Are the Bills set at TE?

[Nelius]

I don't think we are. We're gambling on Knox. I'm for it, but he's so raw and inexperienced in general that it wouldn't be crazy if he didn't meet our hopes, or even completely disappeared next year. Or just gets hurt. Depth other than Kroft (bum) and Sweeney (who knows) would be nice.

 

Ha, oh yeah, Jason Croom. How could I forget. Does he add anything or is he truly just a nepotism holdover? I feel like it's been a long time since I've seen him play and I knew little about him to begin with.

Edited April 26, 2020 by Nelius

[NoName]

12 hours ago, BaaadThingsMan said:

I also think Sweeney could emerge as a good one as well. He may surprise people this year

I don't see it with Sweeney.  Nothing stands out about him.  The ceiling on him is as a 3rd TE/blocking specialist to replace Lee Smith.  Very interested in seeing how Knox develops.  Croom is interesting to me. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

8 hours ago, Nelius said:

Ha, oh yeah, Jason Croom. How could I forget. Does he add anything or is he truly just a nepotism holdover? I feel like it's been a long time since I've seen him play and I knew little about him to begin with.

No, Croom can catch...wait, maybe it's 'no Croom can catch'.  Also hinges on whether we're talking footballs, or Pegula women.  ?

[davefan66]

Knox will be our #1 TE.  Feel he should solidify that status by the end of next season.

 

Until then, Kroft is a capable guy as long as he can stay on the field.  I think Sweeney has the potential to be a good #2, needs some time.  Other than them, don’t see much from Croom and Smith is done.

 

Doesn't say much for our TE group.  If someone unexpected gets cut, Beane will always be looking at his options.

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

13 hours ago, r00tabaga said:

Lee Smith is gone?

Smith is the only legitimate blocking TE on the roster. He needs to clean up his penaltys but he does fill a need on this roster. Knox is most likely the starter with Kroft. Sweeney has potential to develop into a solid all purpose TE. I think it's crystal clear that Croom is only on the TE depth chart because he's dating the owners daughter. He can't block, he runs horrid routes, he cannot get open, he has horrid situational awareness.

[Hebert19]

10 hours ago, Nelius said:

I don't think we are. We're gambling on Knox. I'm for it, but he's so raw and inexperienced in general that it wouldn't be crazy if he didn't meet our hopes, or even completely disappeared next year. Or just gets hurt. Depth other than Kroft (bum) and Sweeney (who knows) would be nice.

 

Ha, oh yeah, Jason Croom. How could I forget. Does he add anything or is he truly just a nepotism holdover? I feel like it's been a long time since I've seen him play and I knew little about him to begin with.

I like croom tbh.  He has potential to he everything clay was supposed to be. 

[Mr. WEO]

14 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

How? TE IMO is the strongest it's ever been since I've been a Bills fan. Everyone is so focused on the drops but Knox is a legit TE prospect to develop. 

 

Knox has potential.

Lee is useless.

Croom hasn't shown much....whne he has been able to play.

Kroft was a predictable dud.  Another team's damaged goods.

Sweeney could be a sleeper.

 

If that's the strongest it's ever been, it's a testament ot how badly the franchise has treated the position since they have existed.

[Einstein's Dog]

The Bills are probably set at TE this year.  As others have said the FO has not neglected the position, they drafted 2 last year.

It seems a purposeful strategy to identify winning draft picks and allow to develop.  If successful the Bills will be good for an extended period of time.

If the draft picks work you slowly release the veterans and maintain the home grown studs (usually slowly but can be quick like with RBs).

 

Knox is one of those developing players that will be a stud (w Allen, T White, Edmunds, Singletary).  You should start marinating your crow now, because it looks like it will happen this season.

 

I would have liked to see an addition though.  They missed on Olsen.  I don't think OJ Howard is the answer.  Time for Knox to be the man IMO.

