Tyler Conklin And The Bucs
February 24th, 2022
Joe struggles to believe Rob Gronkowski will play for the Bucs this season, O.J. Howard will be desired by Bucco Bruce Arians, and that lost-a-step Cameron Brate will be worth the money at 31 years old.
So Joe embraces change at tight end, and it would be nice to have a young, do-it-all tight end on the rise, one who also might represent great value.
How about Vikings tight end Tyler Conklin?
The former walk-on at the University of Central Michigan was a fifth-round pick for Minnesota in 2018, and he had to grind his way to playing time behind Pro Bowler Kyle Rudolph and others. He got his first major shot last season as a No. 1 tight end and made the most of it. Conklin can block, and he caught 61 balls for 593 yards and three touchdowns.
No, Conklin is not a superstar talent, but he certainly seems like a valuable and affordable piece with low mileage on his body.
So what is he looking for as he excitedly hits free agency? Conklin sang the lyrics of the open market to SiriusXM NFL Radio today.
“I talked to my agent about [free agency]. Obviously, No. 1 is, who’s the quarterback? And No. 2 is do they use their tight ends?” Conklin explained.
See “No. 1.”
Joe will remind fans that guys like Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette will have the same “No. 1.”
Joe expects Conklin would like how the Bucs use tight ends in their diverse but pass-heavy offense. It’s hard to part ways with familiar names, especially Super Bowl names, but Joe is certainly expecting that at tight end.
February 24th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
Wow Joe! I never knew that an offensive player cared about who his QB is. Thank you SO much for this tidbit of information. I am grateful. Redundancy is not good reporting.
Thank you for your patronage! Of course, some free agents will say “winning” culture is top priority, followed by head coach or the stability of the head coach.–Joe
February 24th, 2022 at 6:27 pm
Lets be honest about one thing…
If players think , bucs going with gabbert the cupboard could be bare in several areas very shortly
Running back – fournette and rojo both gone so vaughn is only guy?
Tight end – we would have brate only
Wide receiver – godwin could pounce leaving only evans and backups
Oline – both Jensen and cappa could jump ship for greener pasteurs
Dline – bye bye suh and jpp
Secondary – whitehead and davis could say peace out
Which means arians would be out the door right after
Not to sound to negative but man o man we need another “brady” miracle
February 24th, 2022 at 7:05 pm
“O.J. Howard will be desired by Bucco Bruce Arians…”
Is this a typo, Joe? If true, how? Why?
February 24th, 2022 at 7:36 pm
Nope to Conklin….
Been saying for 2 months now….
MIKE GESEICKI – free agent badass!!!!
February 24th, 2022 at 7:52 pm
We have Gronk at Tight End. Unlike Brady, Gronk needs the money, so he will probably come back.
February 24th, 2022 at 8:21 pm
@Chris:
gronk is super rich and hasn’t spent a penny of his salary since coming into the league…
lives low key and off endorsement and other monies he generates…
well know fact that is often brought up, even on here by the joe’s
February 24th, 2022 at 8:23 pm
gronk can wrastle…gronk can fight the paul brothers in a 2 on 1 grudge match…gronk can play for the orlando magic…gronk can tame the tigers at disneyworld…
#TheWorldIsGronksOyster
February 24th, 2022 at 8:24 pm
Let’s not forget that many players are looking to be paid by the highest bidder! Just like OUR free agents! Now damnit, GO BUCS!!!
February 24th, 2022 at 9:05 pm
Does anybody believe that’s his agent’s top priority….or for that matter Conklin’s?
C’mon Man!!!
February 24th, 2022 at 10:55 pm
@adam from NY
I guess I should have said that Gronk does not have as much money as Brady ?
That’s more of what I meant. IOW Brady is not motivated by money, his wife and him are already totally rich.
So, IMHO, Gronk would possibly be more motivated by money than Brady would be ?
February 24th, 2022 at 11:08 pm
See Gronk block, see Gronk catch, see Gronk score, be like Gronk
February 24th, 2022 at 11:27 pm
FA TE should not be high on the priority list…If fact, I could see the FO going with a completely new TE group – when it’s all said & done.
Would expect the FO to either trade or cut Brate to help create the cap space needed to resign Cappa or Whitehead….And if they cut Pinion & Succup, along with moving Brate off the roster…The FO would have enough room fit both Cappa & Whitehead under the cap without much trouble.
February 24th, 2022 at 11:40 pm
Gronk wants to win, it’s not about money. Because of that, it depends on what happens at quarterback.
Godwin, Gronk, Jensen, playoff Lenny… They need to make the move for the quarterback ASAP and then every one else will fall into place. If days and weeks start going by without a quarterback the players believe in, many are going to walk
February 25th, 2022 at 4:42 am
gronk can make a clothing line called “gronkwear”…
gronk can make a raspberry red cereal called “gronkenberries”
gronk can walk thru walmart whooping azz and taking prisoners – because it’d just be gronk being gronk…
gronk CAN NOT do a show “gronkie and traskie” because it just wouldn’t work…
gronk can not work the door at mons venus…because gisele won’t allow it…lol 🙂
February 25th, 2022 at 4:49 am
gronk should make a bottled line of hot sauce…
it has to have a really great logo to pull you in…with a cartoonish pic of him blowing steam out his ears, tounge kinda hanging out, sweat and hot sauce heat coming from the forehead, like it’s habaneros for life…
gronk’s mystical hot sauce from hell could sell
February 25th, 2022 at 9:12 am
Conklin great choice lower price than most tight ends and 61 catches last year.