cincinnati U TE 6'6" 260 # blocker and route runner with very good catching ability. Problem is he may go into the 1st round after the combine.

Gavin Escobar - San Diego State TE 6'6" 255 # route runner/ ball catcher

Zach Sudfeld - U of Nevada TE 6'7" 265 #. Athletic, good hands and speed. Should climb up the boards after combine.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Vance McDonald from Rice is a receiving threat at TE. He is a big target with good speed. Not much of a blocker though.

 

[Lagerfilled]

Don't want em if they cannot block. I'd keep King and add Delanie Walker since he's a ST ace and it weakens our main competition. That's 3 solid if not strong TEs with Housler.

 

[Quinn McCollum]

King a Horrible blocker anyway so not like he does anything.

 

[Chopper0080]

No problem with Housler. Problem with Jeff King.

Available after the 1st round

Ertz and Eiffert could be had in 2nd but we know about them.

Travis Kelce - Cincinnati U TE 6'6" 260 # blocker and route runner with very good catching ability. Problem is he may go into the 1st round after the combine.

Gavin Escobar - San Diego State TE 6'6" 255 # route runner/ ball catcher

Zach Sudfeld - U of Nevada TE 6'7" 265 #. Athletic, good hands and speed. Should climb up the boards after combine.

TE is DEEP this year and I will be shocked if we don't end up drafting 2.

Best case scenario IMO is either Ertz or Eifert falling to our second round pick. Eifert is the better blocker but Ertz has more athleticism. From there we are probably targeting more dual-threat TE options which would include Levin Toilolo, Dion Sims, Nick Kasa, Michael Williams, Lucas Reed, Travis Kelce, Zach Sudfield, Gavin Escobar and Vance McDonald. Great year to draft TEs.

 

[Chopper0080]

Don't want em if they cannot block. I'd keep King and add Delanie Walker since he's a ST ace and it weakens our main competition. That's 3 solid if not strong TEs with Housler.

King had a terrible year blocking in 2012 and is owed 1.8mil. I have a tough time seeing him back. I also don't see us as having the money to pursue a top end FA TE. I am guessing we will add a pair in the draft like the Colts did last year, which will be more cost effective in the future.

 

[Quinn McCollum]

King had a terrible year blocking in 2012 and is owed 1.8mil. I have a tough time seeing him back. I also don't see us as having the money to pursue a top end FA TE. I am guessing we will add a pair in the draft like the Colts did last year, which will be more cost effective in the future.

I don't think Arizona will add 2. They all ready have a good talent in Houlser but they do need someone for the number 2 TE. I see them getting another TE within the first 3 or 4 picks.

 

[Chopper0080]

I don't think Arizona will add 2. They all ready have a good talent in Houlser but they do need someone for the number 2 TE. I see them getting another TE within the first 3 or 4 picks.

The reason I say the Cards will add two is because Arians loves 2 TE sets, and I expect King to be cut to save money and Dray to be cut before the season. Jim Dray carried value with the previous coaching staff because he could fill in at FB, TE and carried special teams value. With Arians, I expect it will be a battle between Anthony Sherman and Jim Dray, and I think Sherman will win because he also carries special teams value and brings a different element than Dray.

 

[Goldfield]

I also love 2 TE sets. And would love to add another receiving threat TE.

Big priority imo.

 

[cardpa]

I also think Sherman should carry the ball a little more and he's a good receiver out of the backfield.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Jake Stoneburner in the 6th or 7th. He should be impressive at the combine.

 

[WildBB]

Jake Stoneburner in the 6th or 7th. He should be impressive at the combine.

He'd be good value from the 5th on, imo.

Don't know if he'll last into the 6th.

Don't really see us going TE until about then.

