“Mr. Reliable” In Round 2
April 12th, 2021
”Mr. Reliable”
What if living-legend tight end Rob Gronkowski reverts back to one of his New England habits, missing games and battling various injuries?
And what if O.J. Howard isn’t right after his October Achilles surgery, and he gets injured again, which is commonplace for Howard?
Nobody likes thinking about those possibilities, but they are hardly far-fetched. And combined with the loss of tight end Antony Auclair in free agency, that’s got Joe thinking about the Bucs drafting a tight end later this month.
Enter “Mr. Reliable,” Boston College tight end Hunter Long, as former Bucs tight end Anthony Becht called him this morning on SiriusXM ESPNU Radio.
It’s a deep draft for tight ends, and Long is a can’t-miss kind of prospect that might be there for the Bucs with the final pick of Round 2.
Long led college tight ends nationally with 57 receptions, good for 685 yards and five touchdowns last season, but he’s known best for being a do-it-all kind of guy. However, Long is not a deep threat like the tight end Bucs general manager Jason Licht drafted in the second round seven years ago: Austin Seferian-Jackwagon.
Studying Long, Joe feels he’s sort of a safe pick, a more dangerous version of Luke Stocker. Laugh at Stocker all you want, but he just finished his 10th NFL season.
Yeah, Joe and every other Bucs fan wants sexy picks, but there’s no shame in finding a valuable and inexpensive tight end as the second round closes. And much like at quarterback, the Bucs’ tight end group represents a fantastic incubator in which to groom a rookie.
DRAFT PARTY!
Thursday night, April 29, at Big Storm Brewery in Clearwater. Great fun with Bucs fans.
Here’s your official video invite. Be there!
April 12th, 2021 at 10:32 am
We have 3 starter quality Tight Ends, Gronk, Howard, and Brate.
I would rather see us take that Penn State Pass Rusher instead of a tight end.
I was unaware that we lost Auclair to free agency.
April 12th, 2021 at 10:33 am
im hoping we stack the trenches…trade out of the 1st round and grab a DL and OL in the 2nd round….
but i trust JL…
GO BUCS!!!!
April 12th, 2021 at 10:41 am
This a legit concern, given the injury history of Gronk and Howard. that said, round 2 is too high (sort of) for Long. OL would be good here. The IDL is weak this year. Take none of them before round 3 or 4.
April 12th, 2021 at 10:43 am
Trade down and get an extra 2nd and 3rd round pick Long will be available in the third round most tight ends typically don’t get drafted until the third round. Kyle Pitts will be a first rounder after that who knows.
April 12th, 2021 at 10:46 am
Hate to say it but Howard is a first round bust. Seems like hes always injured or nursing an injury. Even when he plays hes just a notch above average. Time to look elsewhere.
April 12th, 2021 at 10:52 am
Not in round 2. Maybe in round 4.
April 12th, 2021 at 11:33 am
Wasn’t OJ Howard a can’t miss, next Ozzie Newsome, generational talent TE ?
April 12th, 2021 at 11:34 am
I’m with 813bucboi – draft for depth in the trenches. And, if you’re playing what ifs. What if Brady gets hurt? I support drafting for best case scenario (few injuries) rather than worst case (lots of injuries to key players).
April 12th, 2021 at 11:43 am
I’m with 813bucboi too. You just can’t have enough quality big men.
April 12th, 2021 at 11:45 am
I also think we should consider bringing in Alex Smith to backup Brady. It would make for a great QB room along with a newly drafted rookie QB. Plus, it would give Alex and chance for a ring.
April 12th, 2021 at 11:46 am
TE is the least desired position we need. Not sure why we are even entertaining this topic.
April 12th, 2021 at 11:59 am
This is really a concern?
Brady going down is my biggest concern.
We have how many quality TEs?
How many quality QBs?
April 12th, 2021 at 12:10 pm
Agree, draft guys that can get on the field for a few snaps. That will help the Bucs win this year and help the team continue to win in the future. EDGE, TE, CB, RB.
April 12th, 2021 at 12:17 pm
If you’re actually going to take a TE in the second round, take Pat Freiermuth from Penn St.
April 12th, 2021 at 12:28 pm
We need mini Gronk
April 12th, 2021 at 12:56 pm
cant draft TE or WR.. doesnt make sense. Have to go edge or LB with 32
April 12th, 2021 at 1:01 pm
“Mr. Reliable” In Round 2……………Read the title. Not talking about 32
April 12th, 2021 at 1:21 pm
i think I read that the Bucs are only $700K under the cap, as to be expected with all the re-signings they did the past couple months. That’s the 2nd least cap space in the league and not how you want to enter the season. Injuries will happen and you need $$ flexibility to address issues that will surely come about. It’d suck but I believe there’s a possibility the team moves on from Cam Brate in the next few weeks. It’s a position with depth and it’d free up $6.5M.
April 12th, 2021 at 2:33 pm
Trade back from #32 unless someone falls to us. I like Taylor the Edge from Houston, Meinerz the G/C from Wisc-Whitewater and we need a CB in the 2nd and 3rd. Pick up Felton pass catching RB/KR from UCLA in the 5th. Use your 6th/7th round picks to turn your 4th rd pick into a 3rd rounder to get Long or another TE for development. Either Gronk or OJ will be gone next year. It’s doubtful more than one or maybe two of your five day 3 picks will make the team.
Worry about QB and DT next year.
April 12th, 2021 at 3:10 pm
This kid had a good pro day and ran a 4.63 40. Gronk ran a 4.68. Not comparing him to Gronk obviously, but it seems that he at least has the talent to become a deep threat. I’m cool with it if we pick em.
April 12th, 2021 at 3:38 pm
Terrible choice in rd2. A fourth string TE? Are you nuts?
April 12th, 2021 at 3:40 pm
Relying on OJ Howard?! Right.
Hunter Long is a pretty solid TE. He’s burnt the Hokies a few times, not that it’s a good barometer!
April 12th, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Yes, sign Alex Smith. Behind our OL he can have all day to find a WR.