The NFL draft is usually the most dramatic and exciting time of the NFL offseason, and one of the best parts of the entire season. Rank the draft up there with the Super Bowl. Hundreds of thousands of hours of videos hit the web, and millions of articles as people put their opinion on the web for others to see.
This article isn't a mock draft, nor anything close to it. I'm putting up 5 of the top Tight End Candidates, and selecting 5 slots the player could end up drafted at, and how it would benefit the team. So here we go, in my opinion, from the game film and such, the top 5 Tight End Candidates in the 2015 NFL draft!
1. Maxx Williams, Minnesota
6-4, 250. 40 yard time 4.78. 2 year starter. Williams draft stock exploded after his upside was revealed in 2014, mainly in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, mainly to his athleticism, and his overall run down of the position. He is the number one TE of the class, hands down, and he just may end up in a pro bowl if coached right.
19. Cleveland Browns: The Browns have just lost Pro-Bowl starter Jordan Cameron to the Dolphins in FA, and with an extra first round pick, Cleveland could grab this man to help the QB with a reliable middle receiver and a good blocker. Williams would be an immediate starter, getting the nod over Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray.
28. Denver Broncos: Denver would love to get their hands on a player like Williams to develop while Virgil Green and Owen Daniels get the majority of the snaps. Green is a great athlete with a good blocking ability, and has had time to develop himself, but I don't think he's going to fit the Denver offense very well. Williams will fit, and, with the help of his soft hands, could become one of Manning's favorite targets quickly.
30. Green Bay Packers: I think the Packers will take Williams assuming he is still on the board, and Bernardrick McKinney is not. The Packers lacked that special explosion at the Tight End position last season, moving on without Jermichael Finley and going with Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers. Don't get me wrong, both players played well, however, they were under the caliber that Green Bay wanted. Williams could provide that his rookie season and post phenomenal numbers under Aaron Rodgers.
31. New Orleans Saints: With Jimmy Graham traded to Seattle, the Saints have Benjamin Watson to replace him. Add Williams, and the Who Dat nation is going to explode. Williams has the explosion that Graham had, the hands and the athleticism, and that could be the go to man for Drew Brees to throw to in a clutch.
35. Oakland Raiders: If Williams slips this far, expect the Raiders to not let him go any farther. Mychal Rivera is the starting TE right now, and he has no proven depth. Williams could take over, move Rivera back to his natural #2 spot, and be a top target for Derrick Carr in 2015. He will explode in Oakland if taken.
2. Jeff Heuerman, Ohio State
6-5, 254. 40 yard time not recorded. 2 year starter. Heuerman is a strong blocker, and extremely effective in the run game. Urban Meyer designed many run plays to be run behind him as the key blocker. I love his explosion while blocking. However, we have yet to see him step up in the passing game as a receiver, the majority of his catches being while he was wide open, and we just simply can't tell whether he can separate despite his athleticism.
40. New York Giants: Heuerman would be a perfect fit in Tom Coughlin's offense, providing strong blocking support in the run game, something that the Giants are trying to build. I think they could use him as a #2 TE for a few years before giving him the starting position, just to learn the offense and develop his upside.
42. Atlanta Falcons: Atlanta is in desperate need of a skilled TE, Levine Toilolo just not performing at the level Atlanta needed him to. Now with Jacob Tamme to help temporarily, Heuerman can give the Falcons much needed depth and boost, while he's developing into more of a passing weapon to be used alongside his blocking. He has a lot of upside, and I think Dan Quinn would love to have this guy to use in his offense.
43. Cleveland Browns: If the Browns pass on Williams, they can try to land Heuerman here. He's a Ohio product, an instant fan favorite, and he helps the team a lot with his run support, pass protection, and can be developed into a passing target. Cleveland would eat up Williams if they got the chance to draft him.
50. Buffalo Bills: Rex Ryan loves Tight Ends built like Heuerman. Look at his Tight Ends at New York. Jeff Cumberland? Cumberland wasn't ever much of a help in the passing game, he was more of a blocking support. Cumberland and Heuerman are very similar, and that's what Ryan likes. I really think that if he's still on the board at 50, Ryan will talk his front office into adding this guy on his team to develop.
55. Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals have some Tight End talent, but adding more depth and an explosive blocker like Heuerman would be something that Bruce Arians would love. Heuerman would fit very well in Arizona, and Arians would love to have this guy on the squad.
3. Clive Walford, Miami, Fl.
6-4, 255. 40 yard time 4.79. 3 year starter. Walford is an explosive receiver, and can be an effective blocker, showing a lot of talent in giving key blocks to break Duke Johnson out. However, I don't think Walford will be able to block NFL LB's, and that could be a key part of his development. However, he has some high upside, he just needs to be coached into consistency with his catching.
56. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers would love to have a developmental project to work on with Heath Miller getting so old now. Walford has the hands to help the team in many ways, and be a target for Ben Roethlisburger 2 or 3 years down the road from now.
58. Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens like having pass catching Tight Ends, and with Clive added, he could be a great developmental project for John Harbaugh to work on. Clive could add an aspect to the passing game a couple years down the road.
60. Dallas Cowboys: Jason Witten is getting old, and thinking of a future with Gavin Escobar and Walford together for whoever will be QB, it sounds like a dangerous TE duo. Walford can learn from one of the best in the business as part of his development, and come out pro-bowl caliber TE.
62. Green Bay Packers: The Packers are probably not going to end up with Maxx Williams, so Walford would be a nice compliment to add. I'm not sure whether Green Bay wants to chance another developmental project, but if they do, Walford can end up being a great player for the Packers in the future.
68. Oakland Raiders: The Raiders may not end up with Heuerman or Williams, so if Walford is still on the board in round 3, the Raiders have a great value by drafting Walford in the 3rd, assuming he's still on the board. If he's here, he's not moving on. Walford could end up a Carr favorite target.
4. Ben Koyack, Notre Dame
6-5, 250. 40 yard time not recorded. 2 year starter. Koyack is a very strong blocker, used both in pass protection and run blocking. He has very good blocking technique, and it helps his upside a lot. Although he isn't very fast or explosive, he has a decent route running tree that he runs well, and he makes catches in tough situations and scenarios. He's good like that.
68. Oakland Raiders: The Raiders may want to go with Koyack over Walford. Koyack is a talented blocker, and his highlight reels are filled with catches in tough spots, something that Oakland needs badly. Koyack would be the better pick for Oakland, simply because of his blocking talent, and upside is definitely there. Koyack could easily become a lead blocker on edge runs.
70. New York Jets: The Jet's are in need of a developmental project at the TE, and Koyack could be the perfect guy they need. The thought of Amaro and Koyack on the same team 3 years from now sounds very promising, and Koyack could run the role of the solid #2 TE very effectively. Koyack would be very strong in the Meadowlands.
73. Atlanta Falcons: Koyack would be a great investment for the Falcons to make for their future offense. Koyack could start immediately as a #2 TE, because of his blocking, and could probably be used by the Falcons as a clutch player. He's got so much upside, he could be a steal at that spot.
74. New York Giants: Koyack fits Coughlin's #2 TE perfectly. He can block effectively, and catch great passes. Last season, that should have been Larry Donnell, and the Giants may simply pass on him simply because they have a #2 TE, and they need a #1. If they do draft him, it's a great pick, and he fits the offense so well.
75/78. New Orleans Saints: The Saints could risk it, and take this guy in the 3rd round, assuming he's still on the board. He's no Jimmy Graham, but his size and blocking could be an upgrade at the TE position. He'd be a solid #2 for a decade in New Orleans, and he gives them some more run support.
5. Jesse James, Penn State
6-7, 261. 40 yard time 4.83. 2 year starter. Jesse James is huge, and has been a checkdown target for Christian Hackenburg the past couple of years. James is definitely a pass catcher, however, he isn't much of a run blocker, and looks hesitant and unwilling when asked to block. NFL teams could probably make this guy like the next Jimmy Graham, if he looks to improve his blocking. It'll drop his draft ranking a good bit.
78. New Orleans Saints: A poor man's Jimmy Graham, James may be the best TE fit in this class for the New Orleans Saints. With his pass catching skill, and his huge frame, James would become a quick favorite target of Drew Brees. James uses his size in the passing game to defeat defenders, and can develop into a Pro-Bowl TE in years to come.
81. Buffalo Bills: While Rex prefers blocking tight ends, he knows that he needs to get his QB's (whether it be Manuel or Cassel) receiving targets. What could be a better option for the future of his team to have a huge pass receiving TE in Jesse James to throw passes at? Explosive and strong, not to mention oversized, James would be a high caliber starter, if coached right, in 2016 for the Bills and beyond.
82. Houston Texans: The Texans would love to have a guy like James in the passing game for Ryan Mallet and Brian Hoyer to throw at. His soft hands could get him in the lineup alongside his strength, bringing a powerful aspect to the receiving game.
87. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers haven't had a weapon like James at the TE position, and adding him could help players, like Dri Archer, break out because of the matchups James creates off of size alone. Ben Roethlisburger will make some great plays throwing to James, who has several natural receiving techniques to help a scrambler such as Roethlisburger make plays downfield.
90. Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco is the tallest starting QB in the league. Why not add a TE just as big as he is to have Flacco throw at? James could break the starting lineup in 2015 with the lack of depth that Baltimore has at the TE position, and play effectively in the passing game in 2015.
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