[Alphadawg7]

18 hours ago, Jerry Jabber said:

Looks like McBeane is happy with Knox, Sweeney, Kroft, Smith and Croom. IMO, the TE position has been neglected for years. While I like the other offensive additions this offseason, I felt TE was a glaring hole. Yes, Knox flashed some potential, but he also had a lot of drops. Not saying Knox doesn’t have the ability to improve, but if the Bills are planning on Knox to be the #1 TE, then I think it’s a mistake. It would be nice if the Bills could get with the rest of the NFL and get one to two TE’s that have the potential for multiple 100+ yard games a season. If I’m wrong and Knox and Sweeney turn out to be diamonds in the rough for the Bills, then I will gladly eat some crow on this. 

No disrespect, but you can’t say the TE position has been neglected for years when just last year Bills drafted two of them, including trading up back into the 3rd to get one.  
 

Is it set?  Yes and No.  Yes being they have 2 young TEs that showed a lot of promise they are developing right now, but no as they are still only entering their 2nd year.

 

So yeah, not a surprise they didn’t make a move for a TE.  We have a vet in Kroft finally healthy to go along with 2 promising second year players, especially Knox.  I’m sure they would have if something made sense, Beane is never afraid to add competition to the mix or make a move he feels makes us better.  But this wasn’t a good draft for TEs at all, might be the worst position in this draft IMO.

 

I could still possibly see Beane making a trade too for either Njoku (Browns signed Hopper and drafted TEs) or Howard (Gronk and Brate their) if the price is right. But at the same time, won’t surprise me at all if he doesn’t given they like Knox and Sweeney’s potential.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

2 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Knox has potential.

Lee is useless.

Croom hasn't shown much....whne he has been able to play.

Kroft was a predictable dud.  Another team's damaged goods.

Sweeney could be a sleeper.

 

If that's the strongest it's ever been, it's a testament ot how badly the franchise has treated the position since they have existed.

Sweeney IMO showed enough to considered a decent developmental TE. Kroft is fine as a depth TE. Kroft has been a good depth TE in Cincy. Kroft is not much more than that because he can't stay healthy.

 

It is a talented group of TE's. There's potential, just nothing proven. It's rare to get a good proven TE in their prime either by trade or free agency. You typically have to develop your own. We'll know a lot more about this group after this year. If no one takes steps toward being a good starting TE then we probably add someone else to the group next year.

[IgotBILLStopay]

19 hours ago, Jerry Jabber said:

Looks like McBeane is happy with Knox, Sweeney, Kroft, Smith and Croom. IMO, the TE position has been neglected for years. While I like the other offensive additions this offseason, I felt TE was a glaring hole. Yes, Knox flashed some potential, but he also had a lot of drops. Not saying Knox doesn’t have the ability to improve, but if the Bills are planning on Knox to be the #1 TE, then I think it’s a mistake. It would be nice if the Bills could get with the rest of the NFL and get one to two TE’s that have the potential for multiple 100+ yard games a season. If I’m wrong and Knox and Sweeney turn out to be diamonds in the rough for the Bills, then I will gladly eat some crow on this. 

We just need some stickum for Knox and need to sit Lee Smith. Otherwise we are set.

 

 

[Mr. WEO]

1 minute ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Sweeney IMO showed enough to considered a decent developmental TE. Kroft is fine as a depth TE. Kroft has been a good depth TE in Cincy. Kroft is not much more than that because he can't stay healthy.

 

It is a talented group of TE's. There's potential, just nothing proven. It's rare to get a good proven TE in their prime either by trade or free agency. You typically have to develop your own. We'll know a lot more about this group after this year. If no one takes steps toward being a good starting TE then we probably add someone else to the group next year.

 

 

Guys who can't stay healthy (Kroft, Croom) can't be considered depth, unless you mean on the IR list. 

 

Knox and Sweeney have a long way to go.  The other 3 have a combined 46 catches over the past 2 seasons.  Deadwood.

