| Tight End RANKINGS |
NOTE: Do to time
constraints, I'm only listing
players who would be a
good fit in our defense or
that fit our needs.
constraints, I'm only listing
players who would be a
good fit in our defense or
that fit our needs.
Name Height Weight 40 Time College
1. Vernon Davis 6’4 262 4.38 Maryland
Strengths: Amazing athleticism. Great production. Is a nightmare for opposing defenses due to is
size and speed. Knows how the nuances of the position. Not just a workout warrior who knows little
about playing football. Great strength. Great after the catch. Most talented TE ever. Tremendous
upside.
Weaknesses: Not the greatest blocker. Doesn’t have outstanding height.
How He Fits: He should be a Top 10 pick. If he is available at 18, I would take him because Davis,
Witten, Glenn, and Owens on the same field would be and unstoppable force. Besides, we have most
of our needs in free agency, so we can take the best player available.
2. Leonard Pope 6’8 258 4.62 Georgia
Strengths: Amazing height. Great athleticism for a man his size. Can get vertical. Has great hands.
Has excellent body control. Good production in college. Has loads of potential.
Weaknesses: Needs to bulk up and get stronger. Not a good blocker. Raw and needs some
technique work.
How He Fits: Average option in late 1st after trade back. Could definitely do worse than picking him.
3. Mercedes Lewis 6'6 260 4.84 UCLA
Strengths: Great natural receiver. Decent blocker. Excellent size. Good frame that could add more
weight. Long arms. Great leaping ability. Could get down field in college. A lot of upside.
Weaknesses: Frail. Needs to get stronger. Doesn't have good timed speed. Not the greatest blocker
in the world. Raw and needs work on techinique.
How He Fits: Mercedes would be a decent option in the 2nd round. I don't really think we need
another TE, but I wouldn't be angry if we took him
4. Joe Klopfenstein 6'6 255 4.62 Colorado
Strengths: Height and speed cause matchup problems. Solid hands. Knows how to get open. Can
stretch the seam. A great redzone target.
Weaknesses: Needs to add bulk and get stronger. Struggles as a good run blocker. Not as athletic
as his 40 would indicate. Doesn't always run crisp routes.
How He Fits: Would be a great pass receiving complement to Witten, we just don't have a spare 2nd
round pick to spend on him.
5. Anthony Fasano 6'4 259 4.71 Notre Dame
Strengths: Has excellent hands. Can make the tough catch. Good size and build. Hardworking and a
gamer. Gives great effort in the run game. Very productive.
Weaknesses: Doesn't have great speed. Isn't a dominating blocker. Isn't a tremendously gifted
athlete. Lacks the upside of many of the other TEs
How He Fits: We don't really need a TE, but if we wanted one, he would be a good guy to have on
your team.
6. Dominic Byrd 6'3 255 4.85 USC
Strengths: Excellent natural receiver. Great hands. Comes through in the clutch. Good after the
catch. Plays much faster than he is timed.
Weaknesses: Poor timed speed. Body is a little soft. Needs to improve as a blocker. Injuries and
character are concerns. Limited upside.
How He Fits: I'm not real high on Dominic. I think he is a great college player who will only be average
at the next level. Not what we need at TE if we pick one on the 1st day.
7. Tony Scheffler 6'5 264 4.54 W. Michigan
Strengths: Amazing speed and athletic ability. Good receiver who will make the difficult catch. Was
very productive at his level. Has an amazing size/speed ratio.
Weaknesses: Isn't as good of a blocker as he should be with his size. Needs to runs crisper routes.
Didn't play against top competition. Didn't score many touchdowns.
How He Fits: A good option in the 4th round if Bill wants to develop another receiving tight end.
8. Tim Day 6'3 256 4.78 Oregon
Strengths: Excellent receiver. A good natural athlete. Great hands. Excellent route runner who
knows how to get open. Good after the catch.
Weaknesses: Lacks great height. Not much of a blocker. Only average timed speed. Probably can't
stretch the field much in the pros. Production dropped heavily his senior year.
How He Fits: Decent 4th or 5th round option. A FB/TE type of guy who reminds me a lot of Chris
Cooley.
9. T.J. Williams 6'2 259 NC State
Strengths: Good quickness and athletic ability. Has a knack for getting open. Good hands. Tough
player with a lot of experience.
Weaknesses: Is on the short side. Doesn't have outstanding speed. Not a great blocker. May have a
limited upside.
How He Fits: A decent mid-late round FB/TE prospect.
10. David Thomas 6'3 252 4.67 Texas
Strengths: Excellent receiver. Tremendous hands. Always seems to come down with the ball. Vince
Young's go to guy. Smart and knows how to get open. Excellent route runner. Hard worker with
experience. Great intangibles. Decent athlete.
