Please explain the Jonnu Smith hype

[dustyroads]

New England is very run heavy too though and the QB downgrade is significant.

I'm sure there will be more targets, I'm just skeptical of the quality of the targets

This is how I saw it, surprised so many see it as a definite upgrade. I get Titans weren't using him to the best of his abilities, so there would probably be optimism regardless of where he moved; but I don't see the Patriots with re-signing Cam as that much better of a spot to improve the numbers he put up last season. He was 41 of 65 for 448 and 8 TDs with a Tannehill/offense passing 315 of 481 for 3819 and 33 TDs. Cam/Patriots off. went 242 of 368 for 2657 and 8 TDs. He targeted his ALL his tight ends (Keene, Asiasi, Izzo) 32 times for 18 receptions, 254 yards, 1TD.

Is Jonnu an upgrade over the current Patriots TEs? I think most would agree that's a big yes; but I'm not seeing much to get that excited over. I think he'll actually be lucky if he puts up comparable fantasy numbers by the end of the season.

Jonnu had a 13% target share and 65 targets on the season. He was extremely underutilized in Tennessee over the past 4 years. With the money the pats gave him and BB thinking he is a top TE, he is going to be a focal point of that offense. I’m sure they’ll find creative ways to use him as well.

I'd have to agree when their current best offensive weapon is the undrafted WR Jakobi Meyers. My doubt isn't in BB, but more the offense as a whole, and mostly because it'll be helmed by Cam Newton. I know some people think he will bounce back, but he looked doner than done with my eyes last year. Odds are they will draft a QB, and not only is Cam's contract is team friendly, but built for the Patriots to save money if they get him on the bench at some point (~$6 million based on play time and snap percentages). I just would guess that transition will be happening later in the NFL season, so real benefits to Jonnu coming very late in the fantasy season, if at all this year IMO.

[Sriracha]

Big Fan of this move as an owner of Smith in a few leagues.

Cam is good with TE's historically and Jonnu is a quality move TE with good hands and runs solid routes.

Cam has historically been good with his WR1's as well... hard to rely on his past success when he looked so awful to end the year.

Let's just hope that Cam isn't cooked and was just dealing with some things on the down low last year.

Cam was a little better late in a new offense last year. No camp then getting Covid hurt. No weapons at any receiving position didn't help either.

Cam may be a bridge QB this coming season but don't think he will completely flame out. The Pat's are pretty good overall judging talent and given they just gave Cam a little money they must think he can play and even if he is pushed to a back up it won't kill them financially.

Time will tell but think Smith will be a very good scheme fit for a few years in Patriot country.

Agreed, I don't think he'll bottom out regardless of QB play.

YAC monster, and BB didn't just make him the 3rd highest paid TE in the NFL to block.

[mild]

New England is very run heavy too though and the QB downgrade is significant.

I'm sure there will be more targets, I'm just skeptical of the quality of the targets

Don't worry, it'll all click into place when Beli takes Mac Jones at 15.

Jonnu got this contract in part because of the run heavy identity. He's an excellent blocker, and a true 3-down TE - he'll never come off the field.

Part of what makes him so lethal as a YAC monster is exactly this run-heavy offense - he does a lot of his eating primarily off of play action, and this is most definitely a play-action league. It's a big part of why he scored 9 TD's last year.

As others have said - it's pretty much the best non-TN landing spot possible outside of Buffalo. It's uh... not like the Patriots don't know how to use a talented RAC monster TE.

[Ice]

New England is very run heavy too though and the QB downgrade is significant.

I'm sure there will be more targets, I'm just skeptical of the quality of the targets

Don't worry, it'll all click into place when Beli takes Mac Jones at 15.

Jonnu got this contract in part because of the run heavy identity. He's an excellent blocker, and a true 3-down TE - he'll never come off the field.

Part of what makes him so lethal as a YAC monster is exactly this run-heavy offense - he does a lot of his eating primarily off of play action, and this is most definitely a play-action league. It's a big part of why he scored 9 TD's last year.

As others have said - it's pretty much the best non-TN landing spot possible outside of Buffalo. It's uh... not like the Patriots don't know how to use a talented RAC monster TE.

