Let The Battle For Tight End Begin
2 min read
Clearly Our #1 and #2 Tight Ends.
The Battle Begins.
Antony Auclair: We’ve seen what Auclair is capable of, and we haven’t been too terribly disappointed with what we’ve seen. Entering his 3rd year with the Buccaneers, Auclair hasn’t found the end zone, but that’s primarily due to his being used as a blocker in the running game. But if the Buccaneers are looking to improve upon their running game, Auclair is almost certainly a lock to make the team as his blocking will prove to be crucial.
Jordan Leggett: In just 4 games as a starter with the New York Jets, Leggett caught 14 passes for just over 100 yards and a touchdown. Leggett has the big-game experience necessary to make the roster, but his blocking skills are extremely lacking. If he hopes to find a spot on the team, he will definitely need to revamp his blocking style, as the team will surely have more of an emphasis on the running game this year.
Tanner Hudson: Tanner spent last year with the Buccaneers but did not see any playing time. He’s largely unknown, but the fact that he wasn’t replaced when the new coaching staff came in shows that they at least want to see what he’s capable of before making a decision.
Donnie Ernsberger: Much like Tanner, Ernsberger hasn’t seen any playing time with the Buccaneers, but his being retained by the new coaching staff at least until he’s evaluated during training camp should give him at least a little glimmer of hope when it comes to making the roster.
Troy Niklas: Troy is someone that Bruce Arians is very familiar with as he coached him previously in Arizona, so obviously there is a reason he was brought in. He hasn’t shown a lot thus far in his career, but he’s a player the Patriots have had their sights on since 2014, and we know if nothing else, Belichick has a knack for carving raw talent into works of art. Perhaps Arians has seen the same raw talent during his time in Arizona, but if Niklas hopes to make the roster, he’s going to have to show that he’s willing to put in the work necessary to beat out a lot of stiff competition.
