I keep thinking Jared Wiley (TE-TCU) would be a really good understudy to Travis Kelce.
Both former QBs, both very good option-route guys who understand spacing and timing, and Wiley has an athletic profile similar to Kelce (long, lean, vertical speed). Wiley isn't the blocker…
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
He's stiffer. Feet are heavier. Seems to have some of the same ideas but not quite as much fluidity.
But at that size, who does? It's just a level of grace that doesn't make sense at 6'5".
But Wiley is close enough to be starting caliber long term, IMO.
And unlike the trend you're seeing with Kincaid, Bowers, McBride, etc - he has the size that requires you respect his physicality on the field. You can't just go nickel when he's out there because he'll block a slot corner into the core of the earth. You might be able to do a 3 safety set and be fine, but really you should probably hang in base with a guy like that.
THATS where the mismatches come from. Not by sending some 6'3" and 235 lb guy who runs an 4.65 against a NCB.
So glad the Raiders took Bowers. He's so overrated that it is ridiculous. [Reply]
Originally Posted by TheGuardian:
You articulated that well, couldn't quite put my finger on it but he's almost like a stiffer version of Trav. Trav has such a smooth way he runs and transitions into movements that it's hard to describe. This guy is SIMILAR but as you said, a bit more heavy footed and stiff in his motions compared to him.
But the similaries are there.
He's MUCH more linear imo. He's going to catch the ball and get upfield. He's not going to shake people the way Kelce does, and his balance after contact isn't the same. But Kelce is a unicorn. What this guy can do is going to be plenty useful enough and should be a big upgrade on Fortson and Bell. [Reply]
Originally Posted by TheGuardian:
You articulated that well, couldn't quite put my finger on it but he's almost like a stiffer version of Trav. Trav has such a smooth way he runs and transitions into movements that it's hard to describe. This guy is SIMILAR but as you said, a bit more heavy footed and stiff in his motions compared to him.
But the similaries are there.
Yeah - it took me a second to figure it out as well.
Like you, I thought he looked similar but...less. And I wasn't sure why. Then I think it was the play where he actually scored a TD on a drag lookin' route he turned upfield and then powered through a guy at the goal line to score.
His mechanics as he made the turn and then got upfield were just more deliberate. It looked good, but not second nature.
What's amazing about Kelce is how big he is. You never realize it because he doesn't move like it at all.
This guy moves like a very graceful big guy. Kelce moves like a WR so you lose track of the fact that he's damn near 6'6" and a massive human being. Watching Wiley, I can tell that he's big and it's because he has to take a little extra time to get that mass moving. [Reply]
Originally Posted by In58men:
Does he have a legit shot at taking the #2 spot, barring injuries.
I think so.
I'd be a little wary of putting a lot of stock in the 40 time, though - guy has giraffe legs. He can probably haul ass in the open field but he's gonna take a little more time to get there.
Gray has really developed a fair bit in that TE2 role so he won't be super easy to knock out. And Smith has a ton of talent, so he's likely to be the first guy to get a shot at TE2 if Gray falters a bit.
It's going to be a TOUGH sledding for Wiley to get into that spot. But it's doable. He just needs to learn to get down behind his pads a little bit and get that center of gravity lower to help him move a little better in smaller spaces. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't take Mayer early in the 2nd last year.
The Chargers and Raiders both have genuinely good players at maybe 4 positions on the field and both took guys that play that position with their first round picks.
The Alt thing just blows my mind. Again - damn good player. Gonna be a starter there for 10 years. But man, you have Slater and a shot at Nabers and you took a guy who's either going to play RT or end up moving your pro bowl caliber LT over to the right side.
#Chiefs GM Brett Veach on TE Jared Wiley: "These combo tight ends are hard to find. . . He's a big kid, former quarterback, athletic, can run. A guy who can certainly hold up in-line and will get better as a blocker."
#Chiefs GM Brett Veach mentioned that TE Jared Wiley is "interchangeable" with TEs Travis Kelce and Noah Gray. Sounds as if finding a player who could spell both at times was the goal.
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
That may be the thing that reminds me most about Kelce with him.
It's not the movement skills - it's that he attacks the ball with his hands. He's a real natural hands catcher.
I wonder if that's not fooling a few others as well. "He looks like Kelce and I can't quite figure out why..."
Watch the clips with that in mind and I think that may be what you're seeing.
He really snatches the ball out of the air. He doesn't wait for it to hit his hands or body his hands and arms are actively moving to the ball. Could be a contested catch monster in the red zone with his size and hands. [Reply]