NFL Draft Primer: Ranking the Tight End Destinations
With the NFL draft inching closer and closer by the day, 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. Personally, I always try to take the situation a player is drafted into out of the equation when I’m on the clock. I’m of the opinion that talent always wins in the end. In time, a supremely talented player that ends up in a less than desirable situation is much more worthy of using a rookie draft pick on 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 watch for on draft day.
With the quarterback, running back and wide receiver positions already covered, let’s go over the tight ends and how all 32 teams rank as far as the potential situation for the incoming rookies. Each of the teams are put into tiers from four stars (great situation) all the way down to one/zero stars (poor.)
Four Stars
Atlanta Falcons
If you look at the Falcons’ depth chart under tight end, it just says “help wanted” due to the retirement of Tony Gonzalez. Levine Toilolo showed flashes as a rookie, but was used sparingly in his first season. It’s unknown if the Falcons’ front office and coaching staff believes in Toilolo as a starter. There’s no knowing if the Falcons will continue to feature the tight end now that Gonzalez is gone, but if they add one, dynasty owners should definitely take notice.
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New York Giants
Many dynasty owners have been waiting patiently over the last two years for Adrien Robinson to develop into the athletic, pass catching tight end many made him out to be when he was drafted, but there’s been no indication he’s going to take that step. When the Giants hired former Packers tight ends coach Ben McAdoo as their offensive coordinator, it meant good things for the starting tight end in New York, even if he’s a rookie.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers lost Jermichael Finley to injury last season and tried to replace him with Andrew Quarless and Brandon Bostick with little success. Finley won’t be back with the team, so Green Bay has a gaping hole at tight end and perhaps as their third option in the passing game behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, both of whom are scheduled to play out the final year of their contract in 2014. The Packers have a history of featuring tight ends in their offense which makes Green Bay is a premier landing spot for a rookie tight end.
New England Patriots
Rob Gronkowski hasn’t been able to stay healthy over the last couple of seasons. To add insult to injury, last off-season the Patriots lost Aaron Hernandez due to him being a psycho – allegedly. If Bill Belichick finds a tight end he likes who can complement Gronk (or replace him when he’s hurt), New England becomes the premiere landing spot for a rookie tight end.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills have been content with Scott Chandler as their starting tight end for four years. In 2013 he had his best season catching 53 passes for 655 yards and two touchdowns, but there’s potential for more production from the position. Chandler would be a good number two tight end, but shouldn’t be a focal point of the offense. Buffalo is one of the prime destinations for a rookie tight end.
Three Stars
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers just signed Heath Miller to an extension which will keep him in Pittsburgh until 2016, but that shouldn’t keep them from adding another pass catching option at the position if one gets to them in the draft. The Steelers’ offense has always featured the tight end and could support two, especially if one of them was a seam stretcher and red zone threat with the skills to go get the ball at its highest point.
Seattle Seahawks
The Super Bowl Champion Seahawks don’t have many glaring needs and already have a useful tight end in Zach Miller and a young one with potential in Luke Willson. They could be in a position to add another tight end in the draft and if they do, that player could be in a position to make a big impact with a quality quarterback in an excellent offense.
New York Jets
The Jets currently have only Jeff Cumberland and Zach Sudfeld on their depth chart at tight end. When the Jets re-signed Cumberland in March, reports out of New York indicated the franchise sees him as a developing starter but that’s difficult to believe. There’s far worse landing spots for a rookie tight end than with the Jets.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Former Giants tight end Brandon Myers signed with the Buccs in free agency to presumably share time with Tim Wright at the position. If the Buccs add another tight end in the draft, it wouldn’t be unrealistic to expect him to see playing time as a rookie. The offense in Tampa Bay isn’t great, but a rookie tight end could excel if given the opportunity.
Oakland Raiders
There’s a clear path to playing time for a rookie tight end in Oakland if the Raiders chose to go that route. Mychal Rivera has potential but hasn’t proven anything yet. The quarterback situation in Oakland is not good though and the coaching staff could turn over as soon as mid-season this year.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Although Marcedes Lewis is a better blocker than pass catcher, he’s a solid red zone receiver. For years, he’s teased the potential of becoming a quality all-around tight end but it’s just not going to happen. If the Jags add a tight end to complement Lewis, he could take over as the primary pass catching option at the position as early as this year.
Two Stars
Houston Texans
By all accounts, the Texans look to be set at tight end, at least for 2014. They re-signed Garrett Graham to a new contract and Ryan Griffin looked to have promise at the end of last year. If the Texans add a top notch starting quarterback and chose to draft another tight end it wouldn’t be the worst landing spot, but it certainly wouldn’t be the best either.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans could add another pass catcher to compliment Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter and Nate Washington, but will most likely continue to roll out Delainie Walker at tight end. If Tennessee does add a rookie to complement Walker, it may be a year or two before he contributes due to the unsettled quarterback position and Walker’s presence.
