Patriots, TEs & the draft

Not another tight end!!! This group is batting .000 so far in drafting tight ends. Forget about it.

Bear Pascoe is slow, but has good hands and is a beast blocker.

Cornelius Ingram is a wide receiver, I don't know why people are calling him a tight end.

The Pats always want a stud TE because they know how much it will help Brady. I do think Wes Welker's presence decreases the need for a Top flight TE because Welker runs in those areas.

They will only draft a TE unless someone they like falls. I have given up on Watson, he is too fast for his own good.

James Casey Is a monster. Would love to see him in a patriots uniform. He is projected to go late 2nd to 3rd round.

2008 Stats as a TE/RB/QB (21 Total TD's):
Receiving - 111 receptions, 1329yds, 13 TD's
Rushing - 57 rushes for 241yds, 6 TD's (Ran the Wildcat @ Rice)
Passing - Threw 2 TD's

Casey attempted to go into Pro-Baseball - drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2003. It didn't work out for him, so hopefully this versatile and athletic player makes a better impression in the NFL.

They do need a tight end that can block however. I would not have matched Denver's offer to Graham but his blocking skills were huge for this team.

Who does everyone think will be on the roster at the TE come fall? Is there a chance that the pats cut either watson or thomas before their contracts expire?

I see alot of TE's this year. I really think we could pick up at this spot this year. A little off subject but Welker say's Lewis looks great from a piece in the projo paper. SORRY REISS check out some of these : Jared Cook / Davon Drew / Cameron Morrah / Shawn Nelson / Chase Coffman

JB, personally I think that the TE corps is set. Do they have a dominating or top-tier TE on the roster? No, they don't...but you can't have superstars at every position. I'd say a guy like Listori or Devree could/will be gone. Carrying 5 TEs into the season is bad business and extremely unlikely (carrying almost 10% of your entire roster at a spot where there is usually only 1 guy on the field, and you can get by without anyone if need be).

I think (not going to do the research right now) that the Pats normally carry 3 TEs, with a guy like Hochstein able to line up there in goal line situations if need be. Also, Brady never used to have enough weapons, so grabbing a TE (who can also help in the running game) made sense, but now he's spoilt for choice with regards to who he'll throw the ball to. Moss, Welker, Galloway, Lewis (to a lesser extent), and he still has Watson, Baker and Thomas, all of whom have shown at least a modicum of pass-catching ability. I'd be disappointed if they went with a TE high, even if the guy is the best player on the board. If they don't want anyone at 23 except a TE, trade down.

I don't know. I think TE is a pretty big need. I like Chris Baker a lot. I think he's the best TE on the roster now. Watson isn't very useful. He drops too many passes, doesn't get much separation, and as a blocker is average at best. Statistically, the guy is in the bottom half of the league as a receiver. Thomas and Devree don't add anything. I believe the one thing this offense lacks right now is the true double-threat TE who can make things happen in the middle of the field AND can create holes for the running backs.

Having said all that...defense, defense, defense!

Did anyone else accidentally combine "...David Thomas, Tyson DeVree..." into David Tyree in their heads? I had to do a double-take; I thought for a horrible moment we'd signed the man who shattered our dreams.

To All the faithfull Pats fans,
I research the draft for at least six hours a day and saying that I agree with not taking a first round tight -end. I would not take one with a second round either. James Casey is a monster and has something that the Pats never had; he catches everything and Ingram coming off that injury is going to beast it this year and every other year. However, no first day picks on a tight-end. There are so many small-school sleepers at every position wait till the end of draft or UFA's.

I think the Patriots will take Bear Pascoe in the third round if he is still there. The guy has a great attitude, love for the game, and is a monster blocker with good hands. Not the fastest, but as has been reported has deceptive quickness. I really hope Ben Watson starts to contribute more, I understand that some of this is out of his control, but maybe if he lobbied his services to Brady a little more he might see more action coming his way, to me he is just to laid back. I think the Patriots are not doing a good job at developing Thomas, but injuries have also slowed this process too.