New York Jets 2018 Positional Battles: Tight end

Bucky Hodges

Here is another player that has potential to make an impact with the Jets. Bucky Hodges was a sixth round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings last season but hasn’t found his way to the field. He was released by the Vikings in September, picked up by the Panthers for their practice squad and then released in October. He was signed by New York for two years and $1,075,000. Not a big investment.

Hodges posted 133 receptions and 20 touchdowns in three years at Virginia Tech. Look at the tape above, he can go get the football. At 6-6 tall he should be able to, and if you see him play the fade it looks like an NFL fade. But he can’t find his way to the field, at least not yet. Look at some of what Lance Zierlein had to say to get some intel as to why:

"Has played the position just three seasons and still has much to learn. Long strider who can be put into neutral by a physical jam from press. Too nonchalant along his routes. Needs to hit route landmarks more quickly to give quarterback a timely, presentable target…Athletic but takes awhile to access acceleration after catch and may not be the “YAC” people expect. May lack power and toughness to be a reliable in-line option as a blocker."

So the problem is he hasn’t really polished himself to the level teams have expected. To make an NFL roster he is going to have to be able to block and run consistent routes. Nobody is going to carry a tight end that is useless in one aspect of the game. That would give away his role to the opponent every time he entered the huddle.

This is another player that has potential but may very well be a victim of being behind players that are just a bit more polished and ready to hit the field than he is.

Hodges has the potential to prove us wrong, though.