Definitely agree it's better to have one who can do both. Honestly, I wouldn't know which of the "great" TE's in the league are good blockers because no one seems to rate them on that skill. They're considered great because they can get open and catch the ball.
Offensive line play is arguably more important than the guys who catch the ball. You don't hear about those guys unless they are terrible. TE is unique in that it could bolster both. Also, we've seen recently what it's like to have a TE that can't block in Jeff Cumberland. He stuck around for a while because he was an ok receiver and was dirt cheap, but he got our QB hit on way too many occasions. A blocking TE isn't sexy but can still help the team considerably. A blocking TE that can also catch? That's sexy.
Voted Adams. Safety is a tough hole to fill- and we need 1 or 2. Adams also is graded as a top 2-3 player by many. Matching need and value would work best.
Secondary is in shambles. Adams. We trade down to #12 and Foster (2nd best player in the draft) is still there, grab him. We pick a QB in the 1st round from this group, I will throw a brick through the television set and curse the pick non-stop until proven wrong.
Don't think Fournette will be there. This is an offense first league. We're trying to grow a QB here with either Petty or Hackenberg. Having a freakishly talented OJ Howard would be just what a young QB needs
A freakishly talented - a "once in 10 years" - RB is even better since he touches the ball more, and doesn't need to have it thrown to him. But I agree that Fournette probably won't be there. Dalvin Cook might be, and almost certainly McCaffrrey will be, and when you factor in some of the questions being raised about Howard's desire, they might well be a better option.
Oh definitely a red flag. But they all have their red flags in some respect. It's still an offense first league and I guess another concern would be the lifespan of RB's. Elite TE's tend to last. Gonzalez, Witten, Gates. Mickey Shuler played forever. So did Shannon Sharpe.
The truly great RBs usually last too. Curtis Martin - 11 years Franco Harris - 12 years Marshall Faulk - 12 years Marcus Allen - 16 years Thurman Thomas - 13 years Adrian Petersen - 10 and counting Tony Dorsett - 12 years OJ Simpson - 11 years LaDainian Tomlinson - 11 years Eric Dickerson - 12 years Emmitt Smith - 15 years Walter Payton - 13 years Jim Brown - 9 years I think Fournette can belong to this class.
Rumor is that the Jets tried to trade up to the top of the 2nd round. If so, Baker may have been their target.
I liked Baker, but would've been a bit miffed about trading up depending on compensation. Might would've been worth it to see the board implode. Had to toot my own horn. I don't recall anyone else propounding a safety double dip in the first two rounds.