Street Talk

Ravens Need a Playmaker at Tight End

by Carey Stevenson

February 26, 2018
2:56 am

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Now that we’ve exhaled from the always frustrating WR overview, we’ve reached a position just as thirsty for difference-making talent: tight end.

On every drag route off play action that led to a few yards and a cloud of dust last season, I died a little bit inside. Draft misses and injuries have led to a bottoming out that has reached an undeniable level of concern. Multiple acquisitions are necessary. I like the idea of adding a talented veteran and pairing him with a draft choice talented enough to play immediately, as well as be the heir.

Todd Heap’s prime was the last time this team had a plus talent at the position. I know, I know…Dennis Pitta was good – but he was more of a reliable hole-in-the-zone finder than a true playmaker. True dynamic talent at the position should be the goal.

Let’s take a look the position as it currently stands

Crockett Gillmore – (reports surfaced that he’s moving to offensive tackle this offseason)

Needs

Starter, #2 TE

Watson led last season’s group and was solid throughout. At 37 years old, he still runs pretty well but he just isn’t threatening in the way you want your TE1 to be. It’s quite possible he retires this offseason, but if he doesn’t, I’d take a wait and see approach on him. If free agency and the draft passes and the team hasn’t addressed the position with multiple talents (*sigh*) he’d be someone to target.

Boyle proved to be very useful blocker in Greg Roman’s run game operating inline and in the backfield to give the ground game added physicality. He’s a big target with soft hands but lacks the speed or movement ability to be a real threat in the passing game. Ideally, he returns as the #3 Tight End who plays specifically in the running situations.

I have no clue what to make of Maxx Williams. You guys give me some hints if you have any. He’s still athletic, tries as a blocker and will still only be 24 when the 2018 season starts. I just have no clue what his career projection is at this point. My approach to him would be similar to that I’d take toward Breshad Perriman: 0perate as if he’s not on the roster, let him compete in camp, and see what happens.

Waller reportedly had the Ravens brass excited about his potential at tight end before he ended up suspended for the entire 2017 season for substance abuse, his 2nd such suspension during his brief career. His athletic profile and low cap number will afford him the chance to make it to training camp because hey, they just don’t make very many humans that are that big and that fast. I’d still put Waller in the Perriman/Maxx Williams bucket for 2018.

Free Agent Options

Jimmy Graham – A goal of the Ravens offseason should be to find players who can create mismatches. Even at 31 years old, Graham accomplishes that. He doesn’t have the burst he had in his New Orleans, but he’s still a huge target who just makes things easier in the red zone. Signing Graham on a shorter-term deal and pairing him with a talented earlier-round TE would be an ideal scenario.

Trey Burton – The trigger man on one of the greatest play calls in Super Bowl history, Burton should be a hot commodity in free agency. He’s another mismatch guy but in a different package. Burton wins with versatility and the ability to create separation horizontally. As the Eagles showed, you can get really creative with him. At 26, he’s the most attractive young tight end on the market and we know the Ravens don’t do bidding wars often.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins – ASJ put his career back on track with a 50-catch season. He’s a big, nimble target in the middle of the field and would offer some of the same advantages Graham would, when within scoring range. At just 25, he’s still an ascending player who I think can do more down the field then his 2017 role suggested. As large as he is, his off-field recovery towers over anything I could say about him as a football player.

Tyler Eifert – He’d be the ultimate lottery ticket signing. Likely limited to a 1-year incentive-laden deal, Eifert when healthy is a scary player working the down the seam, and another player that would make life a lot easier for the offense inside the 20. Obviously with this signing you’d have to make sure you have another starting-caliber tight end on the roster because of his extensive injury background.

Draft Options

Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State – Every time I watched him I’m reminded of this. The guy is gigantic, so much so that 6’5’’ 255-pounds seem like low ball numbers. Goedert has great ball skills and a massive catch radius. He never seems to be kicking anyone’s ass as a blocker but he when gets a hold of you, you stay where you are. He does show a bit more burst and wiggle then I expected but that won’t be how he flourishes as a pro. He’s going to win at the catch point and in the open field be the equivalent of a car at the top of a hill with the parking brake off. He is talented enough to be a feature player.

Projection: 1^st to 2^nd round

Mark Andrews, Oklahoma – The total opposite of Goedert, Andrews is a more sudden player with the feet to separate from defenders in coverage or after the catch. He’s not a particularly fast, quick or imposing target but fluidity is his strong suit. He’s just kind of out there as a blocker, gets in the way sometimes. Andrews looks like a productive detached tight end in the Dennis Pitta mold whose route running will be a boon for someone’s red zone offense. Athletically, I don’t see a high-level starter though.

Projection: 2^nd to 3^rd round

Hayden Hurst, South Carolina – Another fave of mine after evaluating him, he’s a very athletic player with seam-challenging speed, and he’s a competitive blocker whether in-line or split out. Hurst took handoffs in SC’s offense and showed some fluidity in the open field. He can become a task to get on the ground once he builds up speed, and with good ball skills and high-point ability, Hurst would be a draft priority for me.

Projection: 2^nd to 3^rd round

Mike Gesicki, Penn State – Gesicki is a floating gazelle. He has a tall, lean frame with terrific ball skills and leaping ability. He could be potentially special down the field and in the red zone gliding in the air to make highlight reel catches. Now he probably won’t do a ton of winning in short areas outside the red zone and he’s not even a “get in the way” blocker at this point, but if used properly he can make an immediate impact.

Projection: 2^nd to 3^rd round

Jordan Akins, Central Florida – One of my favorite later round flier picks. However, he’s not an in-line prospect. What is he is a very explosive player who can make plays downfield, and who also shows the dexterity to win linebacker matchups. He has an intriguing fusion of ball skills and athleticism to carve out an Evan Engram-esque split out role. Now he’s already 25 years old and still has plenty of development to do but he’s the type of lottery ticket that could pay dividends for a team short on difference makers.

Projection: 5^th to 6^th round

Carey Stevenson

Carey is a driven sports enthusiast from Norfolk, Virginia. He's looked upon by all his friends and family as an advisor, provider of on the spot scouting reports and the occasional dusting off of the old crystal ball. He is a loyal and devoted Ravens fan that spends countless hours in his war room/bedroom going over tape, scouting reports and potential free agents as if he's actually the one making draft and game day decisions. He's a sports management major that looks forward to the day that he may actually be called upon to make some of the decisions he analyzes as if life depended on it. He is a critical yet rational thinker that is always in search of more knowledge about the game.