simpleman Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I am working on building my draft board. After ASJ I don't know much about later round TEs. Anyone have some good links or video of him, analysis, or who saw him play and can comment. From what I read he is green, but is an excellent blocker, has decent hands. Has good size, not fast, but good underneath. Any input would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr1 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 being Bruce Matthews' nephew can't hurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeYouToTasker Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) Niklas grades out as the best blocking TE in the draft. He's a big, physical receiver who uses his body well, positioning himself for the ball. He gets out of his stance very well, and has a very good release off the line. His track 40 time has been around 4.8, but that's a deceptive number, as he gets up the seam extremely well. He has the ability to pluck the ball out of the air, and has gotten away from catching the ball with his body; though he's not yet a finished product as a receiver, and needs to do a lot of work of his route tree, as most of the patterns he ran in college were seams and outs. He could contribute immediately as the #2 TE in Buffalo, but will likely require a year or two before he blossoms, as his game is still quite raw; but he has more upside than any other TE in the draft. He projects as an early second round pick. Edited February 9, 2014 by TakeYouToTasker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayD Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 I have seen every game he played in(T.Niklas). He is a very well rounded tight end. He is a very very good run blocker and is a good target over the the middle. He uses his massive frame to box out defenders and has good hands. His speed is deceptive he looks slow but I think that's because he is so big. He would be an instant upgrade over Chandler. I am not just saying this cause I am a ND fan. I think if he went back to school he would have been a sure 1st rd pick next year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Barbarian Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 I am working on building my draft board. After ASJ I don't know much about later round TEs. Anyone have some good links or video of him, analysis, or who saw him play and can comment. From what I read he is green, but is an excellent blocker, has decent hands. Has good size, not fast, but good underneath. Any input would be appreciated. Haven't seen him either but his team mates call him Hercules and he's athletic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwalter Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 check out crockett gillmore too. didn't know much about him but he killed it all week in practice at the senior bowl and really stood out during the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSBill Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) check out crockett gillmore too. didn't know much about him but he killed it all week in practice at the senior bowl and really stood out during the game. never hear of him, me either. here you go . . . Crockett Gillmore | Colorado State, TE : 2014 NFL Draft Scout Player ... Top Center Prospects 2014 NFL Draft | NFL Draft Top Tight Ends | Crockett Gillmore, TE, Colorado State, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com ... Edited February 9, 2014 by CSBill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Some good, some bad, some ??? What I liked the most was how he adjusted his routes once the QB was flushed out of the pocket. What I didn't like were his hands. Seems to bobble the ball frequently and also not secure it. What I ??? is that he seems in most cases (like Chandler) to go down at first contact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 check out crockett gillmore too. didn't know much about him but he killed it all week in practice at the senior bowl and really stood out during the game. I'll second Crockett Gillmore as a complete TE. Real possibility in the 3rd or 4th Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanC883 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) Niklas grades out as the best blocking TE in the draft. He's a big, physical receiver who uses his body well, positioning himself for the ball. He gets out of his stance very well, and has a very good release off the line. His track 40 time has been around 4.8, but that's a deceptive number, as he gets up the seam extremely well. He has the ability to pluck the ball out of the air, and has gotten away from catching the ball with his body; though he's not yet a finished product as a receiver, and needs to do a lot of work of his route tree, as most of the patterns he ran in college were seams and outs. He could contribute immediately as the #2 TE in Buffalo, but will likely require a year or two before he blossoms, as his game is still quite raw; but he has more upside than any other TE in the draft. He projects as an early second round pick. Sounds like Heath Miller. Great blocker, good big target. Sign me up. I have heard good things about the guy from Iowa also. Edited February 9, 2014 by RyanC883 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Sounds like Heath Miller. Great blocker, good big target. Sign me up. I have