I think teams keep tabs on specialists and will snatch players as UDFA. He will be on someone's list. The only thing is LS in the Pros seem to move around. Former Vikings Long Snapper Mike Morris played for nine teams between 1983 to 1999. His longest stint was with the Vikings (1991-1999).
I see 5 stars there. Fleck's 1st 5 star recruit...............
Will four Gophers get drafted this year? This is a stretch. Daniel Faalelle and Boye Mafe for sure. It will be sweet if they are both 1st Rounders. They will be one of the 259 players lucky enough to have their names called.
Cool one of the NFL Network’s analyst also has Big Dan going to Miami - so it looks like a good fit for the Fins
Should have clarified, I was meaning as of late, but would also counter and say that Otomewo will definitely get drafted. Blaise is probably next best odds but unless he impresses at his pro day I think he will probably be an UDFA. I would think Kieft has an outside shot as well, but have no clue how NFL teams value a guy who is basically going to strictly be a blocking TE.
I'm basically in the same place. Maye and Faalele are locks and both will be off the board by the second day (maybe even first day). Otomewo's inability to show out at the combine probably set him back a bit, but you can't teach size and he certainly flashed potential at stretches in his college career.
I think Kieft is a great player but unfortunatley he doesn't fit some of the modern NFL offenses
Marcedes Lewis has carved out a great latter half of his career being a primarily blocking TE.
All he needs is to be a great fit with one team in order to get drafted.
I agree. As I referenced in my post above, pro teams have so many different offensive sets that require a lot of different skill sets. If Kieft grades out high enough physically and shows enough pass-catching ability, he's going to get a shot. I am curious to see how his pro day goes. He runs in the 4.8 range and he might sneak into the 7th round. The guy is a devastating blocker.
If Mafe and Faalele go in the first 2 rounds, we'll have seen as many Gophers go in the first 2 rounds in the past 3 drafts as there were in the previous 28 drafts.
I disagree. I think he's a perfect 3rd TE/H-Back type player.
Marcedes lewis career stats at UCLA, 126 receptions 1500 yards 21 TDS
I agree but some teams arent interested in carrying a tight end specifically for blocking. A lot of teams run mostly 11 personal with a vertical threat at TE like McVay
But it only takes one team to value someone like Kieft. Kieft--at least right now--doesn't project as an every down player at the next level. That doesn't mean that there wouldn't a place for him in some teams' plans. It seems that every team in the league has a set of plays they run when "they are down a score and the wind is blowing East to West at more than 10 miles per hour and the sky is slightly overcast." Point is, teams have become so specialized in their usage of personnel that a guy--using the Liam Neeson parlance--with a certain set of skills can find a place on the field.
We're not comparing college stats, though. You said you don't see Kieft fitting into an NFL modern offense. Marcedes Lewis has turned into a primarily blocking Tight End, showing that there is still very much a need for a good blocking tight end on the roster.
No takers?
Agree. I think Kieft has shown that he can catch the ball. It's not what he's known for, but his role in the Gopher offense was all about blocking and he did it extremely well. Pro scouts are really good at discerning what a guy can and can't do presently and whether they have the ability to grow in areas where they haven't been called upon to contribute. I'm not saying Kieft will be drafted, but his blocking is a calling card that will pique the interest of more than one pro team. That should at least get him in a camp where he can show that he's not a one-note guy.
I'll take you up on it. But can we make it a glass of skim milk? The ulcer's been acting up a bit lately.
I'll take whole milk. Kemps, if you please.
The odds are firmly against him getting drafted (maybe 10%?), so it's a bad bet. But I definitely think he'll sign as an UDFA. Chances of making a practice squad I'd put maybe at like 25 - 35%. Dude was not just OK at the things he did...he was absolutely elite (I know, I know). There are plenty of TEs in the NFL who primarily block. Nick Boyle is probably the best known, but most teams have a guy like that. People just don't know who they are because they rarely catch a pass. In addition to being dominant run blockers in short yardage and goal line situations, they're very useful on ST's like punt, KO return, and FG. Kieft could definitely become a guy like that. He was probably the best run blocking TE in the country the past two years. That's a marketable skill.
The 40 is a stupid drill because the difference between a 4.3 and a 4.5 is 2-3 steps over 40 yards straight line.
Game speed is different than straight 40 speed. Other metrics do come into play in how players may be rated. The whole body of work in college is going to be dissected and analyzed.
I absolutely agree. His hands are underrated, and he made multiple difficult catches over the last few years. I think whatever NFL team signs him will have more of an all around TE than they expected.
Shuttle is underrated.
Really? Multiple difficult catches?