Think Jones is the NE pick as well but they will need to move up to get him IMO. The Pats have a pretty complicated offense and Jones is a really smart kid. His academic achievements are off the charts good.

[mild]

Think Jones is the NE pick as well but they will need to move up to get him IMO. The Pats have a pretty complicated offense and Jones is a really smart kid. His academic achievements are off the charts good.

Yeah, I'm seeing what you're seeing. I think he could execute the hell out of that offense.

[Sriracha]

Think Jones is the NE pick as well but they will need to move up to get him IMO. The Pats have a pretty complicated offense and Jones is a really smart kid. His academic achievements are off the charts good.

Yeah, I'm seeing what you're seeing. I think he could execute the hell out of that offense.

Match made in heaven... but I don't see him lasting to pick 15

[mild]

Think Jones is the NE pick as well but they will need to move up to get him IMO. The Pats have a pretty complicated offense and Jones is a really smart kid. His academic achievements are off the charts good.

Yeah, I'm seeing what you're seeing. I think he could execute the hell out of that offense.

Match made in heaven... but I don't see him lasting to pick 15

I could definitely see him lasting until at least pick 10. Once you're at that point, there's two main teams I see as potential suitors... SF at 12, and the Vikings at 14. The Cowboys (10), Giants (11), and Chargers (13) are all set - I'm a Giants fan (allegedly) and I see them going skill-position one more time to try and "save" D-Jones. (God how I hate them)

If Mac Jones is on the clock at 12 for SF then I think things could get very very interesting. We know NE / SF have a tight working relationship between their FO's... might be smoke, might be fire. Of course, if SF take Mac, then we can start the Jimmy G to NE stove again...

To get back to Jonnu for a second, a little nugget of note - the Patriots just gave Jonnu the 2nd most garunteed money they've ever given a free agent, second only to Stephon Gilmour. They clearly believe in the "Jonnu Smith hype"

[Sriracha]

Jonnu is a special player at TE with the ball in his hands.

He's not quite Kittle, Fant.. but his YAC is for real. I'm expecting him to be a featured weapon in this offense unlike anyway TEN utilized him.

[Cameron Giles]

New England is very run heavy too though and the QB downgrade is significant.

I'm sure there will be more targets, I'm just skeptical of the quality of the targets

Don't worry, it'll all click into place when Beli takes Mac Jones at 15.

Jonnu got this contract in part because of the run heavy identity. He's an excellent blocker, and a true 3-down TE - he'll never come off the field.

Part of what makes him so lethal as a YAC monster is exactly this run-heavy offense - he does a lot of his eating primarily off of play action, and this is most definitely a play-action league. It's a big part of why he scored 9 TD's last year.

As others have said - it's pretty much the best non-TN landing spot possible outside of Buffalo. It's uh... not like the Patriots don't know how to use a talented RAC monster TE.

Don't get me wrong. I think Jonnu is a solid TE, who is underutilized. And he's still young enough where his best days are easily ahead of him. But, New England doesn't strike me as a great landing spot.

Sure, Gronk and Hernandez succeeded there, and Belichick and McDaniels are still there, but the biggest factor in that production who isn't...is Tom Brady. We'll have to see who the QB is next season, but right now I think with Cam Newton and a run heavy scheme, the quality of targets isn't great.

It kind of reminds me of when Charles Clay went to Buffalo.

[mild]

We'll have to see who the QB is next season, but right now I think with Cam Newton and a run heavy scheme, the quality of targets isn't great.

We're all gambling men here (we play fantasy after all) so I'm not exactly preaching to the masses - but there is just no way that Cam and his 5 million dollar contract will be the only QB in the building for 2021. They are most definitely making one more move of note, at least.

Todd Gurley is getting paid more than Cam for the 2021 season. Let THAT sink in.

[Sriracha]

Cam will make more if he's the starter..

[Cameron Giles]

Hunter Henry enters the chat

[krtbuckeye]

Strike my previous comment about NE being a bump for Smith.

[abloom]

2TE sets with Cam either running or throwing 10 yards down field. sounds good to me.

[Ice]

2TE sets with Cam either running or throwing 10 yards down field. sounds good to me.

History repeating itself. Don't let either of them have a gun.