Billingsley has entered the Transfer Portal, so it looks like he is staying in college https://247sports.com/Article/Alaba...others-enter-NCAA-transfer-portal--180404712/
That's too bad, but not the end of the world. We can still get your guy Kolar, McBride, or someone not on our radar. I trust this CS to find someone who fits the system. LaPorta is probably thinking he can raise his stock with a big 2022 season.
I keep thinking Ferguson's a sleeper because his receiving skills could never be put on display in a run heavy offense.
Ruckert would be a fantastic fit for our offense. I think he was actually hurt by how many amazing WR's we have. Ruckert Is the real deal. (At the risk of sounding like a homer) Oh well... Jalen WyderMyer I'm a big fan of as well. I don't like Trey McBride as a player. No thanks. Cade Otton has some hands though.. Big, strong, good blocker. Jake Ferguson Is kind of a jack of all, master of none type of TE. Not as dynamic but really consistent. I'm not In love with as many TE's In this class as others are. Meaningless rankings for me... Mostly In regards to who I think would be best for our offensive scheme. 1. Jeremey Ruckert 2. Jalen Wydermyer 3. Cade Otton 4. Jake Ferguson 5. Cole Turner (Like this kid a lot, blocking Is ass though. IMO)
Interesting rundown. I'm also impressed with Wydermyer's receiving skills. It's clear that he's not much of a blocker, though. Maybe good for 2 tight end sets in which he can have more of an H-back role? I agree that Otten is a sleeper for the middle rounds. Good hands, good blocking, good size and strength; decent speed. What don't you like about McBride? It seems to me that he has very good hands, great size, decent speed, and good blocking.
Things could change for me, I'll watch more on the kid. However. He is very stiff, isn't much of an athlete. In comparison. I don't like the way he runs his routes, I can't tell If it's coaching or a lack of athletic ability to actually be smooth and fluid in this area of his game. I just don't see the hype In terms of where people are kind of projecting him. I know he had a really good season overall but the level of competition Is a major question mark for me as well. I don't think he gets separation against higher end talent. The senior bowl will be a good time to showcase if he can. He does have things that I like, I just don't think he is the best TE I'm this class and I don't think he should go higher than the third round for me. Again. Maybe that changes once I see more film and see how he handles senior bowl practices and the actual game. I'm just not sold on this kid. I don't think he will be a major factor in the NFL.
McBride to me seems to have great hands and adequate athleticism for his size, but I haven't seen very much of him, so I appreciate your different perspective. I'm thinking that Wydermyer and McBride might both be there for our #38 pick, and if one of them is worth the value we should go ahead and take him. Yeah, the Senior Bowl and Combine results will be as crucial for the TE's as for any other position.
This is pretty much what I thought of McBride at first watching a highlight tape, except that I did see that he had really good hands. I thought if he doesn't look good in a highlight tape, when will he? After some more people here and on Jets Twitter that I respect raved about him, I then watched some more video of him, some actual game tape, and he looked better. He looked a little faster, a little thinner, a little more smooth and athletic. I definitely need to watch a lot more video of him and all the other TEs.
@IIMeanDeanII You know more about Ruckert better than most of us, so is he the type of player who will put up big numbers in an offense that utilizes TE's more than Ohio State's does? I've always thought college production matters, but this guy was in an offense with multiple future 1st round picks at WR.
Jeremy Ruckert grew up in Long Island and is a Jets fan. His dad tweeted out J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS and Ruckert posted a picture of his basement gym that had a Jets flag on the wall. Oh yeah, the Jets are coaching him in the Senior Bowl.
