Possible TE Draft Prospect; Jace Sternberger

[soulman]

Chicago Bears Scouting Report: Tight End Jace Sternberger

ByUsayd Koshul 20 hours ago

 

https://247sports.com/nfl/chicago-bears/Article/Chicago-Bears-2019-NFL-Draft-Scouting-Report-Tight-End-Jace-Sternberger-130770192/?utm_source=247Sports Newsletter&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=190402_105012_Chicago Bears&utm_content=Link&liveconnect=C3-52-7D-DF-F0-AF-8E-1A-53-7F-74-41-9D-F1-31-5F190402_105012ChicagoBears

  (Photo: Jeff Blake, USA TODAY Sports)

 

As the Chicago Bears prepare for the 2019 NFL Draft, one position that the team could decide to add to is tight end.

On paper, tight end doesn’t seem like that big of a need for the Bears considering the team has Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen for the foreseeable future.  However, the Bears tight ends didn’t exactly give fans tons of confidence in 2018. While Shaheen spent half the season with an injured ankle, Burton was inconsistent, sometimes flashing potential but then sometimes rarely showing up in games.

Behind Burton and Shaheen, the Bears currently only have Ben Braunecker on the depth chart. While Braunecker is solid in situational roles and special teams,  he's not really a player who can be consistently counted on should Burton or Shaheen go down with an injury.

One name that could interest the Bears on day three is Texas A&M’s, Jace Sternberger. In what is a loaded draft class for tight ends, what makes Sternberger standout?

TE Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M, (6-foot-4, 251 pounds)

From his NFL.com Draft Profile via Lance Zierlein:

"Despite his experience in-line and willingness to block in Jimbo Fisher's offense, he has neither the size nor strength to handle those duties as a pro. Sternberger is athletic with above-average ball skills, catch radius and route breaks that help him undercover on the second and third level. His paychecks will be tied to his pass-catching so he'll need to play stronger through route contact and with better focus when contested. He has eventual starter potential as a move tight end who can function as a big WR3/4 from the slot."

 

Pros:

• With the way the NFL game is evolving, tight ends need to be able to run routes effectively. This is exactly what Sternberger does. He’s an excellent route runner, who even when in traffic will keep running his routes and try to create separation. One of the best things about Sternberger is that whether is he matching up against man or zone coverage, he’s able to run a number of routes without showing any limitations.
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• Built like a wide receiver. This is one of the most overlooked aspects of Sternberger’s game. His physique allows for him to be placed both in the slot or have him line up on the line of scrimmage.
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• One of the major aspects of Matt Nagy’s offense is versatility. In other words, players like running backs wide receivers, and tight ends need to be able to be placed all over the field. This is one thing that Sternberger offers. He can line up on the line of scrimmage or he can be placed in the slot and play a role similar to what Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz play for their respective teams. Having an effective tight end who can play from the slot is a big aspect of Nagy’s offense and Sternberger’s versatility is one that should catch the Bears eye when evaluating him.
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• Sternberger is a player who continues to show potential of being a game-changer on offense. In the NFL, you can never have too many offensive weapons and Ryan Pace’s willingness to be aggressive and bring in playmakers who have a high ceiling is a reason that Sternberger is a fit for the Bears. He may not be the fastest guy on the field, but when he does have the ball in his hands, he’s able to make defenders miss and turn a short pass into a long gain.

Cons:

• Tight Ends that are big and physical need to be able to be effective pass catchers but also be good run blockers. Unfortunately, Sternberger lacks in his run blocking. There are times where he fails to read what’s in front of him properly. Then in space, he is unable to set himself up for success when taking on linebackers. If he’s to become a regular part of a teams offense at the next level, this is perhaps the most critical area of his game where he’ll need to improve.
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• Looking at all the successful hybrid tight ends in the NFL, all are strong and physical players. To take his game to the next level, Sternberger will need to add strength to frame. He’ll need to do this in order to take on bigger, physical defenders at the NFL level if he wants to make the biggest impact possible.
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• One-year wonder at Texas A&M. Sternberger’s college career started in 2015 at Kansas where for two seasons, he had zero impact. After not playing football in 2017, he decided to attend Texas A&M in 2018 where he had 48 receptions for 832 yards and 10 touchdowns. It’s fair to wonder how good he really could’ve been had he attended a strong division one program which put him in a position to succeed from the very beginning.

 

Conclusion:

Overall, Sternberger is an interesting prospect. He’s still improving and if drafted by a team that doesn’t have tons of tight end depth could look to be a starter from day one. For the Bears, the two qualities that make him such an attractive fit are his versatility and route running. For a creative play caller like Nagy, Sternberger has the potential to develop into a future starter down the road.

At this point, it’s more than likely that Sternberger is on the board when the Bears pick in the fourth or fifth round. Tight end is one position on the Bears roster which gets overlooked due to the presence of Shaheen and Burton.

However, the position needs to be re-examined and looked at again in order to turn it into another strength for a team that’s looking to make a Super Bowl run in 2019.

[dll2000]

On Cowboys draft show, Dane Brugler, says Sternberger won't be there for Cowboys at 90.  Meaning he will go sooner.  

Brugler is a 24/7 draft guy and while wrong from time to time like everyone, generally knows what he is talking about and is often right.  

Bears pick 87.  Not sure Sternberger will be there for Bears either if he is right.

 

 

[soulman]

I don't do enough work on projecting picks to say one way or another and some of those mocktards are wrong more often than right but will seldom admit it.  If any one of them can get even a dozen picks in each round correct I'd say they did well.  And it gets tougher with each succeeding round.

This guy could be full of crap too as far as him lasting 'til rounds four or five but think about it.  We'd have a Sternberger and a Braunecker competing at TE.  They'd be like the Katzenjammer TE kids. 

[HuskieBear]

yeah, Jace is closer to a 3rd rounder than he is a 4th or 5th

these articles are written far too often to fit a player into a pick/round because the player is more well know than a player that would more likely be available but is less recognizable