Brenton Strange, TE, Penn St.

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:
I like Brenton Strange, but I've also be thinking about these alternatives:

Josh Whyle - longer more traditional big TE frame, seems to have less hype

Elijah Higgins - plays WR but could convert to TE. Seems like he has a similar athletic profile to Strange.

Curious to hear thoughts on these guys as alternatives to the popular, apparently rising, Brenton Strange

I like him but I still prefer Schoonmaker. He's a great blocker and receiver and is likely to be there 99-102.

I think guys watching highlight tapes drift toward the flex TEs that split out wide and run seam routes and look splashy. But that's no what this offense needs. You see a guy like Mike Gesicki, who would be everything a guy like Kuntz or Whyle would hope to be, and Miami's looking to move on from him because he cant block or hold his own lining up inline. McDaniel didnt want that. I dont think KS wants that either, especially at 3-4 round value. Now, a flyer on a guy like Higgins in the 7th, maybes thats worth a shot.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I think we'd have to trade up to get him. Ceiling is through the roof and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go round 2.

Consensus has 6 guys rated ahead of him at TE: Mayer, Kincaid, Washington, LaPorta, Kraft, and Musgrave. It's a super deep TE class. One, maybe two are first rounders. IMO, seven total TEs would have to go in the first two rounds (including Strange) for him to jump into the second. I just don't see 7 Tes going in the first 64 picks. My .02.

Originally posted by Rathof44:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I think we'd have to trade up to get him. Ceiling is through the roof and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go round 2.

Consensus has 6 guys rated ahead of him at TE: Mayer, Kincaid, Washington, LaPorta, Kraft, and Musgrave. It's a super deep TE class. One, maybe two are first rounders. IMO, seven total TEs would have to go in the first two rounds (including Strange) for him to jump into the second. I just don't see 7 Tes going in the first 64 picks. My .02.

TE is one of the strongest groups in the draft, I think we can expect them to come off the board quickly

Need to get this guy. He's the most well rounded TE in the late day 2 or early day 3 range. Either him, Paine Durham or Davis Allen plus maybe Braeden Willis in the 7th.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:
I definitely get strong Delanie Walker vibes from Strange. Which is a big part of the appeal for me.

But that's what made me think about Higgins, since Walker converted from WR after we drafted him.

Higgins would probably take more time to develop. But maybe he'd pick it up quickly. He is a Stanford kid after all..

I think Higgins is closer to Walker in all honesty but I don't believe that we'll see another Walker. He was such a crazy outlier. An absolutely massive, chiseled receiver(6'1", 242) with wheels(4.49 40) that took to playing TE and especially blocking in-line like a fish to water.

Wasn't Walker a WR in college as well? Yeah, I just wouldn't expect to find another guy like that. T.O. was a big receiver and he was what, 225? Walker was shorter and 20 lbs heavier, and because he played receiver, he could run decent routes. A truly special player.

Originally posted by btthepunk:

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:
I like Brenton Strange, but I've also be thinking about these alternatives:

Josh Whyle - longer more traditional big TE frame, seems to have less hype

Elijah Higgins - plays WR but could convert to TE. Seems like he has a similar athletic profile to Strange.

Curious to hear thoughts on these guys as alternatives to the popular, apparently rising, Brenton Strange

I like him but I still prefer Schoonmaker. He's a great blocker and receiver and is likely to be there 99-102.

I did a mock and had him in the 5th, but he's a guy I don't want to miss out on because he checks both boxes. A lot of it really depends on how many tight ends are left once we get to pick 99. But yeah, I'd rather just be sure we get him (I think he has starter potential) then screw around waiting for the 5th or even hoping for a trade-up into the 4th.

The 3 TEs I liked that I thought we had a shot at were Strange (might need to trade, dunno if he falls), LaPorta, and Whyle.

Originally posted by ChaunceyGardner:

Originally posted by Rathof44:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I think we'd have to trade up to get him. Ceiling is through the roof and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go round 2.

Consensus has 6 guys rated ahead of him at TE: Mayer, Kincaid, Washington, LaPorta, Kraft, and Musgrave. It's a super deep TE class. One, maybe two are first rounders. IMO, seven total TEs would have to go in the first two rounds (including Strange) for him to jump into the second. I just don't see 7 Tes going in the first 64 picks. My .02.

TE is one of the strongest groups in the draft, I think we can expect them to come off the board quickly

Possibly, but i would be surprised if all 7-8 are gone by 64. Kincaid and Mayer in R1, Washington, Musgrave, and Laporta in R2. Kraft, Schoonmaker, and Strange in R3. Just my non-professional opinion.

Originally posted by Rathof44:

Originally posted by ChaunceyGardner:

Originally posted by Rathof44:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I think we'd have to trade up to get him. Ceiling is through the roof and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go round 2.

