I started to respond to Ed’s post on the Positional Reviews for TE but it started getting too long.
Kevin Boss had arguably his worst season as a Giant this year.
-only 35 receptions (magnified by the depleted WR corps)
-11 dropped passes (magnified by the ones on 3rd down and the absence of SS12)
-1 fumble
-the failed fumble recovery attempt against the Pack
-missed 2 games with injury.
Not all of it was bad though. He did have 5 TD catches, averaged over 15 YPC, and made some dazzling catches (the one against the Skins is fresh on the mind).
via photos.upi.com
Is he going to be asking for a big pay raise and are the Giants willing to pay big for the TE position? What is the market going to be for him and would he be willing to take a "hometown" discount? In the end, what the Giants decide to do at TE will be based on a business decision and what they want out of their #1 TE.
Boss should be considered an "all-around" TE. He isn’t just a pass catching TE, nor is he just a blocking TE. He is not elite in either of those categories, but he is not bad at either. I would consider him an above average TE. Take into account he counted only ~$470,000 against the cap this year, and you would probably say we got more than our money’s worth.
Who is available in FA?
Zach Miller- an all-around TE with elite status potential. Arguably the best TE in FA. ~$710,000 cap hit last year with a base salary of ~$470,000. Probably looking for a big pay raise.
via www.exposay.com
Ht: 6' 5" Wt: 255 Age: 26
2010 STATS |
|||
REC 60 |
YDS 685 |
AVG 11.4 |
TDS 5 |
Mercedes Lewis- just like Miller, he is an all-around TE who had a break out season. ~$1.4M cap hit with a base salary of ~$550,000. Again, probably looking for a big pay raise.
via thecovertwo.com
Ht: 6' 6" Wt: 275 Age: 26
2010 STATS |
|||
REC 58 |
YDS 700 |
AVG 12.1 |
TDS 10 |
Owen Daniels- a great pass catcher and solid blocker. He was showing promise to become an elite TE (I took him in fantasy) until his season was derailed by a hamstring injury. However he looked a lot better later in the year after coming back from injury. 2010 base salary of ~$2.8M and is coming off of his second contract and probably not looking for a pay cut, however he will be turning 30 next year.
Ht: 6'3" Wt: 242 Age: 29
2010 STATS |
|||
REC 58 |
YDS 700 |
AVG 12.1 |
TDS 10 |
Here is the list of remaining FA’s:
Ben Patrick (ARZ)
Dante Rosario (CAR)
Jeff King (CAR)
Desmond Clark (CHI)
Reggie Kelly (CIN)
Alex Smith (CLE)
Leonard Pope (KC)
Joey Haynos (MIA)
David Thomas (NO)
Matt Spaeth (PIT)
Kris Wilson (SD)
Randy McMichael (SD)
Daniel Fells (STL)
John Gilmore (TB)
Bo Scaife (TEN)
Not a particularly promising group…
Which leaves us to the Draft. Reports are that it is not a particularly strong draft class. In fact, very few people are projecting a single TE to go in the first round. The one who might is a guy I wouldn’t mind seeing in a Giants’ uniform:
Kyle Rudolph (ND)- the best all-around TE in the draft. A great pass catcher that showed the ability to block, he would be a no doubt 1st rounder if his 2010 season would not have been cut short by a hamstring injury. If he falls to the Giants in the 2nd round he would be a steal IMO.
via www.uhnd.com
Ht: 6'6" Wt: 265 Age: 21
2010 STATS (6 games) |
|||
REC 28 |
YDS 328 |
AVG 11.7 |
TDS 3 |
D.J. Williams (Ark)- may be better suited as an H-back (OMG please don’t tell me this is a Beckum reincarnation!). He has shown he is a great pass catcher and earned the 2010 John Mackey award for best TE in the country. Projected to go in round 2 or 3. Not sure if he would fit with the G-men.
via ogdraft.files.wordpress.com
Ht: 6'2" Wt: 250 Age: 22
2010 STATS |
|||
REC 54 |
YDS 627 |
AVG 11.6 |
TDS 4 |
Luke Stocker (Ten)- a solid pass catcher and a big target, he never missed a start with Tennessee. Projected to go in rounds 2 or 3.
Ht: 6'6" Wt: 255 Age: 22
2010 STATS |
|||
REC 39 |
YDS 417 |
AVG 10.7 |
TDS 2 |
Other TE’s in the draft:
Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin
Weslye Saunders, South Carolina
Mike McNeill, Nebraska
Kyle Adams, Purdue
Charlie Gantt, Michigan State
Daniel Hardy, Idaho
Andre Smith, Virginia Tech
So where does this leave the Giants? I personally don’t see them breaking the bank on a high priced FA or drafting anyone in the first couple of rounds. Maybe its KG’s offensive philosophy or their lack of trust in Boss, but the past couple years when we expected them to get the TE more involved in the passing game, they just refused. I picture them bringing Boss back at a small raise and possibly drafting another TE in the mid rounds. What do you guys think?