Jets TE Battle Features Pair of Forgotten Pass Catchers

[JetNation]

It would appear things are looking up for the New York Jets as GM Joe Douglas has dramatically improved his roster on both sides of the ball this offseason.  One area of improvement that has plenty of fans excited is at wide receiver where the Jets have added Corey Davis and Keelan Cole via free agency before drafting Elijah Moore with the 34th pick in the draft.

If Chris Herndon regains his rookie form, which is a distinct possibility following his strong finish last season, he figures to be the team’s starting tight end.  Outside of Herndon there’s plenty of intrigue regarding undrafted free agent Kenny Yeboah due to his athleticism and big play ability but there are two other guys who could fit the TE2 role nicely.

Kenny Yeboah would eventually cool down, but through his first four games of the season for Ole Miss (Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn), he picked up 438 yds on 19 rec to go along with 4 TD's. Could be good value pick in late rounds. pic.twitter.com/DCDoCZntis

— Glenn Naughton (@AceFan23) January 18, 2021

New addition Tyler Kroft and returning tight end Ryan Griffin have been productive role players in spurts when given an opportunity to get involved in the offense with the Bengals and 2019 Jets respectively.

Kroft spent last season with the Buffalo Bills where he caught just 12 passes for 3 touchdowns including a game winner against the Rams while Griffin was a part of the sinking ship of an offense known as the FFS Gase.

The 6′ 6” Kroft has been called on to block for much of his career but in 2017 as a member of the Bengals, he had his number called a career high 62 times as a pass catcher.  The end result?  A respectable 42 receptions for 404 yards and 7 touchdowns.  Numbers coming anywhere close to that in 2021 as a second tight end with a roster loaded at receiver would be more than welcome.

Week 3 Buffalo vs LAR last season and Josh Allen almost overthrows the 6' 7'' Tyler Kroft but the tight end will have none of it, goes fully extended to pull in the game winning TD. It's Kroft's second TD of the game. pic.twitter.com/etJ1UJRGdY

— Glenn Naughton (@AceFan23) June 11, 2021

Meanwhile, Griffin also had a decent season for himself back in 2020 when the Jets were without Herndon and Gang Green got him involved in the offense at mid-season.  Griffin tallied just 9 receptions through the first seven weeks of the year before seeing his targets and production take a jump.  Over his final six full games (he was knocked out for the season early in week 14), Griffin hauled in 24 balls for 266 yards and four touchdowns.

Of course neither of the two are going to remind anyone of Tony Gonzalez and Yeboah could knock both of them down a notch on the depth chart (or even off the roster) with a strong camp, but for an offense that’s expected to feature tight ends more than the Jets have in recent years, these two are worth keeping an eye on.  Forced to pick, we’d say Kroft and Yeboah bump Griffin when all is said and done.

The post Jets TE Battle Features Pair of Forgotten Pass Catchers appeared first on JetNation.com (NY Jets Blog & Forum).

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[Rocky Landing]

Kroft was actually a pretty good clutch player for the Bills when he was healthy (which wasn't very often, unfortunately). Reliable hands, and also a decent blocker. If he can manage to get through TC without breaking an ankle, he should be a good, all-around TE for the Jets.

[Beerfish]

Battle?  This is like a land war between Luxembourg and Lichenstein

[sourceworx]

I remember going to a WWE (WWF) event at Nassau Coliseum as a kid in the 80s, and one of the early matches had lifetime jobber "Iron" Mike Sharpe facing off against some other nobody named George Wells.

This TE "battle" is pretty much the equivalent of that match.

[dbatesman]

more like pair of forgettable pass catchers, am I right

[Drums]

43 minutes ago, sourceworx said:

I remember going to a WWE (WWF) event at Nassau Coliseum as a kid in the 80s, and one of the early matches had lifetime jobber "Iron" Mike Sharpe facing off against some other nobody named George Wells.

This TE "battle" is pretty much the equivalent of that match.

Somehow you remembered those names

[Morrissey]

Kroft... he'll but cut in camp

[JohnnyLV]

I think the odds of us taking a TE in the first 2 rounds next years draft is close to 100%.

I think it is greater than 50% that we take 2 TEs in next years draft

I think the only TEs left from this roster next year will be Yeboah and maybe Wesco.

This is not a battle, it is competing hunger strikes

 

[sourceworx]

9 hours ago, Drums said:

Somehow you remembered those names

I remember how disappointed I was. I was 6 or 7 years old, and wanted to see "Macho Man" Randy Savage or Andre the Giant. Instead I got those two bums. 

I can't even remember who was on the top of the card. It wasn't anyone exciting. 

[NYJ1]

As much as I'm interested in how the TE battles shakes out, I'm even more interested/concerned about FB.....

[jgb]

Bushman led BYU in receiving for Wilson’s first two years — he suffered an injury in camp and missed 2020, but it seems Wilson likes to use the TE in the passing game. Good opportunity for someone to emerge this year.

[whodeawhodat]

Ertz will be on our roster soon enough

[AFJF]

10 hours ago, jgb said:

Bushman led BYU in receiving for Wilson’s first two years — he suffered an injury in camp and missed 2020, but it seems Wilson likes to use the TE in the passing game. Good opportunity for someone to emerge this year.

Thought the Jets might make a run at him as an UDFA.