Weaknesses: Undersized. Lacks superb speed. Not much of a blocker.
How He Fits: A good receiving tight end prospect in the later rounds. Lacks great upside, but
intangibles are through the roof.
11. Owen Daniels 6'3 253 4.65 Wisconsin
Strengths: Good speed and athletic ability. An excellent receiver with a knack for getting open. Runs
good routes. Productive.
Weaknesses: Lacks great size. Needs to get stronger and improve as a blocker. A limited upside due
to size.
How He Fits: Similar prospect to David Thomas. Good undersized receiving TE that could become
Chris Cooley type of guy.
12. Cooper Wallace 6'4 255 4.75 Auburn
Strengths: An excellent blocker. Team leader on and off the field. A decent athlete. Good hands and
a good short to intermediate range target.
Weaknesses: Lacks great speed. Won't be a vertical threat. Probably nothing more but a #2 tight
end at the next level.
How He Fits: Similar to Dan Campbell in a lot of ways. I really wanted this guy until we signed Ryan
Hannam who is also a great blocking tight end.
13. Anthony Mix 6’4 235 4.51 Auburn
Strengths: Excellent speed and athleticism. Does a good job of getting open and making the tough
grab. Creates matchup problems. Has a lot of potential.
Weaknesses: Undersized for a TE. Not much of a blocker. Wasn’t all that productive. An
underachiever.
How He Fits: Interesting prospect who could project as a tight end or a wide receiver. Will most likely
get selected in the 5th or 6th round.
14. Quinn Sypniewski 6’7 268 4.80 Colorado
Strengths: Massive frame. An outstanding blocker. Decent athletic ability. Reliable hands. Great
intangibles. Has some upside.
Weaknesses: Couldn’t seem to stay healthy. Lacks great speed. Will never be a major receiving
threat.
How He Fits: Great late round option as another blocking tight end to compliment Witten.
15. Troy Biennemann 6’5 256 4.75 Washington St.
Strengths: A great athlete. An excellent receiver who was very productive. An excellent long snapper
prospect. Has serious upside.
Weaknesses: Very weak, and it shows. Needs to improve as a blocker. Blew out his knee this year.
How He Fits: Interesting prospect who would be a good receiving tight end.
16. Jason Pociack 6’3 266 4.80 Wisconsin
Strengths: Big and strong. Excellent blocker. Smart player with great intangibles. Versatile and can
play TE or FB.
Weaknesses: Not a great athlete. Didn’t do much in the passing game. Probably only a backup due
to his limited receiving ability.
How He Fits: Good late round option as an H-back of sorts.
Strengths: Amazing athleticism. Great production. Is a nightmare for opposing defenses due to is
size and speed. Knows how the nuances of the position. Not just a workout warrior who knows little
about playing football. Great strength. Great after the catch. Most talented TE ever. Tremendous
upside.
Weaknesses: Not the greatest blocker. Doesn’t have outstanding height.
How He Fits: He should be a Top 10 pick. If he is available at 18, I would take him because Davis,
Witten, Glenn, and Owens on the same field would be and unstoppable force. Besides, we have most
of our needs in free agency, so we can take the best player available.
2. Leonard Pope 6’8 258 4.62 Georgia
Strengths: Amazing height. Great athleticism for a man his size. Can get vertical. Has great hands.
Has excellent body control. Good production in college. Has loads of potential.
Weaknesses: Needs to bulk up and get stronger. Not a good blocker. Raw and needs some
technique work.
How He Fits: Average option in late 1st after trade back. Could definitely do worse than picking him.
3. Mercedes Lewis 6'6 260 4.84 UCLA
Strengths: Great natural receiver. Decent blocker. Excellent size. Good frame that could add more
weight. Long arms. Great leaping ability. Could get down field in college. A lot of upside.
Weaknesses: Frail. Needs to get stronger. Doesn't have good timed speed. Not the greatest blocker
in the world. Raw and needs work on techinique.
How He Fits: Mercedes would be a decent option in the 2nd round. I don't really think we need
another TE, but I wouldn't be angry if we took him
4. Joe Klopfenstein 6'6 255 4.62 Colorado
Strengths: Height and speed cause matchup problems. Solid hands. Knows how to get open. Can
stretch the seam. A great redzone target.
Weaknesses: Needs to add bulk and get stronger. Struggles as a good run blocker. Not as athletic
as his 40 would indicate. Doesn't always run crisp routes.
How He Fits: Would be a great pass receiving complement to Witten, we just don't have a spare 2nd
round pick to spend on him.
5. Anthony Fasano 6'4 259 4.71 Notre Dame
Strengths: Has excellent hands. Can make the tough catch. Good size and build. Hardworking and a
gamer. Gives great effort in the run game. Very productive.
