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Love Stover - one of the picks I hoped they would make doubly so because they are ex teammates and probably CJ's pick.I'm a big fan of Stover. A true TE who can be a factor in the run and pass games. My favorite pick of the draft so far for the Texans.
It was on the draft channel. If it was Toro didn’t appear to have any horns.I kid you not because for everyone's info there's a video out in social media of our brand new
TE massaging a bull - it has got to be TORO !
But he's a good one with plenty of familiarity with our QB.It wouldn't be a Texans draft without taking a TE!
Joppru was what, 3, 4 regimes ago?Bennie Joppru? Ya there?
2025 5thWhat did we give up to move up?
Why are you so down on the pick?Bennie Joppru? Ya there?
You could say most of, if not all of this, to some degree about all rookies.SCOUTING REPORT: WEAKNESSES
I like the pick despite this. I think coaching and Stroud is what he will mature with. TEs behind Shultz need to pick it up or...
- Lacks speed to maintain space, and can be run down by faster athletes.
- No elite athletic trait to heavily rely on.
- Catch radius is not great, not easily able to pull in off-target passes
- Needs to adapt to complex defensive schemes to be successful against the more sophisticated and faster-paced play in the NFL
- Plays too tall in routes, and lacks elite sink and flexibility.
- Blocking skills are very underdeveloped
Um sir you do know this is a different regime correct? If he can play, he’ll be on the field for sure.Another one we'll barely use and waste a pick on next year to replace.
I’m good with that!2025 5th
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.Um sir you do know this is a different regime correct? If he can play, he’ll be on the field for sure.
Joppru was what, 3, 4 regimes ago?
Probably would still been upset if they had taken Jason Witten as well
Two TE sets with two WRs out there and a pass catching RB will give CJ lots of options in the passing game and a headache for DCs.Um sir you do know this is a different regime correct? If he can play, he’ll be on the field for sure.
Height: 6-4, Weight: 247 lbs, 40-yard-dash:4.65
4. Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State Buckeyes
SPORQ: 70.6, Former: 4-star, Age: 23.9
Proj. Draft Capital: Round 3 (TE3)
Brett Whitefield Film Score: 75.6 (TE6)
Prospect Profile
Stover was named Ohio’s Mr. Football as a high school senior (playing linebacker and running back), and in basketball, he led Lexington High to the state final four his junior season and also set the school's all-time scoring record that same year. Perhaps somewhat understandably (given his inexperience at the TE position), he accomplished very little throughout his first three seasons at Ohio State (5 total catches), playing behind Round 3 pick TE Jeremy Ruckert. With Ruckert gone, Stover “broke out” in 2022 – 36 catches, 406 yards (4th on the team), and 5 touchdowns. Stover would then improve upon those numbers in his 5th and final season with the team – 41 catches, 576 yards (2nd-most on the team), and 5 touchdowns.
Those numbers might not immediately stand out, but they should within a broader context. Stover ranked 2nd on the team in receiving yards last year, behind Marvin Harrison Jr. (the near-unanimous WR1 in the class) and ahead of Devy WR4 Emeka Egbuka, senior Julian Fleming (Devy ~WR70), Devy WR7 and 5-star sophomore Carnell Tate, and Devy WR17 and 5-star sophomore Brandon Inniss. In other words, that’s some pretty insane target competition. And once accounted for, Stover’s production profile appears significantly more impressive.
It’s also worth pointing out that Stover played through much of the 2023 season with a nagging knee injury. As far as I can tell, this injury first popped up against Penn State (causing him to wear a bulky knee brace throughout the remainder of the season). He went 0-0-0 in the following game (Wisconsin), then sat out the next week against Rutgers, and then continued to play through this injury throughout the remainder of the season. Despite this injury, he opted to play in the team’s Bowl Game against Missouri, but played more sparingly (41% route share) and turned in another 0-0-0 line. You’d think this injury might have impaired his per-route efficiency metrics, but his 2.04 YPRR was still the best single-season mark of any non-Bowers TE in the class (min. 225 routes). And he was historically efficient on a per-target basis. He ended the season with an 11.3 YPT average – the 6th-best mark of any Power 5 TE (min. 50 targets) since 2015, behind seasons from Bowers (2X), Kyle Pitts, T.J. Hockenson, and Irv Smith Jr. And across his career, ranks 2nd-best in the class by career YPT over expectation (+21.9%), in between Bowers (+33.5%) and Bell (+21.5%).
