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Factoid

Maxx Williams / Rookie tight ends

Shockey was the last to do much in year one

The Ravens traded up to select Maxx Williams at pick 55 last week. Dennis Pitta's NFL future is uncertain after hip surgery, and the team lost Owen Daniels in free agency. The Ravens also have 2014 third-rounder Crockett Gillmore, but he's also unproven. So there's some thought that Williams will start putting up good receiving numbers right away.

But the learning curve is be steep for rookies coming out of college, with plenty of players needing a year or two under their belt before making much of an impact. At skill positions, that appears to be particularly true at the tight end position.

Way back in 2002, Jeremy Shockey went for 894 yards as a rookie with the Giants. Since that time, only one rookie tight end has put up even 600 yards. Think of the best tight ends to come out of college over the past decade, current stars like Antonio Gates, Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. Neither one reached that yardage total in their rookie seasons.

With that in mind, don't give up on rookie disappointments like Eric Ebron and Jace Amaro. Quiet first seasons don't mean a player can't go on to have a strong career. But you shouldn't expect much from Williams this season.

Rookie performances from tight ends since 2002, sorted by yardage, are presented below. The 2014 rookies are in bold.

ROOKIE TIGHT ENDS, 2002-2014
YearRdPckPlayerCollegeNFLRecYdsTD
2002114Jeremy ShockeyMiamiNYG748942
2008238John CarlsonNotre DameSea.556275
2013U-Tim WrightRutgersT.B.545715
20104113Aaron HernandezFloridaN.E.455636
2010393Tony MoeakiIowaK.C.475563
2010242Rob GronkowskiArizonaN.E.4254610
2008130Dustin KellerPurdueNYJ485353
2012364Dwayne AllenClemsonInd.455213
2013385Jordan ReedFloridaWash.454993
20024114Randy McMichaelGeorgiaMia.394854
2010121Jermaine GreshamOklahomaCin.524714
2013235Zach ErtzStanfordPhil.364694
2005130Heath MillerVirginiaPitt.394596
2013121Tyler EifertNotre DameCin.394452
2007238Zach MillerArizona StateOak.444443
2002255Doug JolleyBrigham YoungOak.324092
20136184Mychal Rivera TennesseeOak.384074
2007131Greg OlsenMiamiChi.393912
2003U-Antonio GatesKent StateS.D.243892
2005371Alex SmithStanfordT.B.413672
2010395Jimmy GrahamMiamiN.O.313565
2011247Lance KendricksWisconsinSt.L.283520
2006498Owen DanielsWisconsinHou.343525
2003369Jason Witten Tennessee Dall.353471
2009120Brandon PettigrewOklahoma StateDet.303462
2014249Jace AmaroTexas TechNYJ383452
2003124Dallas ClarkIowaInd.293401
2004240Ben TroupeFloridaTenn.333291
2003261L.J. Smith Rutgers Phil.273211
2004381Chris CooleyUtah StateWash.373146
2006261Tony SchefflerWestern MichiganDen.182864
2008261Martellus BennettTexas A&MDall.202834
2012234Coby FleenerStanfordInd.262812
20056179Bo ScaifeTexasTenn.372732
20135158Luke Willson RiceSea.202721
200616Vernon DavisMarylandS.F.202653
2002128Jerramy StevensWashingtonSea.262523
2011243Kyle RudolphNotre DameMinn.262493
2014110Eric EbronNorth CarolinaDet.252481
20116174Charles ClayTulsaMia.162333
2006246Joe KlopfensteinColoradoSt.L.202261
2014398Richard RodgersCaliforniaG.B.202252
2014238Austin Seferian-JenkinsWashingtonT.B.212212
2002367Matt SchobelTexas ChristianCin.272122

--Andy Richardson

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