 

[az jam]

I don't see the Cards taking a TE before Round 4. Too many other pressing needs. Also lots available in free agency and normally they are not that costly. Here is the list:

Billy Bajema UFA Ravens
Gary Barnidge UFA Panthers
Travis Beckum UFA Giants
Martellus Bennett UFA Giants
Mike Caussin ERFA Bills
Dallas Clark UFA Buccaneers
Chase Coffman UFA Falcons
Jared Cook UFA Titans
Chris Cooley UFA Redskins
Tom Crabtree RFA Packers
Jeff Cumberland RFA Jets
Fred Davis UFA Redskins
Dorin Dickerson ERFA Bills
Ed Dickson RFA Ravens
Anthony Fasano UFA Dolphins
Tony Gonzalez UFA Falcons
Clark Harris UFA Bengals
Ben Hartsock UFA Panthers
Will Heller UFA Lions
Michael Hoomanawanui RFA Patriots
Dustin Keller UFA Jets
Steve Maneri RFA Chiefs
Jeron Mastrud RFA Dolphins
Mike McNeill ERFA Rams
Cameron Morrah UFA Seahawks
Brandon Myers UFA Raiders
Jake O'Connell UFA Chiefs
Michael Palmer RFA Falcons
Bear Pascoe RFA Giants
Logan Paulsen RFA Redskins
John Phillips UFA Cowboys
Dennis Pitta RFA Ravens
Leonard Pope UFA Steelers
Zach Potter RFA Jaguars
Richard Quinn UFA Bengals
Dante Rosario UFA Chargers
Martin Rucker UFA Chiefs
Delanie Walker UFA 49ers
Benjamin Watson UFA Browns

 

[Chopper0080]

I don't see the Cards taking a TE before Round 4. Too many other pressing needs. Also lots available in free agency and normally they are not that costly. Here is the list:

Billy Bajema UFA Ravens
Gary Barnidge UFA Panthers
Travis Beckum UFA Giants
Martellus Bennett UFA Giants
Mike Caussin ERFA Bills
Dallas Clark UFA Buccaneers
Chase Coffman UFA Falcons
Jared Cook UFA Titans
Chris Cooley UFA Redskins
Tom Crabtree RFA Packers
Jeff Cumberland RFA Jets
Fred Davis UFA Redskins
Dorin Dickerson ERFA Bills
Ed Dickson RFA Ravens
Anthony Fasano UFA Dolphins
Tony Gonzalez UFA Falcons
Clark Harris UFA Bengals
Ben Hartsock UFA Panthers
Will Heller UFA Lions
Michael Hoomanawanui RFA Patriots
Dustin Keller UFA Jets
Steve Maneri RFA Chiefs
Jeron Mastrud RFA Dolphins
Mike McNeill ERFA Rams
Cameron Morrah UFA Seahawks
Brandon Myers UFA Raiders
Jake O'Connell UFA Chiefs
Michael Palmer RFA Falcons
Bear Pascoe RFA Giants
Logan Paulsen RFA Redskins
John Phillips UFA Cowboys
Dennis Pitta RFA Ravens
Leonard Pope UFA Steelers
Zach Potter RFA Jaguars
Richard Quinn UFA Bengals
Dante Rosario UFA Chargers
Martin Rucker UFA Chiefs
Delanie Walker UFA 49ers
Benjamin Watson UFA Browns

That looks like a list of a bunch of crappy players with very few exceptions.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

How many draft choices have we wasted on TEs over the years? I am sick of this barely average flavor of the year TEs. If we aren't going to bite the bullet and get a premium one, which I think is needed to make the super bowl these days, then we shouldn't waste another mid-range pick on a TE.

I would be all for grabbing either of the top TEs if either should fall in this draft in the 2nd round if we aren't going to go after a QB early in the draft and we address the OL with our first pick.

 

[Southpaw]

King had a terrible year blocking in 2012 and is owed 1.8mil. I have a tough time seeing him back. I also don't see us as having the money to pursue a top end FA TE. I am guessing we will add a pair in the draft like the Colts did last year, which will be more cost effective in the future.

I like that scenario. King is horrible. Blocking is meh. Catches a few balls, but looks as if he is running in a swamp. I would like to see a 2 TE draft.

Is there a Jimmy Graham clone in this draft?

 

[MWOOD92]

I like that scenario. King is horrible. Blocking is meh. Catches a few balls, but looks as if he is running in a swamp. I would like to see a 2 TE draft.

Is there a Jimmy Graham clone in this draft?

I'd like to see Michael Williams from Alabama in the later rounds.

 

[Duckjake]

No problem with Housler. Problem with Jeff King.

Available after the 1st round

Ertz and Eiffert could be had in 2nd but we know about them.

