NFL Draft Primer: Ranking Tight End Destinations

Dan Meylor

maxxWith the NFL draft so close, the age old debate amongst dynasty owners of what is more important when scouting incoming rookies – a player’s overall talent or his opportunity – will raise its ugly head once again.

Like most, I’m of the opinion that talent always wins in the end so I always try to take the situation a player is drafted into out of the equation when I’m on the clock.  In time, a supremely talented player who ends up in a less than desirable situation is much more worthy of being chosen in a rookie draft than a less-talented player who’s drafted into an ideal situation.  With that said, completely ignoring those prime situations (especially at this point in the process) would be irresponsible.

With free agency having run its course for the most part and NFL franchises preparing to add the latest class of rookies to their rosters, now is an ideal time to identify the best (and worst) landing spots for dynasty purposes.  If nothing else, it gives us all something to debate while we wait for the draft.

I already covered the best and worst quarterback and wide receiver landing spots and Ryan McDowell did the same with the running back position.  Now let’s see how all 32 teams rank as far as the potential situation for the incoming rookie tight ends.  Each of the teams is placed into tiers from four stars (great situation) all the way down to one star (poor.)

Four Stars

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Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are in desperate need of pass catchers.  After the ageless Steve Smith they have just Kamar Aiken, Marlon Brown and Michael Campanaro at wide out and it’s unlikely they’ll be counting on tight end Dennis Pitta for anything going forward.  After Pitta, the Ravens have the untested foursome of Crockett Gillmore, Phillip Supernaw, Konrad Reuland and Allen Reisner on the roster at the position.  Bears tight end Martellus Bennett caught 90 passes for 916 yards and six touchdowns under new offensive coordinator Marc Trestman a year ago.  Baltimore is the top landing spot for a pass catching tight end.

Atlanta Falcons

With an elite option paired with an effective veteran at wide receiver in Julio Jones and Roddy White as well as a top quarterback in Matt Ryan, the Falcons present the only other four star landing spot for a rookie tight end.  They’ve been missing a playmaker at the position since Tony Gonzalez retired last off-season and Levine Toilolo wasn’t the answer.  It’s unlikely that Tony Moeaki or Jacob Tamme will be either.

Three Stars

Green Bay Packers

If there is a missing piece to the group of skill position players in Green Bay, it’s a dynamic pass catcher at tight end.  Richard Rodgers got better as his rookie season went on in 2013 and has upside as a seam stretcher, but if the Packers choose to add some competition at the position there’s certainly a path to playing time.  Any player catching passes from Aaron Rodgers has fantasy potential.

New Orleans Saints

Now that Jimmy Graham is in the greater northwest, many dynasty owners see Josh Hill as a breakout candidate.  Although head coach Sean Payton has raved about him and it’s unlikely the Saints add another tight end through the draft, any rookie with the opportunity to play with Drew Brees has fantasy upside.

Oakland Raiders

Although Mychal Rivera caught 58 passes last year, he proved that he isn’t dynamic enough to make plays down the field.  He’s replaceable and the Raiders offense is slowly improving.  There certainly are worse destinations for a rookie tight end than Oakland.

Cleveland Browns

Dynasty owners that have been hoping for the emergence of Rob Housler are hoping the Browns ignore tight end in the draft.  Any rookie brought in at the position would have just Housler, Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray to compete with but would have to catch passes from either Josh McCown or Johnny Manziel.  There are better landing spots.

New York Giants

The Giants present an interesting landing spot for a rookie tight end.  With Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz (as well as the potential of a top rookie wide out who could be chosen at number nine overall), New York’s tight end will always have single coverage.  Larry Donnell emerged last year as a useful player at the position but is replaceable.  Although they have Adrien Robinson developing behind Donnell, New York is a nice destination for a rookie tight end.

San Francisco 49ers

Vernon Davis was awful a year ago and is going into the final year of his contract.  Although new coach Jim Tomsula has promised to employ a run first offense, Colin Kaepernick will continue to need a tight end safety net.  Vance McDonald is the only tight end with pass catching upside behind Davis.  A 2015 rookie could turn into a 2016 starter in San Francisco if Davis doesn’t improve this year.

Arizona Cardinals

With the likes of John Carlson, Troy Niklas and Darren Fells on the roster, there may be room for a tight end to emerge in Arizona.  The Cardinals’ coaching staff has raved about Fells but he’s relatively untested.  Any tight end in line to play with Larry Fitzgerald and the rest of the Cards’ offense has a chance to make a fantasy impact.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins signed Jordan Cameron but his two-year contract (which gets extremely expensive next year making it a one-year deal essentially) which suggests his stay may not be long and his injury history suggests he may not be able to stay on the field.  With an improving passing game that features Ryan Tannehill, Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills, there are worse landing spots for a young tight end.

Two Stars

Philadelphia Eagles

With Brent Celek firmly in place as the Eagles’ in-line option and Zach Ertz entrenched as the team’s move tight end and both signed through 2016, it’d be difficult for a tight end drafted by Philadelphia to make an impact.  With that said, any skill position player that ends up in Chip Kelly’s offense has the potential to make some noise.

