TJ Hockenson and Noah Fant owe him big time
People are calling Iowa “Tight End University,” since T. J. Hockenson and Noah Fant were both drafted in the first twenty picks during the first-round of the NFL Draft. But those guys really owe George Kittle big time for their first-round salaries. Nobody was thinking about Iowa TEs two years ago.
Sure, there have been several Iowa tight ends drafted over the years, and Dallas Clark was a very good one for 11 years. But he’s really the only big success in this century. Scott Chandler took years to get on a roster before having four solid years with the Bills. Brandon Myers had two good years (and six weak ones). Tony Moeaki faded fast, C.J. Fiederowicz had one good year, and Tony Jackson never even saw the field.
So there is a reason that John Lynch was able to sneak off with Kittle for just a fifth round pick. Sure, his injury helped. There’s also the fact that Iowa never throws the ball, so Kittle’s tape was mostly just run plays. He was seen as blocking TE, a position not valued much in the league.
Kittle rewrote the whole concept of tight end. Forget blocking tight ends and move tight ends; you need to be both. As wide receivers get taller, move tight ends who can’t block are just slow receivers.
Also: Kittle isn’t slow. So when both of his successors had strong seasons this year, NFL scouts were ready to pounce. Great for Hockenson and Fant, but not much use to Kittle, who’s still playing on a 5th round rookie contract.
He’ll make $720,000 next year. Based on last year’s deals, Fant should make more than $2 million, and Hockenson twice that. And there’s almost no chance they’ll be as successful as Kittle.
They owe him big time.
About the Author: Insidethe49
