AFC Position Rankings: TE’s

 

1)      Tennessee Titans: Very rarely do you ever see a team that has three tight ends on a roster that can start for almost any other NFL team. The Titans can make that claim with Bo Scaife, Alge Crumpler and rookie Jared Cook. The Titans made a great decision in re-signing Scaife in the offseason after the tight end had 561 yards and two touchdowns. Alge Crumpler had 257 yards and one touchdown in his first year with the Titans. Crumpler was Michael Vick’s favorite target when both played for the Atlanta Falcons. The Titans had one of the best steals in the draft with South Carolina tight end Jared Cook falling to the third round. Cook is an athletic freak at tight end and has been very impressive so far in the preseason. Cook will start for this team in 2010.

2)      Denver Broncos: We have no faith in quarterback Kyle Orton, but he has one of the best tight ends in the AFC in Tony Scheffler. He is a big target at 6-5, 250 lbs and has some of the best hands in the league. The Broncos made a smart decision by not trading him in the offseason. Sheffler had 645 yards last season and could make the Pro Bowl this season if Kyle Orton has a good season. Daniel Graham is a very good blocking tight end and can also catch the ball as he had 389 yards and four touchdowns last season. The Broncos traded up to draft UNC tight end Richard Quinn, but he has been non-existent in the preseason. Quinn is a very strong blocker.

3)      Baltimore Ravens: Not many teams have the experience at the tight end position that the Ravens have in Todd Heap and L.J. Smith. The Ravens might be number one on this list if Heap and Smith can stay healthy. Heap did play in 16 games last season, but the Ravens brought in Smith as an insurance policy if Heap gets injured. Smith had 65 starts and 18 touchdowns in his career with the Philadelphia Eagles.The Ravens drafted East Carolina’s Davon Drew in the fifth round and the Ravens considered him the second best time end in the draft. Remember that offensive coordinator Cam Cameron loves to get the tight end involved in his offense.

4)      Miami Dolphins: Former Dallas Cowboys tight end Anthony Fasano was the hidden gem that Bill Parcells brought with him to Miami. Fasano is a huge target that had 454 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Quarterback Chad Pennington loves to look Fasano’s way in the red zone. Former Tennessee tight end David Martin is an underrated veteran that had 450 yards and three touchdowns last season. If Fasano gets hurt, Martin is more than capable of starting for the Dolphins.

5)      Houston Texans: We were close to putting the New England Patriots on this list, but we couldn’t leave a team that has Owen Daniels off of this list. Like the Broncos, the Texans made a great decision by not trading the star tight end. Daniels made the Pro Bowl last season after having 862 yards and two touchdowns last season. Daniels might have 1,000 yards this season if quarterback Matt Schaub has a career year. The Texans drafted former N.C. State tight end Anthony Hill in the fourth round and drafted former Rice tight end James Casey in the fifth round. Casey was a steal that late in the draft and is a very versatile tight end. Hill said recently that he thinks he will make the final roster, but we like Casey having a better season.