13 personnel is getting trendy in part because backup TEs are generally dirt cheap. Way cheaper than decent vet backup WRs.
Backup TEs also tend to not be divas, like some WRs can be. So better for locker room.
I think it’s because running the football is back in vogue. I couldn’t understand how many catching but not blocking TE’s went ahead of the more “complete” types. And “backups” just found paydirt, Kolar …" Chargers in March 2026, featuring $17 million in guaranteed money and a $7 million signing bonus. As a premier blocking tight end, the 27-year-old’s deal includes an average annual salary of 8.1 million.
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True, but Kolar is more of the exception than the rule. Also became a free agent at the perfect time.
You didn’t used to see teams paying up for their 2nd TE. Wright was considered expensive as a TE2 at, what, $3M a season two years ago?
If you look at the teams that used 13 personnel the most, they also paid peanuts for their backups. The Cardinals paid McBride, of course. None of the other 4 TEs on the roster were above league minimum.
The Rams paid Parkinson and Higbee, but nobody else much.
Backup TEs are cheap and don’t mess with the locker room.
Now, it’s going to get more expensive if a bunch of teams copy 13 and the supply of TEs is spread out, of course. But Holmes tends to zig when others zag anyway.
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I’m interested in what Njoku gets.
Like Nate Boerkircher. He was overdrafted in the early TE hysteria, but he’s so valuable because he’s an effect blocker and has the agility for quick separation late in progressions plus a couple yards of YAC. He was never getting drafted in the late 100s.
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Speaking of Boerkircher, this Mina Kimes video is pinned at a Zierlein discussion about Nate and 16 word draft reports used in part by Rams and Lions.
https://youtu.be/zflFvJFcX-U?si=FSqYGGDwB8UJsTp6&t=1440
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Personally, I like him. Solid blocker can give you some catches with YAC too. Just wonder if he is waiting until camps are over to see if $$$ improves. After suffering in Cleveland for years coming to a team like Detroit would be a blessing.
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I doubt we pay the freight, I know he’s going to get paid.
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I also doubt we pay the freight. He has this chance to get a solid contract. I don’t blame him for doing so. But frequently ‘getting paid’ and ‘going to a competitive team’ are opposed to each other.
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He got paid from the Browns, a solid contract. He turns 30 before the season starts so I’m not sure he can roll out top dollar anymore whatever that number is these days.
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Just read this article that advocates for the signing of Taysom Hill.
Hadn’t thought of him prior to this… but that could be interesting for the gadget plays and ahort yardage use.
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If we have Sam and Brock, we should be good.
He might be a bit out of our price range, but he would add spice to our team. I don’t really like the idea of taking Goff off the field, now that David Montgomery and his wildcat chops are in Houston.
I agree on price.
As for Goff… I wouldn’t take him off the field either.
I would have Goff in shotgun, and then motion Hill in behind center to do a sneak for short yardage variety.
They could also do a TE end around with Hill throwing the ball as a trick play.
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Hill’s getting old but he can pick up 3rd and shorts and 4th and shorts.
His yards per carry dropped massively last year though
I think Moore is versatile enough to allow the Lions to play more “Money”, “Spider” and “Crawl” packages up front.
Abney was drafted because he has the ability to play NB and help mix up CB coverages. McCreary was signed to do the same stuff.
Clark is a down hill enforcer who can help in the heavy packages like big nickel.
Add in Rakestraw and the Lions have a lot of pieces to be able to mix it up.
I think we’re fine but I wish we had more coverage talent at LBer.
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Having the talent and employing it correctly remains to be seen. Does Shep have it in him to utilize this talent in a manner that fully extracts its potential.
yet injuries happen, and Sam was already coming back from an injury he got in 2025, I wouldn’t mind having at least one more TE for depth-one that could step in and do fairly well if-needed.
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Some times what a team does in FA and the draft is a pretty good indicator on where the roster/players are at…
We brought in multiple cheap/stop gap safeties and no draft picks. We brought in a cheap/stop gap TE and no draft picks. Does that not indicate or set off signals to anyone stating we need more help in these areas? Because for me, it indicated that the guys who are running the show aren’t too worried. Hell we traded up for a WR5…why would we do that if Laporta wasn’t going to be healthy in 2026?
Let it go…our TE room is pretty damn solid. From a team building standpoint our guys have proven to know what they are doing. Not to mention TE/S are wayyyy down the list or position importance. If you were going to be weak in some areas, this might be #1 & 2 to be weak at. This topic should be over…
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we don’t KNOW that LaPorta won’t be re-injured from his prior injury OR get a new injury OR stay healthy, but if one out of two TE’s go down with an injury, we are very thin @ the position. just be nice to have three TE’s just to ease the injury worries. grabbing a WR is also insurance for that position, in case Ra starts out looking good -then gets hurt later on this season, they have the depth @WR to remedy that hit.