Who are the the top tight ends on our 2016 NFL Draft Big Board and what do they bring to the table?
When looking at the most underrated positions on a football field, the tight end has to be right up there. Not many players have the type of responsibilities that tight ends have, but that’s what makes them so valuable.
Drafting tight ends isn’t always a popular selection early on, but teams have done it in the past. Just ask the Detroit Lions — they’ve drafted two tight ends in the first round over the past seven years and have next to nothing to show for it. There are some top tight ends who have proven to be superstars despite not being drafted early on such as Rob Gronkowski.
Gronk was picked in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and has since proven to be the top tight end in the league.
Jimmy Graham was picked in the third round, as was Jordan Reed. Both are athletic tight ends who happen to be some of the best at what they do. They’re even further proof that being selected in the first round at that position doesn’t necessarily translate to superstardom.
Still need more proof? Antonio Gates went undrafted in 2003 and is a future Hall of Famer. This year’s draft doesn’t have many big-name tight ends, but guys who can help out a quarterback as the safety valve with soft hands are always welcomed in this league.
It’s a two-way street, though. Those guys need to also be able to block as well as catch the ball and run with it. Here are the top 10 tight ends in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Next: 1. Hunter Henry, Arkansas