Denver Broncos

Had the Broncos not signed Owen Daniels, Denver would most certainly be higher on this list simply because a rookie would have at least one year to play with Peyton Manning.  Daniels is 32 but he signed a three year deal so he’s likely going to be the Broncos’ starter beyond this year.  By the time Daniels is out of the way, Manning will be gone.

Dallas Cowboys

Despite Jason Witten turning 33 next month, he’s signed through 2017 so dynasty owners shouldn’t be too excited about a rookie tight end ending up in Big D – especially with Gavin Escobar still around to potentially replace him.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Heath Miller has done a nice job for the last decade for the Steelers and his fantasy owners.  While it’s true that he’s 32 and that Pittsburgh will be looking for his heir apparent soon, he still has two years left on his contract so any rookie would be forced to learn beneath him until at least 2017.

Houston Texans

With Garrett Graham and C.J. Fiedorowicz scheduled to split time catching passes from either Ryan Mallett or Brian Hoyer the upside is limited for a pass catching tight end.

Cincinnati Bengals

Elbow and shoulder injuries kept Tyler Eifert off the field for a majority of the 2014 season.  Now that Jermaine Gresham is out of Cincinnati however, the job is his.  The Bengals have proven over the last two seasons that they can’t support two fantasy relevant tight ends so any rookie ending up in The Queen City would not potentially submarine his own as well as Eifert’s fantasy value.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccs already have a starter with big upside in Austin Seferian-Jenkins.  Their offense is already stacked with pass catching talent so another tight end would have to compete with ASJ for talent which could be an uphill climb.

Indianapolis Colts

The duo of Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen has been effective over the last three seasons but both are entering contract years.  With Andrew Luck in place to catch passes from, any tight end in Indianapolis is viable for fantasy.  While it’s unlike the Colts will add a tight end, it wouldn’t be the worst landing spot for one.

New England Patriots

The best tight end on the planet calls New England home.  Although the Patriots have proven in the past that they can support two fantasy tight ends, they already have Tim Wright and Scott Chandler on the roster to compete for the “move tight end” spot.

Minnesota Vikings

Although Kyle Rudolph has been decent when he’s been on the field in his four year in the league, he’s missed 15 games over the last two seasons.  The Vikings have a rising offense with Teddy Bridgewater at the helm so there are worse destinations for a rookie tight end but Rudolph signed a massive deal through 2019 last July so a rookie would likely have to share time for too long to make a fantasy impact.

Chicago Bears

With their starter Martellus Bennett signed through 2016, the Bears don’t have a lot to offer a rookie at the position.

New York Jets

The Jets spent a high draft pick on Jace Amaro last year.  With the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith likely under center, there are better spots for a rookie tight end.

Tennessee Titans

Delanie Walker has been productive since arriving from San Francisco a couple years ago.  The Titans’ offense is in shambles.  Getting excited about any rookie ending up in Tennessee is difficult.

St. Louis Rams

Although Jared Cook is clearly replaceable to fantasy owners, Jeff Fisher doesn’t seem to think so.  The Rams’ offense isn’t strong and Lance Kendricks resigned over the off-season.  Don’t count on a rookie tight end making an impact in St. Louis in the short or long term.

One Star

Detroit Lions

Deep at the position with last year’s top pick Eric Ebron as well as Brandon Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria on the roster, Detroit would be a truly awful landing spot for a rookie tight end.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers just signed Greg Olsen to an extension that will keep him in Carolina through 2018.  He won’t be supplanted anytime soon.

San Diego Chargers

Dynasty owners have been waiting patiently for Antonio Gates to fade away and Ladarius Green to emerge as the next great athletic tight end.  It’s difficult to be excited about a third tight end ending up there as long as both are still in San Diego.

Kansas City Chiefs

Breakout candidate Travis Kelce is firmly in place as the Chiefs’ starter with the developing Demetrius Harris behind him on the depth chart.  Kansas City would be an awful destination for a rookie tight end.  Even if he got on the field he’d have to depend on Alex Smith to get him the ball.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills gave former Dolphins tight end Charles Clay starter’s money when they shelled out $38 million over five years and $20 million guaranteed.  With him in Buffalo and the Bills without a reliable quarterback, there’s no reason to get excited about them potentially adding another tight end.

Washington Redskins

Tight end is one of the strongest positions on the Redskins’ depth chart.  Jordan Reed has been impressive at times and has mid-TE1 upside while Niles Paul proved last year to be a backup with upside.  There are far better destinations for rookie tight ends.

Seattle Seahawks

With the trade for Graham as well as their propensity to spread the ball around, the Seahawks present one of the worst landing spots for a rookie tight end.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags just invested $46 million ($24 million guaranteed) on Julius Thomas and still have Marcedes Lewis on the roster.  There isn’t room for a rookie at the position.

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dan meylor