2009 NFL Free Agency: Tight Ends

Brent Celek has risen to the top of the Eagles depth chart at TE, but who is behind him?

We have talked about the Eagles’ Tight End position a fair amount so far this off-season.  Brent Celek (Andy Samberg) is our starting TE, and in the ‘08 playoffs he proved that he can be a weapon in the passing game.  Behind him, there isn’t much of anything.  Eagles Nation has already punched L.J. Smith’s bus ticket out of town, and beyond him the only Tight End on the Eagles roster is Matt Schobel.

With the lack of depth at the position, the Eagles would be wise to address the situation through the draft as well as Free Agency.  There aren’t many good receiving TEs available in ‘09, but there are some solid blocking TEs available for the Eagles to consider signing.

Pass Catchers

• Bo Scaife (Franchised) – 28 – Tennessee – Not only helped pave the way for Lil Wayne & T-Pain (Chris Johnson and LenDale White), but was one of Kerry Collins’ top receiving targets as well.  As they couldn’t franchise Haynesworth again, tagging Bo Scaife was a good call by the Titans.
• Owen Daniels (Restricted) – 26 – Houston – 2008 was the three year pro’s best season (70 catches, 862 yards), and Daniels is quietly becoming one of the best receiving tight ends in the NFL.  I’d love to pick Daniels up, but the draft picks it’s going to take to strip him from the Texans kill the deal.
• Jeb Putzier – 30 – Seattle – He’s on Seattle?  He didn’t catch a ball last year?  Regardless, he may be the best pass catching tight end who is a unrestricted free agent.
• L.J. Smith – 28 – Philadelphia – Do I still have to write about this guy?  Check the archives for the SOB take on L.J. Smith (he’s not very good).
• Jerramy Stevens – 29 – Tampa Bay – One of the NFL’s top drunk drivers, Stevens showed signs that he could still catch footballs in ’08.  Everyone knew he could still catch charges.
• Chris Baker - 29 - New Jersey B - One of the better all-around TE’s available in Free Agency.  Doesn’t look bad in Green.

Blockers

• Jim Kleinsasser – 32 – Vikings – A blocking Tight End who can also line up as a Fullback, which fills two needs for the Eagles.  Plus he can catch the ball in the flats.  Potential Eagle?
• Daniel Wilcox – 31 – Baltimore – Clearly a blocking TE, he’s averaged 19 receiving yards per season over the past two years.  That said, he can catch in the endzone (10.5% of career catches are TDs), and his blocking would be a significant upgrade at backup Tight End.
• Leonard Pope (Restricted) – 25 – Arizona – Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2006 draft, but has never turned into the offensive weapon the Cardinals had hoped.  If Pope turns in a performance in ’09 like his nine catch, 77 yard ’08 season he will be an unrestricted free agent next year.
• Jeff King (Restricted) – 26 – Carolina – After catching 46 passes in ’07, King’s offensive output dropped last season to only 21 catches for 195 yards.  King is a decent all-around TE, nothing special.

Signing Kleinsasser makes a lot of sense for the Eagles:  He can block and catch from the TE spot, as well as be using the backfield as a blocker or occasional receiver.  That said he isn’t getting any younger, and constant collisions have taken their toll.

If Kleinsasser isn’t the guy then Daniel Wilcox would serve well as the Eagles next backup Tight End.  His presence would add a physical nature to 2 TE sets that the Eagles haven’t had in quite some time.  Chris Baker “Touchdown Maker” is an interesting option too.  He can catch and is a big guy at 6′3″ 258 pounds.  Regardless of what the Eagles choose to do at the Tight End position during Free Agency, it may not be a bad idea to take a look at some of the Tight Ends in this years draft.