If you want Mike Tannenbaum to invest late round Draft picks to develop linemen for depth, Caleb Schlauderaff is the man for you. The Jets acquired Schlauderaff from Green Bay at the end of the preseason for a conditional pick. Schlauderaff was Green Bay's sixth round pick in 2011. Let's say the Jets gave up their sixth for him. The best way to think of it is that Schlauderaff would be the Jets' sixth round pick in 2012.
Schlauderaff struggled in preseason for the Packers. He was probably not going to make their team. He only got 14 snaps in the regular season with the Jets, many as an extra tight end in power run packages. Not that anybody could come to much of a conclusion with such a scant sample size but he fared fine in those snaps.
It is difficult to say what the future holds for Schlauderaff. He is not a huge guy for his position at 305 pounds. Scouting reports indicate he was a technically sound run blocker coming out of school but not a guy who could get a huge push. He is more of a zone blocking guy. It sounds like he was more of a fit in Bill Callahan's blocking scheme than in Tony Sparano's. Many players end up defying their college scouting reports once they learn the ropes in the NFL. Since the Jets used a pick on him, they might as well see what they can get. He likely will at least get a chance to replace Robert Turner as the primary backup interior lineman.
I vote stay. How do you vote?