If NFL teams are in search of the next Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham, they’ll be drafting largely on hope in the 2013 NFL Draft. There are certainly prospects with good size – namely UCLA’s Joseph Fauria or the Stanford duo of Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo.
2013 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings
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Fauria has done little this season and Toilolo is still a project. Ertz is an excellent receiving tight end, but is behind as a blocker. The same can be said for Chris Gragg of Arkansas.
Because he can catch and block fairly well, Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert is the top tight end by default. He compares favorably to Jermaine Gresham of the Cincinnati Bengals. Look out for Michigan State’s Dion Sims. He could rise as the season progresses.
There are some good blocking tight ends in this class. Ben Cotton of Nebraska, Philip Lutzenkirchen of Auburn and Michael Williams of Alabama will immediately be contributors at the next level due to their blocking skills.
SENIORS
| 1. Chris Gragg | 6'3, 236 pounds | Tight end | Arkansas |
| 2. Joseph Fauria | 6'7, 258 pounds | Tight end | UCLA |
| 3. Philip Lutzenkirchen | 6'5, 250 pounds | Tight end | Auburn |
| 4. Michael Williams | 6'6, 270 pounds | Tight end | Alabama |
| 5. Brandon Ford | 6'4, 235 pounds | Tight end | Clemson |
| 6. Jake Stoneburner | 6'5, 245 pounds | Tight end | Ohio State |
| 7. Ben Cotton | 6'6, 255 pounds | Tight end | Nebraska |
| 8. Ryan Griffin | 6'6, 247 pounds | Tight end | Connecticut |
| 9. Kyler Reed | 6'3, 230 pounds | Tight end | Nebraska |
| 10. Matt Furstenburg | 6'4, 245 pounds | Tight end | Maryland |
JUNIORS
| 1. Tyler Eifert | 6'6, 251 pounds | Tight end | Notre Dame Prospect notes |
| 2. Zach Ertz | 6'6, 249 pounds | Tight end | Stanford |
| 3. Dion Sims | 6'5, 276 pounds | Tight end | Michigan State |
| 4. Levine Toilolo | 6'7, 263 pounds | Tight end | Stanford |
| 5. Jordan Reed | 6'3, 243 pounds | Tight end | Florida |
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