[MrEpsYtown]

Players will shake loose from teams who drafted tight ends, Adam Shaheen, Jake Butt, maybe a Will Dissly/Jacob Hollister type of guy. I do like our group, but some young vets could shake loose in the coming weeks. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

21 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

Guys who can't stay healthy (Kroft, Croom) can't be considered depth, unless you mean on the IR list. 

 

Knox and Sweeney have a long way to go.  The other 3 have a combined 46 catches over the past 2 seasons.  Deadwood.

 There is potential with this group. They do really like Croom as well. 

 

I wanted them to upgrade Kroft as depth but it didn't happen, he took a  pay cut. I wouldn't mind Delanie Walker as depth over Kroft but I don't know how interested he'd be in that role for Buffalo.

Edited April 26, 2020 by Buffalo_Stampede

[Marvlevydraftdaygenius]

I like sweeney the guy has suchuncops for hands.

[Jerry Jabber]

2 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

No disrespect, but you can’t say the TE position has been neglected for years when just last year Bills drafted two of them, including trading up back into the 3rd to get one.  
 

Is it set?  Yes and No.  Yes being they have 2 young TEs that showed a lot of promise they are developing right now, but no as they are still only entering their 2nd year.

 

So yeah, not a surprise they didn’t make a move for a TE.  We have a vet in Kroft finally healthy to go along with 2 promising second year players, especially Knox.  I’m sure they would have if something made sense, Beane is never afraid to add competition to the mix or make a move he feels makes us better.  But this wasn’t a good draft for TEs at all, might be the worst position in this draft IMO.

 

I could still possibly see Beane making a trade too for either Njoku (Browns signed Hopper and drafted TEs) or Howard (Gronk and Brate their) if the price is right. But at the same time, won’t surprise me at all if he doesn’t given they like Knox and Sweeney’s potential.

It was a generalization of how the Bills haver treated the TE position over the decades. I've been a Bills fan since 1980 and can only name a handful of TE's that have made any kind of impact on the team. Clay and Knox are probably the most the Bills have invested in the TE position since the 90's. The Bills overpaid for Clay and got some good production out of him early on, but declined significantly towards the end. Knox has potential, but he has a lot of work to do. 

1 hour ago, IgotBILLStopay said:

We just need some stickum for Knox and need to sit Lee Smith. Otherwise we are set.

 

 

I love that movie. "Coach, it looks like I just jacked off an elephant..." 

[first_and_ten]

20 hours ago, DJB said:

We cant draft an A+ prospect for every position each year.

 

We tried to add G Olsen sonwe aren't satisfied with the group.

 

Hopefully Knox takes a big step or we will likely be looking for a draft upgrade next year

 

This is true. We cannot get a top prospect every year. I thought that they might draft one somewhere, but I think they realize they won't get one better than what they already have later in the draft. I like Knox. He's a tough player. Will he make a big enough jump to qualify as a threat that other teams have to be afraid of, we will see.

[DJB]

15 minutes ago, first_and_ten said:

 

This is true. We cannot get a top prospect every year. I thought that they might draft one somewhere, but I think they realize they won't get one better than what they already have later in the draft. I like Knox. He's a tough player. Will he make a big enough jump to qualify as a threat that other teams have to be afraid of, we will see.

 

It was a relatively weak class as well. I love Trautman but even I'm not sure hes a huge upgrade on Knox. Plus he is a long term prospect and likely won't make much impact year 1. 

 

Kmet is another guy who has a high floor but low ceiling.  Will impact year one but again I dont see much if any improvement over Knox. 

 

We will find out if Sweeney and Knox are here to stay or if a big upgrade is needed come draft time next year. 

[KD in CA]

They drafted Knox to be the guy.  If he develops into that, they are set.  The rest are role players.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

2 hours ago, Marvlevydraftdaygenius said:

I like sweeney the guy has suchuncops for hands.

'suchuncops'?  Between your screen name and 'suchuncops', I think your space bar is broken.