Bucs Eyeballing Tyler Eifert?
January 4th, 2013
It would be hard for Josh Freeman to overthrow this guy
Bucs beat writer Woody Cummings, of The Tampa Tribune, took to the wee-hours airwaves this morning on 98.7 FM and reminded Bucs fans that their favorite team “is still all about No. 5.”
Cummings, speaking to The Fabulous Sports Babe show, acknowledged the Bucs’ deficiencies on defense but insists tight end is a huge priority and the Bucs might just be tempted by star Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert in the first round of April’s NFL draft.
Eifert, at 6-6, 250 lbs., seems like a can’t-miss talent, is hands down the best tight end in the draft, and a typical Notre Dame character guy. Various draft gurus now peg him as a middle to late first-round pick.
Obviously, his performance in Monday’s national title game and at the NFL combine will be game-changers for his draft stock.
Joe would rather see the Bucs go defense, but Joe could stomach the Bucs scoring a beastly, versatile pass catcher like Eifert, especially if they can’t get Dallas Clark to return, or score a decent tight end in free agency.
January 4th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
This is a very weak draft class overall, so if he’s easily the best player available at 13, why not? Sure we need CBs and a pass rusher, but a top end tight end is more valuable than a good or average CB/DE.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
I would like them to get grimes and jammer so they would use a second round pick on a cb. GET THIS KID. Now given his combine he may or may not be available to fall to us.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:04 pm
A stud TE is really the only thing missing from this offense (yeah a true slot guy would be nice), we have the RB, the WRs, the monster O-line(when healthy), yes, if he’s there take him. This isn’t a very deep draft, so it might just be take the best available type draft.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:09 pm
BPA all day. This guy could end up being one hell of a pro, he sure has made the Irish better over the last few years.
Teo is the cog on defense and Eifert is the cog on offense… I’d take either at 13 and call it a steal. They could both end up having the best careers of any player taken in this draft.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Yeah, best player available is the way to go. No more reaching for just to fill a position of need. That’s what we did with Gaines Adams and passed on Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Darrell Revis, ect… I wouldn’t be upset if he is drafted , but he must be the best player available or I’ll be screaming at my TV and computer during the draft.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
who cares if this is a weak draft class, we saw the Rock Star blow 2 high second round picks in the deeps draft in history!
January 4th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Matellus Bennett
end of story
January 4th, 2013 at 2:23 pm
I think this guy is going to be a monster. Would love to see him in Red and Pewter.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:24 pm
@bvwallstreet this guy has the potential to be better than Bennett. there are corners in f/a that are much better than the ones in draft
January 4th, 2013 at 2:24 pm
I have my fingers crossed in hopes we make this selection.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
This from the same guy who tweeted out “Bucs may be looking at Colin Klein as QB” this is paraprhasing it, BUT, It’s too bad when our major media outlets are the LEAST credible when it comes to the Bucs.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
id take him if hes there, Clark is another year older (if he signs), and look at the Saints, Pats, and Dallas, they have “BEASTS” at the TE position, hes a complete mismatch for opposing DEF, hes faster than the LB and towers the Safety or CB who het caught trying to cover him. id move up to grab him ( no further than 10 tho) and try and steal Ryan Logan in the 2nd or even trade back into the 1st if we can. sign CB Jammer and “steal” Grimes then work on Eifert. imo
BUC IT IM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 4th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
I think if anyone wants to move up for an Olineman or one of the QBs than we should trade back to the 15-20 range and take this TE. Then move back up in the second and take a CB like Logan Ryan from Rutgers.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Tight End is very important nowadays. Just look at all the elite QB’s. All have great TE’s. Look at how much Tony Gonzalez has helped Ryan. This would be a great pick.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Anybody interested in Jermichael Finley or have we had enough of malcontents? Also why is everyone hyped up about Martellus Bennett? Did he do anything this year?
January 4th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
bennet makes some great plays and some terrible plays. i think id rather have stocker.
January 4th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Talking about malcontents, that’s what Mart Bennet was in Dallas. Dont get the hype for him either. As usual, name recognition, brother connection, must mean he a great football player to some.
January 4th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
wouldn’t mind this pick if he stacks up to the hype. as a side effect, he might help mark barron improve his coverage skills and get him ready for the jimmy graham, rob gronkowski, vernon davis, and other beastly tight ends he will see next season and beyond
January 4th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
I’d fill as many holes as possible with quality free agents and at #13 pick the best available player regardless of position. Stop drafting for need only. If its DE, TE, DT, QB or whatever get the best possible player.
The Bucs really need to make a play for Martellus Bennett though and keep Michael. Might even make a trade for a CB from another team. Let the Draft be your bonus this year.
January 4th, 2013 at 3:16 pm
@skp
Just watch him play the game, it’s not hype. He is a beast. He has been the most consistent player on the Irish for a while. He is Mr. Reliable; great hands, vertical and always working to find space or make space physically.
He is the TE we always coveted and could make Freeman a lot more effective.
January 4th, 2013 at 3:20 pm
I would draft him, over signing M.Bennett from the G-Men.
January 4th, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Drafting a TE in round 1 makes sense, considering all the Super Bowl rings Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez have.
January 4th, 2013 at 4:19 pm
TEs like this only come around once in a while. Grab him.
January 4th, 2013 at 4:28 pm
@Theodore
Tony G is the best TE of all time, of course you draft him or Gates if you can regardless of the round.
Your argument makes no sense…. it’s not like those guys can throw it and catch it at the same time. Eifert could play in the NFL tomorrow…. he is that good.
