Sep 6, 2014; Stanford, CA, USA; USC Trojans tight end Randall Telfer (82) reacts after the Trojans recovered a fumble against the Stanford Cardinal in the fourth quarter at Stanford Stadium. The Trojans defeated the Cardinal 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns had a hole to fill at the tight end position this off-season after former All-Pro Jordan Cameron left the team in free agency.
The team still had block-first tight ends Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray, and added Rob Housler in free agency, but decided they still needed more and drafted USC’s Randall Telfer in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Telfer had 65 catches and 12 touchdowns during his college career with the Trojans, but battled repeated leg injuries during his time at USC.
“He was one of our top-rated tight ends. We were fortunate to be able to get him when we did. We all know the injury is well-documented but we think there is a chance he can help us late in the year.” – Head coach Mike Pettine
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Telfer has the potential to be a red zone target for the Browns except for one small detail — he may not play in 2015.
Telfer suffered a mid-foot fracture during USC’s Holiday Bowl game in December and is still recovering from surgery to fix the problem in February. Head coach Mike Pettine said the injury may keep Telfer out for a large part of the upcoming season, making him a candidate for the physically unable to perform list or the shorter injured reserve list.
The latest injury setback is unfortunate, as there are certainly opportunities on the roster for a player who, according to his NFL.com profile, is:
"“Aggressive and determined run blocker who says he learned his aggressiveness from former Trojan tight end Rhett Ellison. Uses outstanding hand placement to strike and sustain in run game. Able to base block or work in zone scheme. Plays with football intelligence. Shows willingness to do whatever it takes to get his guy blocked. Willing to play and practice through pain. Gets all the meat off the bone in catch-and-run situations, looking to put his shoulder down and finish rather than juke.”"
Telfer also sounds like a player that would be a solid fit for a team that plays in the AFC North division.
“Being a well-rounded tight end and bringing a physicality to the table. I think that’s one thing I can definitely bring to the Browns,” Telfer told the team’s website. “I’m a very physical run blocker, a very physical blocker in general. It’s one of my biggest strong suits and one of my biggest assets.”
To get a better idea of what the Browns may (or may not because of injuries) have in Telfer, we reached out to Alicia de Artola at Reign of Troy for a four-question Q&A on Telfer.
Question: What are the Browns getting in Telfer?
Alicia: Telfer is not a flashy tight end, but he is a reliable and capable blocker. That should be his primary role in the NFL, though he is not without skill in terms of pass catching.
Earlier in his USC career, he was actually a very productive receiving option. Though not as gifted as Xavier Grimble in that department, he caught nine touchdown passes in his first two seasons as a Trojan.
The latter part of his career was certainly weighed down by injury, but the role USC needed him to play also had an effect. In 2014, he became an integral part of the Trojans’ pass protection scheme, so much so that sending him out to catch passes was not often an option.
Question: Does Telfer have anything left after his injuries?
Alicia: I think he has football left in him, the bigger question is whether the injuries will continue to nag him as they did for much of his USC career. Every time Telfer seemed ready to get back to full strength, something new always cropped up.
The compounding impact of those injuries may ultimately end it for Telfer, but he’s been able to fight his way back from injuries before.
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Question: The Browns are looking for a red-zone threat at tight end, can Telfer fill that role?
As previously mentioned, Telfer had fairly decent touchdown totals, especially when he had the chance to start.
Is he capable of becoming a red-zone threat in the NFL? Maybe.
It’s not a role he was molded for at USC, but he’s got good enough hands to emerge as an option near the end zone. Perhaps not as a primary guy, but as a definite contributor.
Question: What is one thing about Telfer that Browns fans are going to love?
Alicia: Telfer is a high-character guy. He goes to work and puts in top effort. As I said, he won’t flash off the screen, but when he’s healthy, reliability and character make him easy to root for.