Chris Ransoms Top 10 Tight Ends for 2012
By Editorial Staff
Missouri Tight End Michael Egnew is seen here discussing a play with 2011 first round quarterback Blaine Gabbert who went 10th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
1. Dwayne Allen Tight End Clemson Dwayne Allen has all the physical tools of an NFL tight end. His intangibles are solid, but don’t really stand out. There is no guarantee that Allen declares since he is an underclassmen. Allen should declare, but he may return to school.
Projected Round 2nd Round
2. Michael Egnew Tight End Missouri Egnew has the physical ability, durability, and size for a tight end. Like Dwayne Allen, the physical tools at tight end are there. Egnew has good soft hands that enable him to catch the football. In 2010 he caught 90 receptions. Egnew lacks the route running of an elite tight end, but Missouri has produced a football factory of NFL prospects at the tight end position.
I get the feeling Egnew will bust, but I’m not going to jump to conclusions yet because Missouri has produced quality tight ends in the past so history may repeat itself.
Projected Round 2nd Round
3. David Paulson Tight End Oregon Paulson has the physical tools and production at tight end. I’m not sure he has the fast learning rate or the intangibles to become a top notch tight end at the next level, but Paulson played an integral part in Oregon’s offense and you would be a fool to doubt what Paulson could do for the Oregon Ducks next season.
Projected Round 3rd Round
4. Coby Fleener Tight End Stanford Fleener has deadly size, but lacks the ability to succeed in any other categories at tight end.
Projected Round 4th Round
5. Rhett Ellison Tight End USC Ellison has the ability of a #3 tight end with the potential of a #2 tight end. He may get his chance to emerge this year, but I am not sold on Rhett Ellison in the long run.
Projected Round 5th Round
6. John Chichester Tight End Louisville Chichester still needs more experience at tight end so he can develop as a tight end.
Projected Round 6th Round
7. Ladarius Green Tight End Louisiana Lafayette Ladarius Green probably won’t get far in the NFL, but he has done enough for Louisiana Lafayette to earn a shot in the NFL.
Projected Round 6th Round
8. Blake Ayles Tight End Miami FL Ayles can be an effective #1 tight end. He reminds me of Zach Miller with character issues so if character and work ethic are addressed I think Ayles could end up being the steal of the draft because the consistency with Blake Ayles at tight end is there.
Projected Round 7th Round
9. Kevin Koger Tight End Michigan Koger has elite durability and size. Koger also has great physical strength and production for a tight end. Koger has the potential to be a sleeper at tight end in this draft. I haven’t seen Koger post NFL numbers in terms of stats yet which is why he may fall to the 7th round.
Projected Round 7th Round
10. Brandon Barden Tight End Vanderbilt Barden has elite durability and size with good mental attributes that will allow him to make key plays as a tight end. I think Barden is another under the radar sleeper in this draft who falls much farther than he should.
Projected Round 7th Round