January 4th, 2013 at 4:38 pm
@Princes
I was thinking the samething. What does drafting a TE in the first round have to do with a couple of other TEs who havent won a super bowl?
January 4th, 2013 at 4:40 pm
@princespanky
It makes perfect sense and I used the same reasoning as to why you don’t draft punters or kickers that high – Certain positions have less impact, and TE is one of them.
The Patriots and Saints were top notch offenses before they got their TEs and the Bucs were pretty crappy while they had Winslow.
January 4th, 2013 at 4:46 pm
Negative Ghost Rider,
There are too many GOOD defensive prospects available to pass up on that could impact this team immediately.
You don’t turn a blind eye to your weakest side of the ball.
It’s not like 5 could accurately hit this guy anyways lol.
It doesn’t matter how big he is, he still couldn’t hit em.
January 4th, 2013 at 4:47 pm
Listening to Roy’s late nite ramblings would get any GM fired…..smh
January 4th, 2013 at 4:49 pm
@Theodore
Your point still makes no sense. The addition of the TEs on the Patriots and Saints only improved there offense. That is the whole point of the draft, to improve your team. The TE position has evolved into an important part of the offense in the league today. You are correct when you say you shouldnt draft kickers and punters early but that is because they very rarely see the field. The TE however is usually on the field whenever the offense is. You can’t compare the positions because that still doesn’t make any sense. If the best player on the board is a TE when its your pick and you have a need at TE. There is no reason not to pick him. Why would you pick a lesser player just because it’s a bigger need? That’s how bad teams stay bad.
January 4th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Could be a great pick depending on how free agency unfolds. I don’t know if I can stomach another season of poor secondary play.
January 4th, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Brian Glazer & Greg Schiano would NOT allow The RockStar to draft Tyler Eifert @ #13 pick!!!!!!!!! Must trade down (in front of the GIANTS again) if we want him
January 4th, 2013 at 5:03 pm
If we really wanted him we could trade back into the first with our extra pick and snag him second.
But there’s simply no way its not a defensive pick.
UNLESS we just beast it up and get a DT, DE, CB’s in FA lol
January 4th, 2013 at 5:05 pm
And we all saw what dependency on the TE position did to Free Free.
Please don’t wish that upon our team again lol.
January 4th, 2013 at 5:16 pm
@PR
Come on now you can’t compare that cancer called Winslow to a rookie TE with enormous potential. Lol.
January 4th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
We need a lot of players at some different positions. If this kid is going to be a flat out star at his position then draft him. The Stanford TE is pretty darn good as well.
I would like to see how Grimes recovers from his injury first. Obviously our corners are horrible but Jammer not sure he’s the answer unless it’s the right price. He’s gotta be 34, he’s still solid I guess we will see. We have to cut Wright and get some veteran experience that’s for sure.
January 4th, 2013 at 5:20 pm
I agree
but we all know how predictable Free Free would become with that beast on our team haha 😉 He would become his new favorite target to stare down :/
January 4th, 2013 at 5:28 pm
@PR freeman is inaccurate we can agree on that right? How to do help an inaccurate qb? You give him a bigger target with a wide catching radius. I see if he was a 5’9 slot receiver. I would agree freeman might struggle hitting him in stride but he does not have to be pin point accurate to get the ball in this guys hands
January 4th, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Just afraid of the picks that will follow from him trying to force him the ball
January 4th, 2013 at 5:48 pm
Like most of us on this site, I’ll decide if I want us to draft him by what I see against Alabama (at least I admit it). But seriously, I still believe in drafting the best player available, unless you are completely stacked at that position. We definitely need a tight end, so I’d be all for it.
January 4th, 2013 at 6:10 pm
Don’t get excited. Listened to Dominik on 620 Total Access and he said they’re looking at a whole range of players. The draft board started out with around 2,000 players and have narrowed it down to some 400 players. Pretty sure Tyler Eifert, Zach Ertz and several other TEs are there. A lot of things have to happen before they settle on specific targets.
January 4th, 2013 at 6:22 pm
@ Hawaiian Buc …… I’ve watched this guy like a Hawk. He doesn’t play “above the rim” like Jimmy Graham & Tony Gonzales. At his size, i wish he was more physical. I’d take him aftee trading down because Freeman needs HUGE Targets
January 4th, 2013 at 8:54 pm
Not sold on that move while Travis Kelce will still be there after we address need at D.
January 4th, 2013 at 11:20 pm
We could use a Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski type TE, Freeman played big with a beat up WinSLOW in the mix, just imagine (with how this offense improved this year), how good it can be with a Phenom like the Eifert Tower snagging fast balls out of the air above all those tiny db’s, I always said if Free had a TE like that, we could be explosive, and that thought was pre-VJax and top 10 offense, teams will have to pick their poison, ’cause the Bucs will be bringing thoroughbreds on offense, after that Eifert pick, just concentrate on the defensive backfield, get some depth at OL and LB & WR in Free Agency, and the Bucs could genuinely represent the NFC next year!
January 5th, 2013 at 1:09 am
Ive been saying all along to draft either Eifert, or the other Tight End, Deon Sims from Michigan state. both are studs at the Tight End position who can block and catch and fill a huge void for us. either those 2 guys or Manti Teo.
January 5th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
This guy might be a saint, but the term ‘Notre Dame character guy’? Yeah, about that…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2012/12/04/why-i-wont-be-cheering-for-old-notre-dame/
January 5th, 2013 at 5:31 pm
Thats interesting, I wish she woulda mentioned who though