Depth charge

Abundant value, tight ends there for the taking

It's not very often that a tight end is thought of as a serious first-round candidate. I can tell you from firsthand experience that it can be dangerous business taking one early in the draft. While I was at the Jets, we used a top pick on Johnny Mitchell in 1992 and came back three years later and did it again with Kyle Brady. Neither player is with the Jets now and the truth is, some of the best tight ends in the league were far from first-round selections. Nonetheless, two players will be hearing their names early Saturday.

Miami junior Jeremy Shockey has captured the interest of a few teams and he could go as high as the 10th pick to the Bengals. If he gets past Cincinnati, the Giants have great interest in him at the 15th spot and for good reason. He's 6-foot-5, 265 pounds and can do it all. This a game-breaking athlete who can do a lot of damage with the ball in his hands and who has the tenacity to be an outstanding blocker.

Once Shockey is gone, all eyes will turn to Colorado's Daniel Graham. Last season he averaged 14.8 yards per catch and had seven touchdown receptions. Graham is more of a "move type" TE at 245 pounds and still needs to work on his blocking to be considered a complete player. Shannon Sharpe has had a great career playing with a similar style (incidentally, Sharpe was a seventh-rounder).

The second and third rounds are safer places to pick up starting talent to play tight end. Washington's Jerramy Stevens is the full physical package at 6-7, 265 pounds, but his off-the-field record makes him a risk. Scouts and personnel people love his skills, though. One college scouting director told me, "He's the best talent and most intriguing tight end prospect in the draft if you're comfortable with the risk."

The fastest rising prospect at this position is BYU's Doug Jolley. If a West Coast offense is looking for a guy with soft hands who knows the passing game and coverages, here he is waiting for you but don't wait too long. Jolley has moved from a fifth-round pick to a third-rounder in the past month.

After this group, the pack is closely aligned. Three juniors -- Kentucky's Derek Smith, Ohio State's Darnell Sanders and Georgia's Randy McMichael -- will all be drafted on the first day. All three are big and fast enough to play as rookies.

Three seniors getting good reviews will be drafted as early as the third round and probably no later than the fourth. Michigan State's Chris Baker, Alabama's Terry Jones and Notre Dame's John Owens are excellent blockers with good knowledge of route running. With a significant number of NFL teams using two tight end sets, these guys are prospects to keep your eye on.

Don't get me wrong, I have always believed that tight end is one of the most important positions on an NFL team. These players must totally understand the passing game and pass protection, plus run block like a tackle. They typically line up on every special team play, too. With the Bengals, Browns, Cowboys, Giants, Rams and Seahawks and Texans all hoping to land a good tight end, they're lucky this is a good year to find one.

Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNNSI.com.

 

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