Top 5 Players in 2007 NFL Draft by Position - Tight Ends

With Vernon Davis selected with the sixth overall pick last season, the position of tight end has continued to rise to new proportions. However, this season, with the lack of depth coming out of the college ranks, this class of tight ends seems to be very top heavy. With the growing importance of the tight end position and the lengthening list of duties accustomed to these versatile players, more NFL teams are beginning to look at the talents cropping up out of college in earlier rounds. This is evident with the number of tight ends who have been selected in the first round over the past five years (Kellen Winslow Jr., Jeremy Shockey, and the aforementioned Davis are some of the more recent first-round selections). Not only are tight ends expected to go over the middle and make a tough catch or two, but there are a plethora of different duties for these players. They are expected to be able to line up off the line and against corners, or pick up the blitz off the edge, or even be a third, run-blocking tackle. All of these new tasks mean that the expectations that the NFL scouts have for these young men coming out of college have risen tenfold. Teams want tight ends that are big, strong, fast, and have soft hands to make the necessary catches. They often want tight ends that are as brash as receivers with the disposition of some of the nastier offensive linemen. They have to provide a big target and the ability to make the runs after the catch. Some would say that this might be one of the toughest positions to learn as a rookie; you not only have to work with the passing routes like a receiver, but you need to know the running plays like a running back and the blocking schemes like an offensive lineman. So who stands above the rest? Let's take a look.