Tight Ends Creating a Stir at the NFL Combine

Tight ends are catching attention as well as footballs at the NFL Combine this week.  While many focus on quarterbacks and 40-yard dashes this week it is important to remember that a great tight end can make an NFL offense go.  Just look at the final four teams standing in this past season's NFL championships.  They all had great tight ends on their rosters.  Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, George Kittle and Sam LaPorta.

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers will be the first tight end drafted by the NFL in April.  He is athletic but he is a little bit small at 230 pounds.  But he will surely bulk up with an NFL trainer.  Ja'Tavion Sanders out of Texas is impressive at 6-4 and 242 pounds.  And another interesting player to watch is Syracuse's Oronde Gadsden II.  He is more like a receiver than a tight end at 6-5 and 215 pounds.  This season he caught 6 touchdowns for 969 yards and will probably be more of a slot receiver in the league.

What started us down this tight end conversation?  One of the greatest, Tony Gonzalez was born on this day in 1976.  So let's fire up some tight end questions on Trivia on Craig Shemon and Company on ESPN Southwest Florida.  Good luck!

Football is the kind of sport that isn't very forgiving when it comes to having time to turn things around. If a coach or staffers aren't working out in a very short period of time, fans and owners usually move on quickly. I get it. There is a lot at stake. But, that said, each year, several NFL teams end up looking very different from what they did the year prior. The upcoming 2024 season is shaping up to be one of those seasons. So, let's get into some NFL teams that will look very different in 2024.

Before I get into the list, I want to point out one of the main reasons why so many teams will look different in 2024 than they did in 2023. Lots of head coaches are changing. Believe it or not, the NFL is replacing a quarter of its head coaches in 2024. That's so wacky. But, it should make for some really exciting games coming up. I'm not one to wish away the spring and summer, but fall can't get here fast enough.

One team that I'm not including on this list, and one that might draw controversy, is the New England Patriots. They will be entering their first year without longstanding head coach Bill Belichick. So, why wouldn't they be a team that's going to look vastly different next season? Well, they're bringing on Jerod Mayo, who is totally in the family. He's been with the Patriots for years. Robert Kraft promoted the former Patriots star from within, much like former player Dan Campbell was given the head coaching role with the Detroit Lions. So, yeah, not too different, in my opinion.

Here are five NFL teams that will look vastly different in 2024. Which teams are you going to be watching next season? Hit us up on social media and let us know. Find the 2024 NFL schedule here.

The Seattle Seahawks are headed for a major makeover, especially when it comes to their defense. They've brought on Mike Macdonald, who is the former defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. Seattle's defense is going to improve greatly with him in charge, and they could look like a different team.

It's happening. Jim Harbaugh is back in the NFL. Why? He's very motivated to get a Super Bowl. He's fresh off a national championship win with the Wolverines, to boot. He also has a great quarterback in Justin Herbert. Other than Herbert, though, expect some big changes here.

For the Carolina Panthers, there's really nowhere to go but up. Now, the team has a new head coach (again) in Dave Canales. He's a great fit for them, but he has a lot of work to do. Expect major changes. He bring experience from his time with the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Las Vegas Raiders let go of their coach, Josh McDaniels, before the season was even finished, because yes, things were that bad. Antonio Pierce was a bit of a hero and helped Las Vegas come back at the end of last season. He's now their new head coach, and he'll have to make a lot of changes to get this team to where they need to be.

The Washington Commanders have been hurting lately, so Dan Quinn to the rescue. He helped take the Falcons to Super Bowl 51, so he has experience. He's also working to make some big changes going into the next season, and yes, they will need them if they want to be competitive.

So, what teams will not look any different in 2024? It's a safe bet that the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will try to stay with what's been working for them. The Ravens will look different, with a new defensive coordinator. Also, the Eagles will look different this year, although they're keeping the core of their team, being their head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts.