How early would you select Jimmy Graham? On the one hand, there are more good tight ends than ever before. Chances are there will be a tight end who isn’t even selected in your league who’ll put up 600-plus yards and a half dozen touchdowns.
On the other hand, Graham has been pretty darn special. He’s a difference maker – gives you an edge at that position.
Here’s the list of the most productive tight ends of the last 30 years, using the scoring system of 6 points for touchdowns and 1 for every 10 yards. I’m listing 25 guys. And Graham’s last three years all show up on the list. He had a wrist injury in 2012, otherwise those numbers probably would have been a lot higher?
Late first round for Graham? Second round?
Or is that just too early for a tight end?
TOP TIGHT ENDS IN LAST 30 YEARS | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Tm | Player | No | Yards | Avg | TD | Points |
2011 | N.E. | Rob Gronkowski | 90 | 1327 | 14.7 | 18 | 240.7 |
2013 | N.O. | Jimmy Graham | 86 | 1215 | 14.1 | 16 | 217.5 |
2011 | N.O. | Jimmy Graham | 99 | 1310 | 13.2 | 11 | 197.0 |
2009 | S.F. | Vernon Davis | 78 | 965 | 12.4 | 13 | 174.5 |
2004 | S.D. | Antonio Gates | 81 | 964 | 11.9 | 13 | 174.4 |
2000 | K.C. | Tony Gonzalez | 93 | 1203 | 12.9 | 9 | 174.3 |
2009 | Ind. | Dallas Clark | 100 | 1106 | 11.1 | 10 | 170.6 |
2005 | S.D. | Antonio Gates | 89 | 1101 | 12.4 | 10 | 170.1 |
2004 | K.C. | Tony Gonzalez | 102 | 1258 | 12.3 | 7 | 167.8 |
1996 | Den. | Shannon Sharpe | 80 | 1062 | 13.3 | 10 | 166.2 |
2008 | K.C. | Tony Gonzalez | 96 | 1058 | 11.0 | 10 | 165.8 |
2009 | S.D. | Antonio Gates | 79 | 1157 | 14.6 | 8 | 163.7 |
1986 | Rai. | Todd Christensen | 95 | 1153 | 12.1 | 8 | 163.3 |
2013 | S.F. | Vernon Davis | 52 | 850 | 16.3 | 13 | 163.0 |
1994 | N.E. | Ben Coates | 96 | 1174 | 12.2 | 7 | 159.4 |
2007 | Dall. | Jason Witten | 96 | 1145 | 11.9 | 7 | 156.5 |
2010 | Dall. | Jason Witten | 94 | 1002 | 10.7 | 9 | 156.2 |
1999 | Car. | Wesley Walls | 63 | 822 | 13.0 | 12 | 154.2 |
1993 | Den. | Shannon Sharpe | 81 | 995 | 12.3 | 9 | 153.5 |
2007 | S.D. | Antonio Gates | 75 | 984 | 13.1 | 9 | 152.4 |
2012 | N.O. | Jimmy Graham | 85 | 982 | 11.6 | 9 | 152.2 |
2003 | K.C. | Tony Gonzalez | 71 | 916 | 12.9 | 10 | 151.6 |
1999 | K.C. | Tony Gonzalez | 76 | 849 | 11.2 | 11 | 150.9 |
2013 | Den. | Julius Thomas | 65 | 788 | 12.1 | 12 | 150.8 |
2007 | K.C. | Tony Gonzalez | 99 | 1172 | 11.8 | 5 | 147.2 |
—Ian Allan