The tight end position is a position that has revolutionized from a larger, stronger body type for run-blocking, to a slightly slimmer frame with a more athletic body type.
Tight ends like Rob Gronkowski, and Jimmy Grahm have become superstars at the position, and posses athletic ability rarely seen in past decades.
Every team is aiming for this type of playmaker at the tight end position, but there will probably not be an overwhelming abundance of these talents in this years draft.
Here are a couple tight ends that could go high in this year’s draft.
Maxx Williams, Minnesota
Williams, a tight end with good size at 6’4″, 250 lbs is most likely the only tight end who has a chance to go in this year’s first round.
Along with his above average size, he has good speed, athleticism and great hands.
As only a redshirt sophomore Williams took a risk leaving school early, but good performances at both the NFL Combine and his pro day at Minnesota have ensured that he did not make a mistake.
Williams has a chance to go late in the first round, but it is more likely to see him go early in the second round.
Clive Walford, Miami
Walford is another tight end with good size and the ability to be a dominant run blocker in the NFL.
Soft hands and a knack to make nice catches are all positives for the Miami tight end.
But there are some knocks against his speed and agility. Scouts do not know if he has the speed to be the dominant receiving tight end in the NFL that he was in college.
Coming from a school that is known for producing great NFL tight ends could help Walford in the end though.
I expect Walford to go in either the late second round or third round.
Nick O’Leary, Florida State
O’Leary is one of my favorite tight ends to watch from this year’s draft.
The Florida State tight end has terrific instincts and hands that allow for him to make some incredible plays.
But perhaps what stood out most to me when watching O’Leary is his toughness. Often times you will see O’Leary making a hard hit or laying his body on the line to make a catch.
But athletically and physically he is not as gifted as some of the other prospects in terms of his speed and size, so that will drop his draft stock quite a bit.
I expect O’Leary to go somewhere in either the third or fourth round.
NFL Draft 
