It’s also way easier to call TE’s generational when in fact they aren’t. Kyle Pitts was generational, except he isn’t. Congrats, you were right on Bowers. He’s the first TE in 16 years that actually looks like he is worth the first round grade he was given. But if I had a dime for every “generational” prospect that didn’t pan out I’d be wealthy. What is much easier is finding a good starting quality TE in later rounds than it is to find an OT. That said, I do find the fact that JD didn’t even scout Bowers to be egregious. But I will say just about 32 out of 32 NFL teams when facing the idea of drafting a top tier OT or a top tier TE, especially when OT is an immediate need, they’re taking OT. As they rightfully should.
Yeah, guys like Zach, Wirfs, Brock, etc, these were massive fuck ups by JD, no argument there. I am actually more upset now seeing Sam through 5 TDs to be honest. If JD protected Sam like he promised and gave him SOME weapons, maybe we could have seen the potential then and take 3 1st round picks instead of Zach and keep Sam. But looking back at it, Sam had no line, his best receiver was Robbie Anderson (!!!), and then JD downgraded even that to Perriman. Perriman as a top weapon for Sam. No TEs at all, not even one of Conk quality. Basically JD didn't give Sam a chance and Sam turned out to be a good player. That stings.
Yeah 99% chance anyways that if Bowers was picked by the Jets he would end up being a bust or the coaching staff anyways would be saying he could not learn the playbook or take till week 11 to put him in the lineup like Malachi Corley and Isiah davis.
That shouldn’t be a deterrent. Bowers is outstanding, there’s no arguing. But he’s the first top 20 drafted TE in the last 20 years that you can say is worth the pick. That’s just truth. The closest TE drafted near the first 20 picks of the draft in their particular year that I can say unequivocally was worth that pick was Dallas Clark who was drafted 24th overall.
Right, and a number of people were screaming that Pitts was gonna change the position and football entirely. And a number of people were screaming that Hockenson was surefire HOF caliber. And a number of people felt Eric Ebron a was a shoe in elite level TE. And a number of people felt Vernon Davis was revolutionary. And a number of people felt Kellen Winslow would be unstoppable. Until Bowers, there hasn’t been a TE drafted in the top 20 that proved worth that pick in 20 years. You draft the OT, every time.