Travis Kelce - Cincinnati U TE 6'6" 260 # blocker and route runner with very good catching ability. Problem is he may go into the 1st round after the combine.

Gavin Escobar - San Diego State TE 6'6" 255 # route runner/ ball catcher

Zach Sudfeld - U of Nevada TE 6'7" 265 #. Athletic, good hands and speed. Should climb up the boards after combine.

Well I have a problem with Housler. Though it may have been more of a problem with the play calling, if I had a dollar for every run play that was blown up last year because Housler whiffed on a block I'd have enough money to buy a Suite at UPS this fall.

 

[Southpaw]

Well I have a problem with Housler. Though it may have been more of a problem with the play calling, if I had a dollar for every run play that was blown up last year because Housler whiffed on a block I'd have enough money to buy a Suite at UPS this fall.

Housler's value to this team is not as a blocker.

 

[Mulli]

Housler's value to this team is not as a blocker.

Clearly, but he can't whiff completely.

Or can he?

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Jeff King had a bad year, and since I am a fan of King I will play apologist and say, he also had an injury right at the beginning of the year, had no offseason, etc., etc.

Bad blocker? In 2012, yes. Completely agree.

Every year before that in his career ? He is the best blocking tight end this team has had in a long time.

Let King come back from his injury, and let the coaches decide if he can still play at this level, IMO.

King is only 29, and has 1 year left on the contract, if you cut him, you have no one that can block on the roster, and please spare me some half-arsed attempt to sell me on, soon to be cut Jim Dray.

I believe Jeff King taking a beating right now because Todd Heap was a complete bust as our #1 TE. Jeff King is a blocking TE, and that is it. He is not going to be your #1 type guy.

If we are looking for a block/pass catcher you are not going to find that in the draft. The Cardinals are going to have to sign someone via free agency.

Now that I am done defending Jeff King, I will say I do agree that the Cardinals need another TE, and one that can first and foremost block. Bruce Arians loves his tight ends, and we will certainly have four on this roster.

The blocking tight ends that I like in the draft are:

- Dion Sims: 6'5" 285lbs, Michigan State (Rounds 2-3)
- Travis Kelce: 6'6" 260lbs, Cincinnati (Rounds 3-4)
- Michael Williams: 6'6" 270lbs, Alabama (Rounds 4-6)
- Ben Cotton: 6'6" 255lbs, Nebraska (Rounds 6-7)


Now let's say Bruce Arians and company decide Jeff King no longer has any value, which could end up happening. In free agency I like:

Martellus Bennet
Brandon Myers
Delaine Walker
Dallas Clark
Dante Rosario

BTW - Dallas Clark may be signed regardless of who is on our roster.

Finally, I think Rob Housler is so over-hyped it is a joke. I can't stand the guy. Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd block better then Housler, and for every play Housler makes, he does twice as much to hurt the team (drops, blown blocks) in return.

As for going way out there ? I think there is a possibility they all can be sent packing, to be honest.

What makes Jeff King very vunerable is he can be cut to save cap space.

 

[cardncubfan]

I also think Sherman should carry the ball a little more and he's a good receiver out of the backfield.

I completely agree with this.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Todd Heap is available .

 

[Chopper0080]

I like that scenario. King is horrible. Blocking is meh. Catches a few balls, but looks as if he is running in a swamp. I would like to see a 2 TE draft.

Is there a Jimmy Graham clone in this draft?

We have our Jimmy Graham, his name is Rob Housler. Now that may be a bit presumptous, but he has a similar skill set. Where he is exposed is when he is in-line which is why he struggled last year.

For this reason, I can totally see us moving for some of the more dual threat TEs. I think if Eifert falls we will jump all over him, but other than that I look for us to grab Dion Sims, Nick Kasa, Travis Kelce in the mid rounds and then grab MIchael Williams or a simalr type player in the 6th or 7th round.

 

[kerouac9]

We might add one TE in this draft, but it won't be until after the first three rounds. We have Housler, and we'll probably have Jim Dray (who's a good special teams player and servicable 3rd TE). There are plenty of solid Brent Celek-types who are available in the middle rounds of any draft.

Now, whether our scouting staff is able to identify those players is another question entirely.