Weaknesses: Doesn't have great speed. Isn't a dominating blocker. Isn't a tremendously gifted
athlete. Lacks the upside of many of the other TEs
How He Fits: We don't really need a TE, but if we wanted one, he would be a good guy to have on
your team.
6. Dominic Byrd 6'3 255 4.85 USC
Strengths: Excellent natural receiver. Great hands. Comes through in the clutch. Good after the
catch. Plays much faster than he is timed.
Weaknesses: Poor timed speed. Body is a little soft. Needs to improve as a blocker. Injuries and
character are concerns. Limited upside.
How He Fits: I'm not real high on Dominic. I think he is a great college player who will only be average
at the next level. Not what we need at TE if we pick one on the 1st day.
7. Tony Scheffler 6'5 264 4.54 W. Michigan
Strengths: Amazing speed and athletic ability. Good receiver who will make the difficult catch. Was
very productive at his level. Has an amazing size/speed ratio.
Weaknesses: Isn't as good of a blocker as he should be with his size. Needs to runs crisper routes.
Didn't play against top competition. Didn't score many touchdowns.
How He Fits: A good option in the 4th round if Bill wants to develop another receiving tight end.
8. Tim Day 6'3 256 4.78 Oregon
Strengths: Excellent receiver. A good natural athlete. Great hands. Excellent route runner who
knows how to get open. Good after the catch.
Weaknesses: Lacks great height. Not much of a blocker. Only average timed speed. Probably can't
stretch the field much in the pros. Production dropped heavily his senior year.
How He Fits: Decent 4th or 5th round option. A FB/TE type of guy who reminds me a lot of Chris
Cooley.
9. T.J. Williams 6'2 259 NC State
Strengths: Good quickness and athletic ability. Has a knack for getting open. Good hands. Tough
player with a lot of experience.
Weaknesses: Is on the short side. Doesn't have outstanding speed. Not a great blocker. May have a
limited upside.
How He Fits: A decent mid-late round FB/TE prospect.
10. David Thomas 6'3 252 4.67 Texas
Strengths: Excellent receiver. Tremendous hands. Always seems to come down with the ball. Vince
Young's go to guy. Smart and knows how to get open. Excellent route runner. Hard worker with
experience. Great intangibles. Decent athlete.
Weaknesses: Undersized. Lacks superb speed. Not much of a blocker.
How He Fits: A good receiving tight end prospect in the later rounds. Lacks great upside, but
intangibles are through the roof.
11. Owen Daniels 6'3 253 4.65 Wisconsin
Strengths: Good speed and athletic ability. An excellent receiver with a knack for getting open. Runs
good routes. Productive.
Weaknesses: Lacks great size. Needs to get stronger and improve as a blocker. A limited upside due
to size.
How He Fits: Similar prospect to David Thomas. Good undersized receiving TE that could become
Chris Cooley type of guy.
12. Cooper Wallace 6'4 255 4.75 Auburn
Strengths: An excellent blocker. Team leader on and off the field. A decent athlete. Good hands and
a good short to intermediate range target.
Weaknesses: Lacks great speed. Won't be a vertical threat. Probably nothing more but a #2 tight
end at the next level.
How He Fits: Similar to Dan Campbell in a lot of ways. I really wanted this guy until we signed Ryan
Hannam who is also a great blocking tight end.
13. Anthony Mix 6’4 235 4.51 Auburn
Strengths: Excellent speed and athleticism. Does a good job of getting open and making the tough
grab. Creates matchup problems. Has a lot of potential.
Weaknesses: Undersized for a TE. Not much of a blocker. Wasn’t all that productive. An
underachiever.
How He Fits: Interesting prospect who could project as a tight end or a wide receiver. Will most likely
get selected in the 5th or 6th round.
14. Quinn Sypniewski 6’7 268 4.80 Colorado
Strengths: Massive frame. An outstanding blocker. Decent athletic ability. Reliable hands. Great
intangibles. Has some upside.
Weaknesses: Couldn’t seem to stay healthy. Lacks great speed. Will never be a major receiving
threat.
How He Fits: Great late round option as another blocking tight end to compliment Witten.
15. Troy Biennemann 6’5 256 4.75 Washington St.
Strengths: A great athlete. An excellent receiver who was very productive. An excellent long snapper
prospect. Has serious upside.
Weaknesses: Very weak, and it shows. Needs to improve as a blocker. Blew out his knee this year.
How He Fits: Interesting prospect who would be a good receiving tight end.
16. Jason Pociack 6’3 266 4.80 Wisconsin
Strengths: Big and strong. Excellent blocker. Smart player with great intangibles. Versatile and can
play TE or FB.
Weaknesses: Not a great athlete. Didn’t do much in the passing game. Probably only a backup due
to his limited receiving ability.
How He Fits: Good late round option as an H-back of sorts.