*The TE position has a problem

[Bzerkap]

I'll just say this. Using the 2017 NFL Combine as a scale, here are the average 40 yard dash times for different positional groups.

WR: 4.4-4.6
TE:  4.5-4.7
DB: 4.4-4.6
OL:  5.1-5.5
RB:  4.4-4.7
LB: 4.6-4.8


To take it a step further, here are the average combine 40 times of all positions from wikipedia




I can understand why WRs, DBs, and RBs are at a max of 100, but TE's are usually as fast or faster than LBs, and not that much slower than WRs, especially the Vertical Threat TE's like Vernon Davis (4.38), Evan Engram (4.42), Tony Gonzalez (4.49) Eric Ebron (4.5), and OJ Howard (4.51). In fact, most of the successful TEs run sub 4.7, and are only getting faster.

Looking at it another way, in the last 5 years, the top speed, in MPH, of the league's fastest WRs and CBs was between 22-22.6 MPH. Vernon Davis hit 21.9 and Travis Kelce hit 21.3, and Kelce is 6'6" 260. For reference, the fastest Mike Vick (arguably the fastest QB ever) hit was 21.7, which was faster than Adrian Peterson ever hit.

I guess what I'm saying, is that if LBs and QBs can hit 90, TEs should be able to as well. I think you guys are SERIOUSLY underestimating how fast some TEs are. Sure, blocking or Red Zone threats shouldn't get to 90. But, in the modern NFL, which I watch way too much of, and know way too much about for my own good, a Vertical Threat TE is literally just a WR who's a bit too tall and a bit to heavy to be as agile as necessary for the next level.

Yea piggybacking off your comment. The modern receiving TE is just a really big, tall, strong WR. Where they usually lack is in the footspeed/footwork department which hinders their route running ability. I don't think the receiving TE runs more than 3 or 4 routes, and none very complicated or precise.

If anything TEs should be limited in agility.

I might be wrong in all this though.