thesaintsfan

I've seen quite a few mocks that have us taking a TE in round two and I've heard that the Saints are high on Dustin Keller from Purdue. As I've said many times, if we could get an impact TE our offense would be even more dynamic. Keller is considered by some to be the best pass catching TE in this class and his measurables are very impressive. He's 6-2 242 lbs and runs a 4.55. Keller is a converted WR so he knows how to run routes and catch balls. He's a great athlete and has the deep speed we need to open up the middle of the field. The knock on him is that he's not a great blocker but not many of the new breed of TE are. Most teams like to have a fast pass catching TE and then a big run blocking TE because it's rare these days to find one guy that can do both.

Initially I wanted us to wait until the third before thinking about a TE but if the best TE is still there when we pick at #40 we would be getting a great value. If we got Rivers in the first and Keller in the second then after two rounds we would have the #1 OLB and #1 TE. I would be happy with that.

The one thing our offense is missing is an impact TE. We've never really had a TE that defenses had to worry about. And for the love God don't bring up Boo Williams! Eric Johnson had one great year with San Fran but now he is a broken player. Billy Miller has made some big catches for us but he isn't the answer. And Mark Campbell is a good blocker and that's about it. Our offense would have it all if we had a TE.

We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams.

pakowitz

i think the Saints will try and swing a draft day trade with the giants for shockey..

davegriff

I would have to agree with pakowitz............

thesaintsfan

I'd love to see that happen pak. There aren't alot of people who agree with me about bringing Shockey in but you and I have been on the same page on the issue. I wish more people could understand how fierce our offense would be if we had a big time TE to go along with our other playmakers. I found this article that backs up what you've been saying about J Shock. Check out #7 under Schein's 9 Nuggets of Wisdom.

FOX Sports on MSN - Adam Schein - Brohm poised to become solid pro QB

thesaintsfan

Schein's league sources said that there's a 50/50 chance we trade for Shockey so maybe that means we're still talking with the G Men and trying to hammer out a deal. I think the Giants are asking for an arm and a leg and right now we're just willing to give up an arm. What did we offer them, Harper and a two? If they didn't take that then I don't know what else we would be willing to offer. I think our second round pick (#40 overall) alone would be a fair offer. I've always said that I want Shockey but only if we could get him for a fair price. What I don't want to see us do is give up any picks in next year's draft because like hagan pointed out, next year's draft will be loaded. That might be the hang up. The Giants might be asking for a 2 or a 3 this year and a 2 next year. If that's the case I say let's just get Keller because he would be cheaper and we keep our picks.

We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams.

BRSaintsFan

Making the Shockey trade happen is the best answer for TE IMO. I think that this draft is solid on defense in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and would not want to get a 1 dimensional TE there. I think the combination of Johnson, Miller, and Campbell is servicable at best, but I do not see the need for a pure receiving TE until the later rounds of the draft. I think a prospect like Kellen Davis of MSU or Jacob Tamme of Kentucky could be decent role players as a TE that could be found later in the draft. Even a larger wideout like Mario Urrutia could add some bulk and serve the same role and could be had in the later rounds and even as a UDFA.

pakowitz

yea i posted the same thing in the other shockey thread

FireVenturi

As far as keller, I read in one of my drafts books where he said, he needs to improve his blocking....that's awesome for a draft hopeful to admit where he needs to improve. if he can improve his blocking....wow!!! pro-bowl potential.

thesaintsfan

My bad pak. I looked for it to see if it was already out there but I didn't see it. Oh well.

BRSaintsFan what round do you think we should take a TE? You said that you would like to see us take Kellen Davis in the later rounds but I don't see him falling to the second day. From what I've heard he's climbimg up the charts and might go mid second. I saw him at his workouts and he passes the eyeball test with flying colors! What an animal!

Just about all of this year's TEs are one dimensional because there aren't very many players who are big and strong enough to block and fast enough to be a factor in the passing game. I think we can afford to get a pure pass catching TE because we have Campbell and Miller who can be used as blockers. If you look around the league you'll see that the teams with big time pass catching tight ends also have a blocking specialist. The Ravens have Heap and Quinn Sypniewski, the Browns have Winslow Jr and Steve Heiden, the Chiefs had Gonzalez and Jason Dunn, and the Chargers have Gates and Brandon Manumaleuna.

We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams.

FireVenturi

Excellent pOints!!!!!!!!