St. Louis Rams
After Jared Cook teased fantasy owners with a two touchdown game in week one last season, he completely underwhelmed the rest of the way. Lance Kendricks was also used regularly for the Rams in 2013. Because of the mediocrity on the roster at the position there’s a chance St. Louis adds another tight end and that a draft pick could make an impact in what could be a surprising offense, but it’s surely not a great destination.
Minnesota Vikings
Norv Turner has been good to the tight end position so there are worse destinations for a rookie tight end but Kyle Rudolph isn’t going anywhere. There’s room on the depth chart behind Rudolph so there is potential for Minnesota to feature two tight ends, but it’s unlikely.
Kansas City Chiefs
Many dynasty owners have high hopes for Travis Kelce, but there’s no knowing what Andy Reid and the rest of the Chiefs’ front office and coaching staff think at this point. Kansas City also has Anthony Fasano and Sean McGrath, so adding another tight end would make for a very crowded depth chart.
Miami Dolphins
Charles Clay emerged as a solid pass catching option for the Dolphins in 2013, catching 69 passes for 759 yards and six touchdowns. It’d be very surprising to see Miami add another tight end early in the draft, especially considering they already have Dion Sims and Michael Egnew rostered as developmental prospects.
Chicago Bears
The Bears don’t have much on their depth chart behind Martellus Bennett, but they seem content with him as their primary tight end.
Washington Redskins
The Redskins found their future at the position last year with Jordan Reed. If they pick a tight end to develop under Reed late in the draft it’s not the worst destination for a rookie, but as long as Reed steers clear of another concussion, he wouldn’t see much playing time in Washington.
Detroit Lions
When Detroit re-signed Brandon Pettigrew to a new four-year contract in March, many dynasty owners groaned. I was one of them. His presence along with Joseph Fauria’s make it difficult for the Lions to take a rookie tight end and even more difficult for one to make an impact.
Cleveland Browns
Jordan Cameron has the tight end position locked down in Cleveland for years to come. They could add a developmental player, but he’s not seeing the field much anytime soon unless the Browns start deploying two-tight end sets often.
Dallas Cowboys
Jason Witten is a perennial TE1 for fantasy purposes and pro bowler for the Cowboys and they already have their youth at the position with Gavin Escobar.
Baltimore Ravens
If you read my part of the dynasty debate between myself and Jeff Beran, you know my feelings about Dennis Pitta and his potential TE1. Owen Daniels is there as the backup at the position so there isn’t a clear path to playing time in Baltimore for a rookie.
One Star (or Zero Stars)
Arizona Cardinals
Dynasty owners have been waiting for Rob Housler to develop into a TE1 for a couple years now with no luck. That may have more to do with head coach Bruce Arians’ preference to use tight ends as blockers. The Cardinals may look like a premier landing spot for a tight end, but that just isn’t the case.
Carolina Panthers
Greg Olsen is only 29 years old and has caught at least 69 passes in each of the last two seasons for the Panthers. Ed Dickson was added to the roster for depth, but the Panthers haven’t used a second tight end as a pass catcher. Carolina just is not a good destination for a rookie tight end.
New Orleans Saints
New Orleans would be a nice destination for a premier tight end prospect if the Saints decided to start multiple tight ends like the Patriots did with Gronk and Hernandez, but the Saints use their second tight end as a blocker mostly and Ben Watson currently fills that role.
San Francisco 49ers
Vernon Davis is on the wrong side of 30, but still has plenty of gas left in the tank as a starter. The 49ers added Vance McDonald as a developmental tight end last year so there isn’t much room for another one.
Philadelphia Eagles
With Zach Ertz taking over as the primary pass catching tight end and Brent Celek still in town as a blocker and pass catcher in two-tight end sets, the Eagles don’t need to draft another one.
Cincinnati Bengals
Jermaine Gresham is entering the final year on his contract, but Cincinnati has Tyler Eifert already. They featured both tight ends in their offense nicely in 2013, but there isn’t room for another at this point.
San Diego Chargers
At 33 years old, Antonio Gates’ time as a TE1 (and perhaps starter for the Chargers) has come to an end. Ladarius Green is primed to take over as the primary tight end in the Chargers’ offense. Although San Diego has a very good passing offense, Gates isn’t gone yet so a rookie wouldn’t see the field for a couple years most likely.
Indianapolis Colts
Many forgot because of an injury that cost him the entire season last year how productive Dwayne Allen was as a rookie in 2012. He’ll return to pair up with Coby Fleener as the one-two punch at tight end for the Colts.
Denver Broncos
Julius Thomas emerged as a top-three or four tight end in the league last year. The Broncos have Jacob Tamme, Virgil Green and Joel Dreessen behind him so they’re set at the position.
Follow me on Twitter: @dmeylor22
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