heard good things about the guy from Iowa also. C.J. Fiedorowicz. Same mold of player as Niklas and Gillmore--I happen to think he's the best receiver of the 3. Any of them would be upgrades over ScoChan IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simpleman Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 Thanks for all the info. I still would prefer ASJ in the 2nd. But I see Niklas as an asset on the field the first year as an extra relief for our QBs. As a good blocker he could be on the field with CJ as not only a blocker, but as a pass threat in the middle. With Goodwin as the speed threat and Stevie/Woods as the Middle threat, Niklas and CJ all on the field could really give the offense some options on third downs. It seems as a true receiving threat he has a lot of upside, but will take a year or too to develop, he still has issues with his hands and catching. But in the mean time he could be a relief option and a great blocker for our RBs. Looking at the youtube video I also saw Sklov 's video. I really want him in the third, or high 2nd if we somehow trade down and get another 2nd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeYouToTasker Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Beerball: Like I said, he's a raw prospect. The hands issue is a product of him transitioning from a pure body catcher to a hands catcher, but he's doing vey well with it in his learning curve. He does struggle with transitioning the ball and putting it away after the catch; but that is by no means a fatal flaw, and is very coachable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanC883 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Lots of depth at positions Bills need. What does everyone here think of grabbing a TE like CJ from Iowa then Colt Lyoreta(sp) from Oregon in the 7th? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEra Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I wouldn't want him in rd 2. Hands seem a bit sketchy. I'd prefer him over CJ or Gilmore, but not at the price of a round earlier draft pick. I'd rather wait until rd3-4 and get cj or Gilmore. Or Colt Lyerla in round 6 or 7. Niklas seems like he'll be an OK starting TE. Not what I'm looking for in the 2nd rd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I wouldn't want him in rd 2. Hands seem a bit sketchy. I'd prefer him over CJ or Gilmore, but not at the price of a round earlier draft pick. I'd rather wait until rd3-4 and get cj or Gilmore. Or Colt Lyerla in round 6 or 7. Niklas seems like he'll be an OK starting TE. Not what I'm looking for in the 2nd rd Agreed...the only TE I'd look for in round 2 would be ASJ, who I don't believe will be there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starrymessenger Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 C.J. Fiedorowicz. Same mold of player as Niklas and Gillmore--I happen to think he's the best receiver of the 3. Any of them would be upgrades over ScoChan IMO I agree. He's already the best blocker IMO. Dominant in that regard in a very tough conference. An excellent red zone threat. Set a team record with 6 receiving TDs. He's not going to take the top off any NFL defense but I think he can find the seams and is as much a nightmare physical mismatch as Niklas. Niklas has a second round grade. Unless CJ runs much better than expected at the combine he is a third or fourth round pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I agree. He's already the best blocker IMO. Dominant in that regard in a very tough conference. An excellent red zone threat. Set a team record with 6 receiving TDs. He's not going to take the top off any NFL defense but I think he can find the seams and is as much a nightmare physical mismatch as Niklas. Niklas has a second round grade. Unless CJ runs much better than expected at the combine he is a third or fourth round pick. Agreed--probably a 3rd round grade on C.J. I also like that picking him wouldn't in any way preclude the team from going after another athletic type of TE down the road, as he can easily fill the void as the blocking or receiving TE. I find that's true of not just C.J., but also ASJ, Niklas, and Gillmore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#34fan Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Sorry, but the pick at TE is Alex Bayer, out of Bowling Green... 6'4" 260lbs of pure attitude... Should be an absolute STEAL in the 6th round to UDFA. -Lotta bargains out there if your coaches and GM's know where to look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starrymessenger Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Sorry, but the pick at TE is Alex Bayer, out of Bowling Green... 6'4" 260lbs of pure attitude... Should be an absolute STEAL in the 6th round to UDFA. -Lotta bargains out there if your coaches and GM's know where to look. True. The class is deep and talented with both newfangled and throwback TE prospects. A number of interesting sleepers as well once you get past the frontrunners who garner all the media attention. Personally I think the draft for WRs and TEs shapes up as a mid and maybe even later round exercise as far as the Bills are concerned (unless something unexpected happens like Watkins dropping to # 9). A chance for Whaley to show as a good picker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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