NFL teams put a lot of value in the tight end position. Just ask Falcons coach Mike Smith, who had some interesting praise for the position.
2013 NFL Draft tight end rankings
Jared Wickerham
“It’s like in a chess game, the tight end position is becoming the queen,” Smith said. “You can move it all around the board. It’s not like a rook or bishop. That position is one that you can move all around the board and you can use it to your advantage.”
This year's tight end class has a handful of talented prospects that can do a number of different things on offense. Tyler Eifert of Notre Dame maintains the top spot in the rankings after an excellent showing in Indianapolis. Stanford's Zach Ertz isn't far behind, though, and one of those players should come off the board in the first round.
Beyond that, many of the prospects in this class aren't complete players. Alabama's Michael Williams is an outstanding blocker but has limited athleticism, while a tight end like Joseph Fauria of UCLA excels as a receiver but struggles when asked to block.
Like every position and every draft, teams will have to find the right fit with this year’s tight ends.
1. Tyler Eifert | 6'5 1/2, 250 pounds | Tight end | Notre Dame
2. Zach Ertz | 6'5, 250 pounds | Tight end | Stanford *
3. Gavin Escobar | 6'5 7/8, 254 pounds | Tight end | San Diego State *
4. Jordan Reed | 6'2 1/2, 236 pounds | Tight end | Florida *
5. Travis Kelce | 6'6, 255 pounds | Tight end | Cincinnati
6. Dion Sims | 6'5, 276 pounds | Tight end | Michigan State *
7. Michael Williams | 6'6, 270 pounds | Tight end | Alabama
8. Ryan Otten | 6'6, 245 pounds | Tight end | San Jose State
9. Vance McDonald | 6'4, 260 pounds | Tight end | Rice
10. Nick Kasa | 6'6, 269 pounds | Tight end | Colorado
11. Levine Toilolo | 6'7, 263 pounds | Tight end | Stanford *
12. Joseph Fauria | 6'7, 258 pounds | Tight end | UCLA
13. Ryan Griffin | 6'6, 247 pounds | Tight end | Connecticut
14. Jack Doyle | 6'6, 253 pounds | Tight end | Western Kentucky
15. Chris Gragg | 6'3, 236 pounds | Tight end | Arkansas
16. Mychal Rivera | 6'3 1/2, 242 pounds | Tight end | Tennessee
17. Jake Stoneburner | 6'5, 245 pounds | Tight end | Ohio State
18. Brandon Ford | 6'4, 235 pounds | Tight end | Clemson
19. Philip Lutzenkirchen | 6'5, 250 pounds | Tight end | Auburn
20. Ben Cotton | 6'6, 255 pounds | Tight end | Nebraska
21. Zach Sudfeld | 6'7, 255 pounds | Tight end | Nevada
22. Kyler Reed | 6'3, 230 pounds | Tight end | Nebraska
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