Ask 5: What's best NFL comp for Alabama TE O.J. Howard? By Daniel Jeremiah NFL Media analyst Published: Jan. 25, 2017 at 11:26 a.m. MOBILE, Ala. -- Entering the Reese's Senior Bowl this week, I had Alabama TE O.J. Howard rated as my No. 18 player in the 2017 NFL Draft. After one day of practice, I have a feeling I might be a little low on him. He was outstanding. He made one-handed grabs, ran away from defenders and also did a respectable job in the run game. Watch the Reese's Senior Bowl live on NFL Network at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. While I'm down here in Mobile for the game, I reached out to five NFL executives and asked them for a comparison for Howard. Here are their answers: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/0ap3000000778633/Senior-Bowl- Executive 1: Shannon Sharpe "He's a taller version of Shannon Sharpe. You can't cover him, he has reliable hands and he's an adequate blocker." Executive 2: Jimmy Graham "He's a similar athlete and body type to Jimmy Graham. I think Howard is a better blocker." Executive 3: Tyler Eifert "Best one I could come up with is Tyler Eifert. They have similar games." Executive 4: Eric Ebron "Tough one. I would say he is a better version of Eric Ebron because he's further ahead as a run blocker while having better hands and vertical speed." Executive 5: Jimmy Graham "I've been struggling with trying to find a comparison all year. Jimmy Graham is the closest I can think of." Summary: That's two votes for Graham and one apiece for Sharpe, Eifert and Ebron. Conclusion: This is pretty good company for Howard. Personally, I've compared him to Panthers TE Greg Olsen. Both guys have the speed to stretch the field and are more than capable in the run game. Howard could end up being a top-10 pick at the end of the draft process.
I see him as Tony Gonzalez. I'm a huge Bama supporter and that's the player I see him compaire closest too
I heard Pat Kirwan compare him to Jordan Read. I watched a lot of Alabama the past 2 seasons and I see a lot of Jimmy Graham
I agree that it would be a luxury as a 1st round pick. This is a good, pretty deep draft for TEs, however, and I think we should be able to get a pretty good one in the 3rd or 4th round. A TE is not a luxury for a young QB. A TE would not only be a safety valve for the QB but would help in the rushing attack as well. It would give opposing Ds another player they'd have to worry about, and the Jets offense wouldn't be so predictable. We definitely need to add a TE imo, just not in the 1st round.
If the Jets were to trade down and get some good value, I wouldn't mind OJ Howard in the first. We would have to drop pretty low, like right before the Dolphins. Could block him from going to a division rival and would fill a need for the Jets.
He could impact our game in so many ways. I just think how Jimmy Graham and Gronkowski just take over games and are helpful on the offensive line to really help the run game. Also as mentioned TE's can be a qbs best friend.
This is how I see him as well in terms of athleticism. Much better blocker though. Bama ran behind O.J. consistently for the last two seasons. Might be the best run blocking tight end I've seen come out in a couple years. Quickly turning into one of my favorite players and I honestly wouldn't be mad if he was the selection at 6. This draft class is turning out to be very talented in the early rounds.
I haven't seen him play, but at least one writer commented that Toledo TE Michael Roberts is the best blocking TE in this draft class. I don't know whether that 's true or not. CBS Draft Scout has Roberts going in the 5-6 round area, but the practice reports were very good on him from the Sr. Bowl, so I expect he'll rise at least to the 4th round if not higher.
We sure don't need another blocking TE! The Jets have the only 6 man OL in the NFL, given how their playbook calls for NO passes thrown to a TE. Howard - based upon the reviews of his blocking AND pass-catching ability would be a great addition to the Jets IF they had a CS that understood that TEs are allowed to be receivers. While my ranking of who I would like to see them take at #6 goes: Watson, or if not there, Fournette, or if not there, I would be happy with Howard, who would make a big difference in the offense...IF Bowles and his OC didn't screw it up.
Sigh. I didn't say that Roberts couldn't catch. I just said that one writer said that he's the best blocking TE in the class. I've been saying for quite a while that the Jets need a 2-way TE that can both catch and block so that their offense isn't so predictable.
Only we use our blocking tightend Kellen Davis to come across the formation to block the backside end and he usually whiffed on it. I would be totally down to use a 6-man offensive line ala Anthony Becht back in the day. Dude could drive block defensive ends like no other. I'm not drafting Howard at 6 but he definitely seems like the real deal. He also allows us to develop the younger receivers while cutting Marshall and not needing to fill the hole because we'll have a receiving threat at tight end. A trade down needs to happen if there ever was a year for us to do it. We need a team to fall in love Fournette or Trubisky and leverage that.
I'll have to check out Roberts, but I know PFF had O.J. as their top graded blocker this past year, against top of the line competition.
Trade down my friends...we need lotsa picks In reality we are the Browns with a couple of lucky wins Sign this beast and get the OL stocked...get an interim QB like Taylor and maybe something happens jmho
Normally, I'd agree my friend, but not this time. The Jets have no impact players or playmakers on D and really no impact players or playmakers on offense, although there is some potential there with Powell and the WR corps. At the #6 pick, the Jets should be able to get an impact player on one side of the ball or other. About the only place one finds those impact players, those playmakers is in the top ten picks of the draft. We need to come out of this draft with a player that will make an immediate impact for us and will be a playmaker for us throughout the length of his contract. Odds are a million to one (or more) that we'd never find one trading down.
It depends how far down you are moving and what the offer is. Without that info it is hard to say yes or no to moving down in draft order. I tend towards staying put, but if I also thought I could get still get a quality player in the first at the new position and add another second round pick I would be tempted. I guess everyone wants that though! In short, the offer has got be be good if I'm going to move down.
Fingers crossed a team like Arizona or Buffalo fall head over heels for a QB or Db and have to have em at 6. That way were not dropping a whole lot back.
I disagree with this. There are good players to be had throughout the draft, especially in the first round. We've done pretty well on late first round picks in the past (Wilkerson, Mangold). If you think you can get your guy later in the draft, then by all means you should hop on a good trade if it's available and other teams have done it successfully and still got good players. With that said, I think I'd like to see the Jets stay at 6 unless an offer blows them away (which could be possible for a QB desperate team). There is just so many good players in this draft and I'd like to have the pick of the litter.
