Tight End Options

[carpanfan96]

The drafting of Barnidge gave some hope to a bonafide receiving threat, because thats what Barnidge is. Didn't materialize however.

still has a chance though, you know how fox likes to move receivers along slow. Lets see what he can do this coming season, I think we might let King walk with all the other players needing signing.

[top dawg]

I just don't believe that it really makes a measurable difference who the TE is on a John Fox-Jake Delhomme team from what I've seen lately.

[DaveThePanther2008]

I just don't see us wasting a FA or Draft pick on a TE. We have 3 very good ones. I think they all have great hands and just need to work on their blocking skills some. We will focus on the defensive side of the ball. Especially DT, DE and depth.

Go Panthers

[Delhommey]

This years draft is waaaay too deep at TE to justify getting a high priced FA.

[BlindSite]

Our ends weren't probowl level, but they weren't the reason we lost any games, their perimeter blocking was superb at times this year.

[Zaximus]

What's the point? Our QB throws to 1 WR and sometimes the #2 WR, but beyond that he doesn't look anywhere else. Not worth the money.

[megadeth078]

decent blocker? King's a great blocker. What games have you been watching? I would not let him go.

[thefuzz]

Waiting for it......

Gates for Peppers.......

wow not one of those yet?

[Murph]

King is certainly good enough that if we put the normal tender on him, somebody would ****** him up (5th rounder). Therefore the 2nd round tender has to be put on him since there is nothing in between.

[mantal]

decent blocker? King's a great blocker. What games have you been watching? I would not let him go.

King also has pretty solid hands. The beef about him here is that he gets no yards after the catch. That has improved a little, but you know, so what? He needs to be used in goal line and running situations more than anything, we have two other guys to play passes in the middle of the field, (a little simplistic and not good for other teams to pick up on but that's the gist)...

[dksmith17]

No way we trade for Miller. And I don't see us going after Daniels considering he is in the probowl this year. TE= Overrated(except for the elite ones and these guys are not elite)

[pantherclaw]

Peppers for Witten.

Would still be a waste considering that Jake doesn't use the TE much anyways.

[TerriblePizza]

If King goes somewhere,

Draft Jared Cook. TE, South Carolina.

[Mr. Scot]

This years draft is waaaay too deep at TE to justify getting a high priced FA.

I was only listing pro options here, but that's a possibility I'd accept.

I know a lot of folks are happy with an "adequate" TE, one of those folks unfortunately being John Fox. For those with that mindset, I think it's worth remembering just how valuable Wesley Walls was with this team.

What made Wesley Walls so great wasn't just his hands. Walls had a phenomenal ability to find those "open spots" in the coverage. That's not really a weapon in Jeff King's arsenal. I'd agree with folks that King is a good blocker, but I wouldn't put him as anything more than an average receiver and not especially great at getting open.

Likewise, the presence of Walls was something opposing defenses had to account for. It meant that you had to think twice about blitzing because Walls could burn you on a quick pass. Likewise, before you devoted an extra man to one of the receivers or moved the safety down in the box, you had to worry about how to account for Walls.

With all due respect to King, no DC in the league is going to be concerned enough about him burning them to pay much attention to his spot on the field or think twice about adjusting his scheme because blitzing or moving the safety could come back to haunt them.

I want a TE that gives opposing defenses headaches.

I have no confidence that John Fox sees this as a need, but I think Jeff Davidson might. If so, can he convince Fox? Not getting my hopes up, but it'd be nice.