Spring Break
Impressive Ends, Tackles In This Year's Draft Class
NFL Draft
Mike Mauro
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Sports
The NFL Scouting Combine is less than a week away and after breaking down the offensive skill positions last week, it is time to evaluate the top-3 tight ends and hog mollies in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
This year's draft is loaded with talent along both the offensive and defensive line with as many as six linemen being selected in the first 10 picks. As for the tight end position, there isn't a sure-fire first round pick like there has been in recent years, but it is a very solid group from top to bottom and teams will be able to find good value at the position towards the latter part of the draft.
Here is a look at the top-3 tight ends, offensive lineman, defensive ends and defensive tackles in the 2008 NFL Draft. Check back next week for this year's top linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties.
Tight Ends
1) Fred Davis, Sr., USC - Davis was the go-to receiving option for the Trojans this season. He was a security blanket for the USC quarterbacks on underneath routes, with his excellent route-running ability. Davis lacks ideal height, measuring in at just over 6-foot-2, his in-line blocking is adequate, not great, but he has the athletic and pass-catching ability that teams covet from the tight end position that could ultimately sneak him into the bottom of the first round.
2) John Carlson, Sr., Notre Dame - Carlson had a dominating junior campaign with Brady Quinn as his quarterback but in 2007, like the rest of the Irish, he had a bad year. He seriously considered entering the draft last year and probably would have been a late first-round pick. Now, following a down year, he will need to have an outstanding workout to have any hope of getting back to that point. Aside from being a good receiving threat, Carlson is also a good blocker and after teams look at the tape from his junior year, he will probably end up being picked in the middle of the second round.
3) Martellus Bennett, Jr., Texas A&M - Bennett Jr. made a bad decision coming out early as he probably would have entered his senior year competing for the top spot at his position. At this point, he is a distant third behind Davis and Carlson. An outstanding collegiate player for the Aggies, his size (6-foot-7, 255 pounds) immediately jumps out at you when you watch him. The problem is, that doesn't translate to the field as a dominant blocker and while Bennett has good receiving skills, he isn't as fluid of an athlete as he is hyped to be. He will probably come off the board late in the second or early third round.
This year's draft is loaded with talent along both the offensive and defensive line with as many as six linemen being selected in the first 10 picks. As for the tight end position, there isn't a sure-fire first round pick like there has been in recent years, but it is a very solid group from top to bottom and teams will be able to find good value at the position towards the latter part of the draft.
Here is a look at the top-3 tight ends, offensive lineman, defensive ends and defensive tackles in the 2008 NFL Draft. Check back next week for this year's top linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties.
Tight Ends
1) Fred Davis, Sr., USC - Davis was the go-to receiving option for the Trojans this season. He was a security blanket for the USC quarterbacks on underneath routes, with his excellent route-running ability. Davis lacks ideal height, measuring in at just over 6-foot-2, his in-line blocking is adequate, not great, but he has the athletic and pass-catching ability that teams covet from the tight end position that could ultimately sneak him into the bottom of the first round.
2) John Carlson, Sr., Notre Dame - Carlson had a dominating junior campaign with Brady Quinn as his quarterback but in 2007, like the rest of the Irish, he had a bad year. He seriously considered entering the draft last year and probably would have been a late first-round pick. Now, following a down year, he will need to have an outstanding workout to have any hope of getting back to that point. Aside from being a good receiving threat, Carlson is also a good blocker and after teams look at the tape from his junior year, he will probably end up being picked in the middle of the second round.
3) Martellus Bennett, Jr., Texas A&M - Bennett Jr. made a bad decision coming out early as he probably would have entered his senior year competing for the top spot at his position. At this point, he is a distant third behind Davis and Carlson. An outstanding collegiate player for the Aggies, his size (6-foot-7, 255 pounds) immediately jumps out at you when you watch him. The problem is, that doesn't translate to the field as a dominant blocker and while Bennett has good receiving skills, he isn't as fluid of an athlete as he is hyped to be. He will probably come off the board late in the second or early third round.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Steve
posted 2/15/08 @ 8:47 AM EST
Due get facts corrected. Fred Davis is 6' 4" NOT "just over 6'2".
Post a Comment