Missing: Elite talent
NFL DRAFT INSIDER | USC's Davis looks best, but few tight ends are drafted early
Much like the wide receiver position, there just isn't an elite talent in this year's class that would raise the overall grade of the group. No Vernon Davis or Kellen Winslow Jr. to grab with a No. 6 overall pick as San Francisco did in 2006 and Cleveland in 2004, respectively.
Fact is, teams shy away from drafting tight ends in the first round unless there is exceptional value. The Bears found that with Greg Olsen at No. 31 last year, making him just the seventh tight end in five years to go in the first round. Olsen was projected to be selected 10 or 12 picks higher, so the Bears were lucky he fell.
There are a number of reasons teams tend to shy away from the position in the first couple rounds -- only six tight ends were taken in the second round over that same five-year period. First, there is a high injury attrition rate at the position in the NFL. Tight ends have the duel responsibility of blocking players bigger than them at the line of scrimmage and then getting hit by smaller, but more explosive guys over the middle of the field. It takes a toll. Secondly, the college game has changed a lot in the last few years, with more teams going to three- and four-receiver sets and spread offenses that demand less blocking from tight ends. The position has changed in the college game, making pass-catching and route-running more important than blocking.
It used to be you could find glorified offensive linemen who would develop good hands simply based on how many receiving drills they went through. Now you get more converted wide receivers, who can't hold up on the line of scrimmage. It's a dilemma for a lot of teams.
The most publicized player at the position this year is USC's Fred Davis, who might be attractive to Green Bay late in the first round. Texas A&M's Martellus Bennett is a grass basketball player, literally since he was on the basketball team. Notre Dame's John Carlson is dropping but will be a steal and Purdue's Dustin Keller lacks ideal height but plays faster than his timed speed.
Q: Is it important to you to be the first tight end selected?
A: That's one of my goals. I set my standards high, I'm competitive. I'm going to do whatever it takes to be there.
Q: Do you pay attention to the mock drafts and try to figure out where you're supposed to fall?
A: Not really. I really don't focus on that. I just focus on what I'm supposed to do as a player and hopefully, the best will happen for me. Do things the right way. I just focus on that stuff. I don't even pay attention to that stuff.
Q: How does what Pete Carroll's program at USC help get you ready for the NFL and the draft?
A: Just the way he gets you prepared. He's great at that. He has kind of like an NFL program. The way we practice, the way we compete in practice, the things we do, like interviews. He's getting us prepped for everything, any kind of way we can. He does a good job there.
Q: Does playing at USC make you more NFL ready?
A: Just the way we practice, the way we work -- the speed and repetition, definitely the caliber of players we play against. We have a great defense, great d-end, great linebackers. Going against that every day in competition, brings it out in a game, makes it a lot easier when you play other teams you can see how you excel in that way. You have great competition, you have people playing with you like Keith Rivers and Rays, stuff like that.
Q: You came to USC as a wide receiver did you foresee this day when you moved to tight end?
A: I never thought about any of that, playing tight end, winning the Mackey Award. I thought about playing receiver when first came to them. When I came back in the fall, I came back at 240. I told them I'll try any position you want. They said tight end. I had to get used to coming out of a three point stance.
Q: Do you feel you could quickly become a security blanket for a young quarterback?
A: Yeah. I feel like every quarterback definitely needs a tight end he can rely on. A receiver can be double teamed and you've got other positions going. If you've got a tight end, you can rely on him to make a big catch or make a big play. There's a lot of athletic tight ends now and it helps a lot to have that kind of guy to make those kinds of plays.
Q: There's a trend in the league where tight ends get away from the line and split out to play more in space. Can you play that way?
A: We do that a lot at SC. I played a lot of different positions. I played H-Back, I played receiver, I played tight end. I do a lot of different things as a tight end, receiver, blocking-wise, too. Yeah, definitely getting downfield, stretch the field one on one against a linebacker or safety, that's probably my strong point.
Class of 2008 grade: CBEARS NEEDS
You would think they are set at the position after drafting Greg Olsen last year and working him behind Desmond Clark. But the loss of John Gilmore in free agency creates a void for a tight end who can block in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Moreover, the Bears are likely to use their tight ends more this year since they might be the best playmakers in the passing game. That is a reason to look for some cover at the position. The problem is that there are so many other needs on offense, they will be careful about when they go for a value pick at the position. Odds are it will be later in the draft. The Bears have four seventh-round picks, meaning they'll get a jump on the rookie free-agent market. If there isn't exceptional value earlier, it might be the right spot for a tight end.
* Fred Davis, 6-3, 255, USC: Led his team with 64 catches last year, averaging 14.2 yards; can stretch the seam and run after the catch, but not much of a blocker.
* Martellus Bennett, 6-6, 259, Texas A&M: His size makes him one of the more complete players at the position; struggled with ankle injuries in college, but a lot of upside.
* Dustin Keller, 6-2, 242, Purdue: An Alge Crumpler type due to his run after catch ability, but lacks ideal height and is a liability in the blocking game; can he get off line?
* Brad Cottam, 6-8, 270, Tennessee: Limited production in college due to injuries, but he's an all-airport type who will wow some team because of his remarkable size/speed combination.
* John Carlson, 6-5, 251, Notre Dame: Once the top guy on the board he's been falling fast due to bad team, illness and poor workout; could nonetheless be the best of bunch.