Baer Sports Talk

Baer Sports Talk

Friday, April 18, 2014

2014 Top Tight End Draft Prospects

The 2014 NFL Draft is very quickly approaching and I am getting excited to see where the top prospects will be playing ball next year.  This is one of the deepest drafts in recent year, one of the deepest is at the tight end position.  There are not any real can't miss prospects, but there are quite a few guys that a team can get in the later rounds that can help out a tight end needy team.  This is one of the positions that I have done the most work on because of how much that the position has changed over the years.  When you watch a Saints or Patriots game on Sunday both of those teams use Graham and Grokowski more as wide receivers then as tight ends.  I took that into consideration when I did my own personal evaluations of the top prospects at the tight end position.  So, without further adieu here is my personal list of the top tight end prospects:


1. Eric Ebron- Ebron is considered by most scouts to be the top prospect at the tight end position and for good reason.  Ebron has the ability to stretch out a defense along with his great ability to absorb contact and not go down.  Eric is also one of the tight ends in this draft that whatever team ends up drafting him will use him very similar to the way that the Saints use Jimmy Graham.  The comparison that I would give the Ebron is a Vernon Davis clone without the break away speed.  If Ebron goes to a team that is able to use him more like a wide receiver and less like a traditional tight end, he should have a very successful career with some Pro Bowls mixed in here and there.  Possible team Fits: Jaguars, Falcons, Titans, Giants, and Packers.


2.  http://www.generationucan.com/waltercamp/assets/portfolio/popup/pop-jace-amaro.jpg Jace Amaro-

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects: Wide Receiver

As, the 2014 NFL Draft is quickly approaching it is time to get back into the swing of it by introducing you to the top wide receiver prospects for the upcoming draft.  These are not necessarily the top wide receiver prospects by what all NFL scouts think, rather it is my own interpretation of who are the top prospects at this position.  Without further ado here is the list of the top wide receiver prospects along with what teams could use them:

1.  Sammy Watkins- Most people would consider Sammy as the best wide receiver in the class hands down.  I would have to agree with that statement as well.  He has probably the best hands in this draft class and runs some of the most precise routes in the draft class as well.  I see him as being a mix of Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Smith.  Watkins has the ability to catch the ball in traffic but also has the elusive ability to break tackles as well.  I see him as being the first Wide Receiver off the board and would see him going as high as #2 in the draft.  Team Fits: Rams, Jaguars, Raiders, and Bucs.

2. Mike Evans- Mike is a big physical Wide Receiver that uses his body to fend off defensive backs in order to make difficult physical catches.  With that being said he is not as much of a pure route runner as Sammy Watkins. The other area that is a little bit of a concern for me is can he stay away from all of the off the field distractions that come with being an NFL player.  However, if he is able to separate himself from all of those distractions he has the ability to have a good NFL career. Team Fits: Jaguars, Raiders, Jets, Patriots.

3.   Brandin Cooks- Brandin is one of the guys in this draft that excited me the most.  I love his speed but I also love the fact that he has the ability to make defenders look bad in the open field.  However ends up taking this young man is going to get a very solid football player with a lot of natural ability to play the game at a high level.  The best situation for Cooks is to go to a team that has a Pro Bowl type receiver already there so he can learn from them, he needs a little work on being able to be more precise when it comes to running routes.  At this point in his career his route running is a little bit choppy.  Team Fits: Jets, Patriots, 49ers, and Seahawks.

4. Marqise Lee- Marqise is going to be an outstanding player in the NFL.  I mainly say that because of the great work ethics that he has, put together with the great sneaky speed that he has.  The question for Lee has always been about his health and whether he can stay on the field in order to get the type of production that he is capable of.  I see Lee as being comparable to a Anquan Boldin, a guy that does not have a ton of speed but has the ability to catch almost anything thrown to him.  Team Fits: Jets, Patriots, Seahawks, and Panthers.

5. Davante Adams-  I have seen this guy play in person and he is special.  He catches everything and as is the case with most of these receivers he has the ability to make people miss in the open field.  However, the area that he excels at the most is when you throw the ball up to him and let him go and get it.  He has crazy leaping ability along with very soft hands.  The guy in the NFL that I would compare him to is Andre Johnson.  Whoever drafts this guy will be very happy with the production that he will have for a good 10-15 years.  Team Fits- 49ers, Seahawks, and Panthers.

3 That Just missed the List

1. 
Kelvin Benjamin

2. Odell Beckham Jr.


3. Jordan Matthews