Cleveland, OH. (PFCritics) -- The Arizona Cardinals signed tight end Leonard Pope to a three-year deal on Monday. Pope, a third-round pick from Georgia, recorded 33 receptions for 491 yards and three touchdowns last year. The Cardinals were in need of a tight end in their promosing offense.
Leonard Pope played as a tight end and a linebacker at Georgia, but is being considered a strong tight end coming out of the draft. He left Georgia one year early in order to enter the draft after a successful season.
Pope's stock had been rising before the draft, and some expected him to go in the first round possibly to the Cincinnati Bengals. He has a huge frame, making the perfect size for a tight end. His speed is not what makes him effective, but he can run fast enough to make a big play still. He knows how to run his routes properly and catches almost every single ball that his thrown his way. Although he doesn't have the speed, Pope is one of those tight ends that has the ability to simply make defenders miss and shed several tacklers at once due to his massive body. He isn't the best run blocker and needs to work on his technique, but many feel that he will improve in that area as he enters the NFL. Pope has not played his position very long, but scouts feel that only gives him more promise for the future. Pope won't produce like Antonio Gates or Vernon Davis, but he'll be a threat in the passing game for whichever offense selects him.