Tight End Preview

When thinking of a predraft strategy, put tight ends in the back of your mind.

Forget about taking San Diego’s Antonio Gates. Forget about taking a tight end before picking quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. Forget about spending a lot of time analyzing the position.

Gone are the days when there were only a handful of quality tight ends. Last year, 12 tight ends recorded at least 600 receiving yards. In 2003, only three reached the 600-yard plateau.

Also, the difference last season between the 12^th-highest scoring tight end (Dallas’ Jason Witten) and the No. 2 tight end (Alge Crumpler) was just 2.8 points per game.

So, even if an owner waits until after all the other owners pick their starting tight end before choosing a starting tight end, it only will make a microscopic difference each week.

That difference will be more than made up for with draft picks of higher-quality quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers – including if an owner grabs Gates, the No. 1 tight end.

For example, if an owner selects Gates in the third round (where he usually is drafted), that owner likely bypasses on the chance at selecting a stud No. 1 wide receiver or a second running back. This starts a domino effect that causes that owner to play catchup in the next few rounds.

In the fourth round, the Gates owner will be forced to draft a second-tier wide receiver as his No. 1 receiver or a third-tier running back as a starter. The owners who bypassed on taking a tight end already likely have a stud receiver and two quality running backs and will grab another receiver or top-notch quarterback or backup running back.

In the fifth round, the Gates owner will be have to choose between taking another second-tier receiver or pick from the dwindling pool of quarterbacks and running backs.

The advantage of owning Gates – who scored 4.1 more points per week than the No. 12 tight end last year – or any other top tight end is not nearly as advantageous as drafting higher-quality players at quarterback, running back and wide receiver in the third round and rounds thereafter. 

BREAKTHROUGH PLAYER

Vernon Davis, San Francisco: The second-year pro is the fastest tight end in the league. If he stays healthy, Davis should thrive in the improving 49ers’ offense. He had 196 yards and two touchdowns in San Francisco’s final four games last season. Project that to an entire season and he could record 784 yards and eight touchdowns, which would possibly make him a top-three tight end. 

OVERRATED

Dallas Clark, Indianapolis: Owners often overvalue Clark because he plays on the Colts’ potent offense, but every year he disappoints. He’s never reached the 500-yard plateau and never has scored more than five touchdowns. 

UNDERRATED

Jason Witten, Dallas: After scoring just one touchdown last season, he’s slipping down drafts. However, Witten is one of the safest tight end picks. Along with Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez, he’s the only tight end to record 60 receptions and 750 receiving yards in the last three years.  

SLEEPER

Heath Miller, Pittsburgh: Just five tight ends have more touchdowns than Miller’s 11 the last two seasons. Look for the third-year pro to have an expanded role under new Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. 

RANKINGS

1. Antonio Gates

2. Tony Gonzalez

3. Jeremy Shockey

4. Todd Heap

5. Vernon Davis

6. Chris Cooley

7. Kellen Winslow

8. Jason Witten

9. Alge Crumpler

10. Benjamin Watson

11. L.J. Smith

12. Heath Miller

13. Randy McMichael

14. Owen Daniels

15. Dallas Clark