Name: Leonard Pope
Position: Tight End
College: Georgia
Height/Weight: 6-8/264
Age: 28 (born Sept. 10, 1983)
NFL Experience: 6 seasons
Availability: Last year, Pope started 10 games for Kansas City, his role elevated due to a preseason injury to starter Tony Moeaki. With their first-teamer returning, the Chiefs could look to back him up with a younger, more athletic player. The team re-signed 26-year-old tight end Jake O'Donnell last week, potentially opening the door for Pope to leave. On the open market, Pope will mostly be viewed as a No. 2 tight end, a need for some teams, but not a position that most clubs are willing to break the budget in order to fill.
What He Brings: Experience, for one, is an asset, as Pope has started 49 games over the last six seasons. He has never caught more passes than the 24 he had last season, but he does have enough speed to get vertical on occasion. His size gives him some value in the red zone. He had five touchdowns in 2007, but has only scored four since. What Pope does best is block, which is the same top skill of the Cowboys' own Martellus Bennett, who is himself an unrestricted free agent likely to sign elsewhere.
Connections: In both Kansas City and Arizona, Pope was coached by former Cowboys assistant Todd Haley, now with the Steelers. He has no past experience with any current member of the Cowboys staff, however.
Where Would He Fit: For an offense that likes to utilize "12 personnel" as often as the Cowboys, the second tight end is an important position. Ideally, the complement for Jason Witten would be adept as both a blocker and pass-catcher, but the offense has at least gotten by without much receiving help from that spot over the years. It's unlikely the Cowboys will pay big money for one of the few athletic tight ends on the market, especially since John Phillips has shown some promise as a receiver. Phillips isn't as good when blocking at the line of scrimmage, however, and the Cowboys have to be somewhat concerned with replacing that aspect of Bennett's game. Pope could alleviate those worries.
Position: Tight End
College: Georgia
Height/Weight: 6-8/264
Age: 28 (born Sept. 10, 1983)
NFL Experience: 6 seasons
Availability: Last year, Pope started 10 games for Kansas City, his role elevated due to a preseason injury to starter Tony Moeaki. With their first-teamer returning, the Chiefs could look to back him up with a younger, more athletic player. The team re-signed 26-year-old tight end Jake O'Donnell last week, potentially opening the door for Pope to leave. On the open market, Pope will mostly be viewed as a No. 2 tight end, a need for some teams, but not a position that most clubs are willing to break the budget in order to fill.
What He Brings: Experience, for one, is an asset, as Pope has started 49 games over the last six seasons. He has never caught more passes than the 24 he had last season, but he does have enough speed to get vertical on occasion. His size gives him some value in the red zone. He had five touchdowns in 2007, but has only scored four since. What Pope does best is block, which is the same top skill of the Cowboys' own Martellus Bennett, who is himself an unrestricted free agent likely to sign elsewhere.
Connections: In both Kansas City and Arizona, Pope was coached by former Cowboys assistant Todd Haley, now with the Steelers. He has no past experience with any current member of the Cowboys staff, however.
Where Would He Fit: For an offense that likes to utilize "12 personnel" as often as the Cowboys, the second tight end is an important position. Ideally, the complement for Jason Witten would be adept as both a blocker and pass-catcher, but the offense has at least gotten by without much receiving help from that spot over the years. It's unlikely the Cowboys will pay big money for one of the few athletic tight ends on the market, especially since John Phillips has shown some promise as a receiver. Phillips isn't as good when blocking at the line of scrimmage, however, and the Cowboys have to be somewhat concerned with replacing that aspect of Bennett's game. Pope could alleviate those worries.
