What should the Chiefs expect from Gavin Escobar’s signing

The Kansas City Chiefs have added tight end Gavin Escobar to the mix. We asked Cowboys insider Steven Mullenax of The Landry Hat to tell us more about him.

Gavin Escobar is the newest member of the Kansas City Chiefs, a former tight end of the Dallas Cowboys who will help round out the depth chart and compete for minutes at No. 2 and 3 on the depth chart behind Travis Kelce. With the recent arrest of Demetrius Harris and the uncertainty of prospects like Ross Travis and James O’Shaughnessy, Escobar adds another player who could still develop—the question is just how much.

We recently asked Steven Mullenax of FanSided’s Cowboys blog The Landry Hat to tell us more about Escobar. If the Chiefs can overlook his horrible blocking, they might enjoy the pass catching upside he provides.

Mike Mayock was effusive in his praise for Escobar as a pass-catching option for the Cowboys but from the outside it looked like he never had a chance. Why would the Cowboys invest a top 50 pick on a guy and then never give him a shot to really play? Or is that not the real story?

Escobar has always been an excellent receiver and his frame (6-6, 260) makes him a nice red zone threat. His issues in Dallas have more to do with his inability to block consistently and a severe lack of playing time due to already having Jason Witten on the team. And the fact other Cowboys tight ends like James Hanna and Geoff Swaim are both capable blockers and receivers simply pushed the disappointing second round selection further and further down the depth chart in Dallas.

Do you think Escobar could flourish elsewhere or should expectations remain low for any team signing him?

I believe he could be an excellent receiver for a team. In fact, some thought he’d actually be a better wide out than a tight end. Just don’t expect anything else.

The word is that Escobar cannot or will not block. Is it really that bad?

Yes, I think it is that bad. I believe Dallas knew Escobar needed to develop as a blocker when they surprisingly selected him in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. But after four years of tutelage, three of which was under legendary tight end’s coach Mike Pope, the now 26-year-old developed very little as a blocker. More importantly, it appeared that the Cowboys coaching staff simply didn’t trust him on the field at times.

Anything else you think we should know about potentially adding Escobar, good or bad?

Gavin Escobar will likely go down as one of the bigger draft busts in Dallas Cowboys history. But, he’s still young enough to resurrect his career. He’s a capable receiver and should be able to find a role on a tight end-needy team. But the fact Dallas gave up on a second round selection so early, especially considering Witten is turning 35-years-old this season, is not a good sign for Escobar’s NFL future.