Having a TE who can run like WR but big enough to to catch almost anything thrown his way should make everyone else job a bit easier and open things up for others.
To play devil's advocate - can/should Pitts really play as quick and deep as one of the best WR prospects? Would we be better off with a true WR since we have Gesicki as a pass catcher at TE?
To overly-simplify the differences between the four- Smith- Fantastic all-around stud receiver w/ smaller frame Chase- Very physical, fight for every inch receiver Waddle- Incredible speed combined with precision routes Pitts- Big, speedy TE that creates nightmare match-ups All four have Pro-Bowl potential in year one, so there's really not a bad choice when it comes to football. I can't speak to each player's character and what they're like off the field, which will likely play a part on which one stands out to GM's. They're four very different receivers though- we've never seen a guy like Pitts at TE; complete freak athlete. Chase is a lot like Landry, but bigger and faster. Waddle is your Ted Ginn Jr with Olympic speed and can actually catch the ball. Smith compares to a Jerry Rice; he just does everything at super high levels. Which is the most ideal for Miami? All four of them...there's not a bad pick of the bunch when it comes to football. Any of the four are must-haves for a developing offense. To nit-pick, I wouldn't take Smith because he's skinny. Skinny people get hurt, right? As you said, Gisecki is our most reliable TE/receiver, so there's less of a need for Pitts. Waddle compares a lot to Will Fuller and we don't need two "over the top" speedsters. Chase isn't as pure of a route route runner as the other three and not as "football fast" (4.4 speed). How I'd personally rate them overall- 1) Chase 2) Smith 3) Pitts 4) Waddle Again though, it's super close here...all four are legitimate studs. I'm drawn to Pitts since he can't be covered 1:1, but you could make the same argument for all four. My pick is Chase just for that extra level of scrappiness and heart that we used to see from Landry, that changes football games with that one big play when everything is going wrong. My least favorite is Waddle since he's more of a one-trick pony...that's not fair or accurate, but his best attribute by far is speed while others feel more well-rounded.
Thanks for the detail. Let me ask - Does Pitts not bring the same scrappiness as Chase? If he does, why choose Chase over Pitts?
I know nothing about TE or WR as I played OL. But I like Chase. I have no strong argument outside of I like his size, production in 2019 and he reminds me of Deandre Hopkins. Which is why I want him at #6. I’m starting to come around to Pitts.
Pitts CAN BLOCK, but his gift is being evasive for such a huge guy. For instance, you'll see him step at the edge rusher on the snap, sort of half block him/half run into him to slow the rusher's progress, then release towards the middle of the field. But there's a linebacker there and he's all over Pitts, so the big guy plants a foot and pivots towards the flats at almost full speed. This entire route so far takes just over a second....bang, bang, bang...and he's wide open two yards down the field. Now let's have Chase run the same route up close to the tackle or TE. He also scrapes the end while releasing, make the cut inside and he's probably hitting the LB as well, shoving the defender away from him as he's turning and looking for the football. This route also takes one second and turns into a completely different play....Pitts is running for the sidelines while Chase is in the middle of the scrum and trying to run over people before finding daylight. So which is better? The guy who cuts like an ice-skater and will race you for the sidelines, or the guy who embraces physical contact and running over people? Both have ridiculous numbers and of course, that's just one made-up play. Both have 4.4 forty times and run well with the football in space- Pitts is more elusive of the two (WR trait) while Chase is more physical (TE trait). You really can't go wrong with either- it's comparing apples to oranges. Everyone will have a favorite and they're not "wrong"...just different tastes. I'd pick Chase but I desperately want Pitts. Then again, Smith is the best of the four and can do absolutely everything, but he's skinny. That's the only possible knock you'll find on him. Smith should clearly be the 1st off the board.
Let’s look at this from a different angle - which of these 4 would help/complement Tua the most? (Hopefully this is how the brain trust is looking at it) While there’s no denying the obvious Alabama connection with Smith and Waddle, I think Pitts’ ability to get open against any level of defender will be the most beneficial for Tua. He also presents the biggest “target area” for Tua, and that will boost the young QBs confidence, IMO.
With an 83” wingspan, I wonder what his catch radius is. I remember seeing Megatron was something like 2 garages
Tough one- sure, the catch radius from Pitts is mega-attractive. But Chase breaks tackles and opens up big gains off of short passes. Waddle is an incredible intermediate/deep threat and Smith can absolutely do everything, run every route, get fast separation and make a QB shine. I still say Chase- the big Landry with real speed. Smith is skinny- best of the 4 but durability concerns. Waddle needs space (which he creates very easily) so he's not an every down target. Pitts is also an ideal fit but then you're using Gisecki less/differently...maybe we just make Gisecki a slot receiver though and call it a day. It's truly four great choices for Tua for very different reasons.
What the hell kind of unit of measurement is that?!?!?! Pitts' size and catch radius are attractive for a QB like Tua, and adding a red zone threat of that caliber ... Chase is the most complete actual WR imo. Smith, man I just can't over that slight build. I just worry that dudes like Gilmore, White and Ramsey will blanket him. Waddle has the best speed but also smaller and I'm not sure we need an offense predicated on deep threats. I'd probably rank them Pitts, Chase, Smith, Waddle. Here's the thing though - if you are happy with any of the 4, you stay at 12. At least 1 WILL be available at that spot, if not more. That we jumped back up is either some sort of big brain genius move by Grier to dominate the QB discussion and keep it away from New England, or (more likely) he REALLY likes 1-2 of those guys and knows we will get them at 6. I will be excited for Pitts or Smith. I will be somewhat disappointed, though intrigued and hopeful with Smith/Waddle.
I would assume you are right and they do like one or two but I don't think its an impossibility all 4 could have been gone before 12 and even by 7. Falcons could go Pitts. Bengals take Chase. Eagles and Lions take Smith and Waddle.
Devonta Smith reminds me a little of Steve Smith but im not sure he’s as powerful as Steve was in his prime.. Steve used to fight off db’s trying to catch the ball.. but you can line up devonta on any part of the field and he can make a play... his strength concerns me and he can easily be an all time great like Steve.. or we could be drafting The Ginn family at #6..
I chop it up into two tiers: Chase/Pitts and Smith/Waddle Reason being most of bamas timing routes are wide open balls. Chase and Pitts routinely win at the point of attack. All 4 could blossom next level, but i feel Chase and Pitts are the two safest with Chase a split hair above because of positional upside. With chase we move from an average recieving corps to top 3. With Gsecki Shaheen and co we already have probs a top 5 TE group. With Pitts, we would probably have top...1. Biggest gain in position group with Chase BUT i need to do research on how ant of them impact the run game bc that could swing me. Right now: 1. chase 2. Pitts 3. smith 4. Waddle
I didn’t think I was going to zero in on anyone with so much talent available but I think for the first year there is one guy at 6 that I would be ecstatic if we got and hold my hands on my head in disbelief or disgust if we didn’t. It’s Pitts or Pissed for me.