Consensus has 6 guys rated ahead of him at TE: Mayer, Kincaid, Washington, LaPorta, Kraft, and Musgrave. It's a super deep TE class. One, maybe two are first rounders. IMO, seven total TEs would have to go in the first two rounds (including Strange) for him to jump into the second. I just don't see 7 Tes going in the first 64 picks. My .02.

TE is one of the strongest groups in the draft, I think we can expect them to come off the board quickly

Possibly, but i would be surprised if all 7-8 are gone by 64. Kincaid and Mayer in R1, Washington, Musgrave, and Laporta in R2. Kraft, Schoonmaker, and Strange in R3. Just my non-professional opinion.

That sounds about right, Schoonmaker should be there

Originally posted by ChaunceyGardner:

Originally posted by Rathof44:

Originally posted by ChaunceyGardner:

Originally posted by Rathof44:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I think we'd have to trade up to get him. Ceiling is through the roof and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go round 2.

Consensus has 6 guys rated ahead of him at TE: Mayer, Kincaid, Washington, LaPorta, Kraft, and Musgrave. It's a super deep TE class. One, maybe two are first rounders. IMO, seven total TEs would have to go in the first two rounds (including Strange) for him to jump into the second. I just don't see 7 Tes going in the first 64 picks. My .02.

TE is one of the strongest groups in the draft, I think we can expect them to come off the board quickly

Possibly, but i would be surprised if all 7-8 are gone by 64. Kincaid and Mayer in R1, Washington, Musgrave, and Laporta in R2. Kraft, Schoonmaker, and Strange in R3. Just my non-professional opinion.

That sounds about right, Schoonmaker should be there

Well the fact that only one TE went in R1 when there was talk of possibly three definitely helps my case for Kraft or Strange. We'll see.

Originally posted by Rathof44:
Well the fact that only one TE went in R1 when there was talk of possibly three definitely helps my case for Kraft or Strange. We'll see.

If the trend continues and LaPorta falls to early 3rd I could see us trading up for him, Kraft could be there but I wouldn't trade up for him, Strange will be there in the 3rd for us if we want him. I have a feeling the front office is going to use a 5th at the position unless overwhelming value is there.

Originally posted by irishluder:

Originally posted by Rathof44:
Well the fact that only one TE went in R1 when there was talk of possibly three definitely helps my case for Kraft or Strange. We'll see.

If the trend continues and LaPorta falls to early 3rd I could see us trading up for him, Kraft could be there but I wouldn't trade up for him, Strange will be there in the 3rd for us if we want him. I have a feeling the front office is going to use a 5th at the position unless overwhelming value is there.

To be fair, TE2 behind Kittle, whilst giving some interesting options for the O, is not really high value. I would like to pick one up at the end of the 3rd if a good one is still there, but see little justification in throwing away much needed picks on a trade up. You may well be right about the 5th.

Originally posted by English:

Originally posted by irishluder:

Originally posted by Rathof44:
Well the fact that only one TE went in R1 when there was talk of possibly three definitely helps my case for Kraft or Strange. We'll see.

If the trend continues and LaPorta falls to early 3rd I could see us trading up for him, Kraft could be there but I wouldn't trade up for him, Strange will be there in the 3rd for us if we want him. I have a feeling the front office is going to use a 5th at the position unless overwhelming value is there.

To be fair, TE2 behind Kittle, whilst giving some interesting options for the O, is not really high value. I would like to pick one up at the end of the 3rd if a good one is still there, but see little justification in throwing away much needed picks on a trade up. You may well be right about the 5th.

I agree. People have to remember, TE2 is getting 20 - 30 catches a season. No way they should use a 3rd. Stick to FS, CB, OT, or edge. Four options with those three 3rds. If there has to be a trade up, I'd do so with our 5th + 7th and a pick next year.

I also thought the idea that all these tight ends were going to be gone by 99 was silly. Guys will start coming off the board soon enough but there will be enough talent available at the end of the 3rd, which means they will also be there in the 4th.

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
I agree. People have to remember, TE2 is getting 20 - 30 catches a season. No way they should use a 3rd. Stick to FS, CB, OT, or edge. Four options with those three 3rds. If there has to be a trade up, I'd do so with our 5th + 7th and a pick next year.

I also thought the idea that all these tight ends were going to be gone by 99 was silly. Guys will start coming off the board soon enough but there will be enough talent available at the end of the 3rd, which means they will also be there in the 4th.

Our reserves TEs last year combined for 49% of the offensive snaps in 2022. That's 40% more than the WR we took in the 3rd. 42% more than the RB we took in the 3rd. The last CB we picked in the 3rd played a whopping 3% of the defensive snaps. Our Edge we took in the 2nd only played 30% of defensive snaps.

If we took a TE he likely would see the field more than the CB/EDGE/FS. Though the FS likely to see increased snaps next year.

Yes our TE2 hasn't produced much around here but that's because we really haven't had one. When Kittle misses time we don't really have one we can rely on. Aside from a schemed play here and there.