Fun with Numbers- Draft Day edition!
April 25, 2013WFNY Roundtable: Browns draft predictions for the 1st round
April 25, 2013We are less than a week from the NFL Draft, also known as the most important day of the year for your Cleveland Browns. With (another) new regime taking over the reigns and new schemes in place on both sides of the ball, it is crucial that Joe Banner, Mike Lombardi, Ray Farmer, Rob Chudzinski and the crew nail these three days. It all starts Thursday night with the primetime First Round.
The Browns currently hold the sixth pick. Will they go with a defensive back? Could they turn to a pass rusher? Would they possible fortify the offensive line? Could they shock everyone and take an additional offensive weapon? Or maybe, just maybe, would they trade the pick to a team that wants to move up and snag one of those top offensive tackles?
From now until Thursday’s first round, a different member of the WFNY staff will take their look at one player in particular and tell you why the Browns, should they choose to, would go in this direction.
Name: Tyler Eifert
Position: Tight End
School: Notre Dame
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 251 lbs.
40 Yard Dash: 4.68
Whom he would replace: Ben Watson
Why he makes the most sense for the Browns: The Browns have a black hole at the TE position when it comes to proven NFL talent. The offense that they are installing calls for more down-field passes, and a play-maker at the tight end position would certainly help. Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner has been known to feature the TE as well. There is a trend in the NFL towards two pass catching tight ends. With Eifert and Jordan Cameron the Browns could have their pair.
What the experts say: “Very good skills across the board. He’s going to be the top tight end available in a league obsessed with them. Has pass-catching skills of a natural receiver and can be split out. Will go up and high-point passes. A very tough matchup for any type of defender. Some teams worry about his blocking, but he can do it when asked to.”- Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN
“Eifert’s ball skills and ability to come down with the jump ball separate him from some other talented tight ends in this class.” – Todd McShay, ESPN
“Tyler Eifert is an impressive physical specimen that is ready to make an instant impact in the NFL. He has the size, fluidity and physicality to run strong routes and create consistent separation against LBs, and possesses the body control to adjust to balls outside of his frame. He has soft hands that allow him to pluck the ball away from his body naturally, and consistently wins 50/50 balls because of his explosive leaping ability and strength at the POA. While he is an inconsistent blocker because of his tendency to get too far out front of himself and lose his balance, he is a willing combatant at the LOS and shows the ability to use his size and natural quickness to get his feet around and seal his man out when playing in-line. Eifert is a matchup nightmare capable of playing in-line or flexed out in the slot and is ready to make huge plays in the passing game for whichever team drafts him in the 1st round.” – Sports Illustrated
“Eifert was a 215-pound TE out of high school who didnt receive too many scholarship offers, but has developed into one of the top all-around tight ends to enter the NFL draft in recent memory. He was Notre Dames No. 1 offensive weapon in 2012, lining up out wide as a WR or in-line as a traditional TE, and was the type of target defensive coordinators had to game plan against. Eifert is a fluid pass-catcher with vacuum hands and the hand/eye coordination to make tough catches and although he doesnt create a lot of space, he secures grabs in traffic, showing outstanding tracking and high-pointing ability. He is a soft spoken guy, but an animal on the field and a much better blocker than given credit, improving in leaps and bounds the past three years with excellent effort projects as a starting NFL TE with excellent potential as both a receiver and blocker.” – NFL.com
Chances the Browns will take Eifert: There is no question the Browns have been and will continue to address the defense. But the offense could still use some help. Eifert is a smart, athletic player. With all due respect to Jordan Cameron, he would be a significant upgrade at the position. McShay has had the Browns selecting him with the number 6 pick. I think Eifert is a more realistic option if the Browns trade down a bit. Fits a position of need and could be the best player available when they draft (assuming a trade down)? I’d say Eifert has a decent chance of being a Brown. Maybe 10%.
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Previous Profiles: Geno Smith, Dion Jordan, Dee Milliner, Star Lotulelei, Chance Womack, Barkevious Mingo.
4 Comments
he is sooo good. i don’t like the idea of drafting a TE #6, but if we trade into the low-teens, sure, why not.
For my money and Chud/Norv’s success with TE’s, I’d rather spend a middle round pick on someone like Jake Stoneburner (maybe a little OSU homerism in there) and hope you can develop him. OSU’s offense was too run oriented for him to show his talents, but I think in the right opportunity could produce similar number to Eifert.
or they could draft DeShaun Thomas 🙂
The numbers he’s put up are a testament to his skill level considering the bucket of turds ND has thrown out at QB the past few years. I’ll fully admit I’m an ND fan and I’ve seen this guy make spectacular plays week after week but I’m not sold on him at 6. It’d require a trade back for me to take him. Even grabbing Ertz in the 3rd round may be a better option/value if he made it that far.