Beyond that, it’s also important to point out that Ohio State has rarely used their TEs in the passing game. (This makes a lot of sense, as Ohio State’s WR room has been legendarily elite since Brian Hartline joined the staff.) Since 2015, Ohio State has seen three of their TEs get drafted on Day 2. And Stover easily blows them all away (or, really, any TE in Ohio State history) in every meaningful statistical category. Since 2015, Ohio State has never seen a TE eclipse 310 receiving yards, nor clear a 1.30 YPRR average. Stover, meanwhile, easily cleared 310 yards twice (406 and then 576), and also averaged 2.04 YPRR in his final season — the best single-season mark from any non-Bowers TE in the class (min. 225 routes). As a final bonus, he ranks 3rd-best in the class by career yards after the catch per reception (6.5), behind only Bowers and Bell.
TL;DR / Conclusion
My model didn’t immediately love Stover, but I feel like I can make a compelling upside argument for him. I would say definitively that he has no worse than the fourth-best analytics profile in the class. In terms of the fantasy range of outcomes, I envision Stover as either “Cade Otton on Will Fuller’s Steroids” or “90% Dalton Kincaid.”
Oh yeah. If you just read the negatives on any player you’d never draft him, CJ included.You could say most of, if not all of this, to some degree about all rookies.
The NFL is a step up for all of them.
Oh yeah. If you just read the negatives on any player you’d never draft him, CJ included.
Wasn’t responding to your post or thoughts.I'm not negating the player, I'm negating the position.
Wasn’t responding to your post or thoughts.
Another one we'll barely use and waste a pick on next year to replace.
So we drafted a TE with a "nagging" knee injury and has to wear a knee brace. Wonder if there is a more detailed report on this?
This feels different 1 b/c of the connection with CJ..2 b/c of the coaching staff and regime drafting him & 3, b/c of his mentality. Guys in the past that we’ve taken at the position are either pass catchers trying to make the transition to becoming effective blockers (Brevin Jordan, Dressen, Griffin, Daniels) or vice versa (Fido) or are making the transition to the position period (James Casey, Warring).
This kid’s background as a defensive player bodes well for him at a position that requires he have to mix it up a little at times. And based on him not having a single drop last year, his hands are damn good it appears.
I believe we have Gronk-lite….or better yet baby George Kittle.
His response to the PFF grading of his blocking in the article CNND posted…yeah, this kid knows what it is.
Based on what exactly?Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
It's a compelling argument and a good post. Unfortunately, we've seen it before - a LOT. I do not buy into drafting tes when we need help elsewhere. We waist limited draft capital and the hit rate on the position is minute.
specify the "elsewhere" of which you speak, please. WR, DL, and RB were addressed in F/A. They drafted DBs and OL. This draft class is weak defense-wise. What spot would you rather have addressed? I'm curious.It's a compelling argument and a good post. Unfortunately, we've seen it before - a LOT. I do not buy into drafting tes when we need help elsewhere. We waist limited draft capital and the hit rate on the position is minute.
We've seen far more draft capital wasted in the league on QBs. Yet we took a chance with Stroud, Panthers took a chance on Bryce... it happens every year.. booms and busts all over the place.It's a compelling argument and a good post. Unfortunately, we've seen it before - a LOT. I do not buy into drafting tes when we need help elsewhere. We waist limited draft capital and the hit rate on the position is minute.
Having two quality TEs adds scheme flexibility. Can’t be in 11 personnel all game. I mean you could… but it increases the chances of Tank being on the field run blocking in a goal to go situation!Two TE sets with two WRs out there and a pass catching RB will give CJ lots of options in the passing game and a headache for DCs.
Based on what exactly?