10. Jace Amaro (Texas Tech), Jets – The 6’5″, 265 pound tight end was able to dominate the Big 12, setting countless school and NCAA records for a tight end in his Junior year and being named a unanimous All-American by nearly every sports writer in the nation. The Jets drafted Amaro 49th overall in 2014 with the intention of making him the big security blanket over the middle that the team has lacked for years. With the exception of WR Eric Decker, there are no established starters at any receiving position for the Jets as of now. It should not be hard for someone with Amaro’s potential to see the field early and often – he has all but been anointed the team’s starting TE. And if the Jets use him as a wideout in a manner similar to Saints TE Jimmy Graham, the team should be able to maximize his ability and put up good numbers – providing the QB position gets settled properly.
9. Davante Adams (Fresno State), Packers – Davante Adams has the prototypical size and speed for an NFL wide receiver, which would ordinarily allow him to be successful almost anywhere down the road. However, when he was drafted 53rd overall by the Green Bay Packers his stock immediately rose – after all, he gets to catch passes from Aaron Rodgers. Though he may be relegated to the #3 overall receiver for the Packers since they have Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb expected to start, that does not mean Adams won’t see the ball – former #3 Jarrett Boykin caught 49 passes for 681 yards, mostly from Rodgers’ backup Matt Flynn, so the prospect of being a 3rd wide receiver should not prevent Adams from making an impact for the team as a rookie.
8. Eric Ebron (North Carolina), Lions – Widely seen as the best TE prospect in the 2014 draft, Ebron displayed incredible athletic ability in the combine that made him hard to pass up when the Lions took him 10th overall. Ebron has similar size and skill sets to fellow tight end Brandon Pettigrew, but Pettigrew has struggled to produce like a first round pick and has a career receiving average of only 10.0 yards/reception. The Lions need Ebron to take double-teams over the middle so star WR Calvin Johnson can dominate on the edges. Ebron may not get 1,000 yards in 2014, but his ability to block and make plays in the open field may make his efforts invaluable.
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