Three tight ends were chosen in the first round. But with each of these guys – O.J. Howard, Evan Engram and David Njoku – I’m more excited about what they might do in 2018 and beyond, rather than this season.
Tight end is a tough, complex position, and it’s rare to see rookies come in and kick butt right away. More commonly, they’re eased in during their first year, then blossom later.
Check the numbers.
In the last 20 years, 20 tight ends have been chosen with first-round picks. Only two went for 500-plus yards (Jeremy Shockey and Dustin Keller). And only two scored more than 3 TDs (Jermaine Gresham caught 4 TDs, and Heath Miller caught 6).
Only three caught 40-plus passes (Shockey, Keller and Gresham).
Tends to take a while. These are all athletic, pass-catching tight ends, but I’m not counting on much from them this year.
FIRST-ROUND TIGHT ENDS | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Pck | Player | No | Yards | Avg | TD |
2006 | 6 | Vernon Davis, S.F. | 20 | 265 | 13.3 | 3 |
2004 | 6 | Kellen Winslow, Clev. | 5 | 50 | 10.0 | 0 |
2014 | 10 | Eric Ebron, Det. | 25 | 248 | 9.9 | 1 |
1997 | 13 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 33 | 368 | 11.2 | 2 |
2002 | 14 | Jeremy Shockey, NYG | 74 | 894 | 12.1 | 2 |
2000 | 14 | Bubba Franks, G.B. | 34 | 363 | 10.7 | 1 |
2017 | 19 | O.J. Howard, T.B. | ? | ? | ? | ? |
2009 | 20 | Brandon Pettigrew, Det. | 30 | 346 | 11.5 | 2 |
2010 | 21 | Jermaine Gresham, Cin. | 52 | 471 | 9.1 | 4 |
2013 | 21 | Tyler Eifert, Cin. | 39 | 445 | 11.4 | 2 |
2002 | 21 | Daniel Graham, N.E. | 15 | 150 | 10.0 | 1 |
1997 | 22 | David LaFleur, Dall. | 18 | 122 | 6.8 | 2 |
2017 | 23 | Evan Engram, NYG | ? | ? | ? | ? |
2003 | 24 | Dallas Clark, Ind. | 29 | 340 | 11.7 | 1 |
2000 | 27 | Anthony Becht, NYJ | 16 | 144 | 9.0 | 2 |
2002 | 28 | Jerramy Stevens, Sea. | 26 | 252 | 9.7 | 3 |
2006 | 28 | Marcedes Lewis, Jac. | 13 | 126 | 9.7 | 1 |
2017 | 29 | David Njoku, Clev. | ? | ? | ? | ? |
2008 | 30 | Dustin Keller, NYJ | 48 | 535 | 11.1 | 3 |
2005 | 30 | Heath Miller, Pitt. | 39 | 459 | 11.8 | 6 |
2007 | 31 | Greg Olsen, Chi. | 39 | 391 | 10.0 | 2 |
2001 | 31 | Todd Heap, Balt. | 16 | 206 | 12.9 | 1 |
2004 | 32 | Benjamin Watson, N.E. | 2 | 16 | 8.0 | 0 |
—Ian Allan