2011 NFL Draft: Tight End Rankings

Published on January 23, 2011 by Seahawk Fanatic     

1. Kyle Rudolph*, TE, Notre Dame
   Height: 6-6. Weight: 260.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
   Projected Round (2011): Top 35 Pick.
   10/2/10: Rudolph had 21 catches for 287 yards and two touchdowns through his first three games, but only managed one reception against Stanford. Rudolph is easily the top tight end prospect on the board, but because tight ends tend to fall in the NFL Draft, there is chance he slips to early Round 2.

   4/3/10: Kyle Rudolph is currently the top tight end prospect for the 2011 NFL Draft class (assuming he comes out early). He caught 33 passes for 364 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore despite missing some time with a shoulder injury.

2. D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas
   Height: 6-2. Weight: 251.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
   Projected Round (2011): 3-4.
   10/2/10: Williams has some athleticism and solid hands, which makes him our second projected tight end to go off the board in a very weak 2011 NFL Draft class. Williams currently has 19 catches for 236 yards in his first four games.

   4/3/10: D.J. Williams totaled 32 receptions, 411 yards and three touchdowns in 2009.

3. Zach Pianalto, TE, North Carolina
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 250.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.85.
   Projected Round (2011): 3-4.
   10/2/10: Pianalto is a tough in-line blocker and has adequate size to start in the league. He has sure hands and does a good job of finding soft spots in zone. Pianalto has 19 catches for 156 yards through three games.

   4/3/10: Collected 22 receptions, 243 yards and three scores.

4. Lance Kendricks, TE, Wisconsin
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 239.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.71.
   Projected Round (2011): 3-5.
   10/2/10: Kendricks’ stats make him look better than what he is. On tape, he isn’t a very athletic tight end in the open field and struggles to make defenders miss. Just because you catch the football and get yards in college doesn’t mean this will happen at the next level. Kendricks has 17 catches for 299 yards and three touchdowns through his first four games.

   4/3/10: A good blocker despite his small frame, Lance Kendricks managed 29 receptions, 356 yards and three scores in 2009.

5. Virgil Green, TE, Nevada
   Height: 6-5. Weight: 240.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
   Projected Round (2011): 4-6.
   10/2/10: Green is a tall, athletic tight end with good speed, but he needs to bulk up and put on some weight. Green is a poor blocker and doesn’t show a lot of toughness, but he has some upside. He has 13 catches for 225 yards and three touchdowns through four games.

   4/3/10: The product of a weird pistol offense, Virgil Green collected 23 receptions, 260 yards and five touchdowns as a junior.

6. Cameron Graham, TE, Louisville
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 253.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.76.
   Projected Round (2011): 4-6.
   10/2/10: Graham has been very consistent at Louisville this season and shown some nice athleticism once the ball gets in his hands. He has nine catches for 123 yards and one touchdown through his first three games.

   4/3/10: Had 27 catches, 323 yards and two touchdowns as a junior.

7. Rob Housler, TE, Florida Atlantic
   Height: 6-5. Weight: 220.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
   Projected Round (2011): 5-7.
   10/2/10: Housler put up seven catches for 75 yards against Michigan State – a quality defense. However, he is a very poor blocker and needs to add at least 30 pounds onto his frame to be able to compete against bigger, stronger linebackers in the NFL. Housler hads 13 catches for 198 yards and one touchdown through three games. One important note is Housler mysteriously redshirted in 2009.
8. Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee
   Height: 6-6. Weight: 240.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.71.
   Projected Round (2011): 5-7.
   10/2/10: Stocker hasn’t lived up to his preseason hype of being the top rated senior tight end. He only has 12 catches for 116 yards, and has had some issues with drops.

   4/3/10: Luke Stocker isn’t much of a blocker and he drops passes more than you’d like. He caught 29 balls for 389 yards and five touchdowns as a junior.

9. Schuylar Oordt, TE, Northern Iowa
   Height: 6-6. Weight: 248.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
   Projected Round (2011): 5-7.
   10/2/10: Oordt has some physical skills and it will be interesting to see what he can do in practices at the Shrine or Senior Bowl. He only had three receptions for 18 yards against Iowa State, and has nine catches for 100 yards on the year.

   4/3/10: Notched 18 receptions, 358 yards and five touchdowns in 2009.

10. Charlie Gantt, TE, Michigan State
    Height: 6-5. Weight: 248.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
    Projected Round (2011): 5-7.
    4/3/10: A terrific blocker, Charlie Gantt hauled in 22 receptions for 348 yards and two scores in 2009.
11. Weslye Saunders, South Carolina
    Height: 6-5. Weight: 280.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.76.
    Projected Round (2010): 6-FA.
    10/2/10: Saunders was recently kicked off the South Carlina football team. It is unlikely some team will spend a draft pick on an underachiever with serious character concerns.

    4/3/10: A talented tight end who has character issues, Weslye Saunders had 32 catches, 353 yards and three touchdowns in 2009.

12. Stephen Skelton, TE, Fordham
    Height: 6-5. Weight: 245.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
    Projected Round (2011): 6-FA.
    4/3/10: Brother of Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton, Stephen Skelton collected 63 receptions, 634 yards and six touchdowns.
13. Mike McNeil, TE, Nebraska
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 240.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
    Projected Round (2011): 6-FA.
    4/3/10: An H-back, Mike McNeil garnered 28 receptions, 259 yards and four touchdowns in 2009.
14. Jeffery Anderson, TE, UAB
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 255.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.73.
    Projected Round (2011): 6-FA.
    4/3/10: Jeffery Anderson logged 26 receptions, 398 yards and five touchdowns in 2009.

    

15. Kyle Adams, TE, Purdue
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 251.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.82.
    Projected Round (2011): 6-FA.
    4/3/10: Kyle Adams suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2008, but came back to catch 29 passes for 249 yards last year.
16. Joe Torchia, TE, Virginia
    Height: 6-6. Weight: 250.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.81.
    Projected Round (2011): 6-FA.
    4/3/10: Limited by a spread offense, Joe Torchia collected 14 receptions for 138 yards and two scores in 2009.
17. Eric Peitz, TE, Colorado State
    Height: 6-5. Weight: 251.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
    Projected Round (2011): 7-FA.
    4/3/10: Eric Peitz had 14 catches for 129 yards and three touchdowns in nine games last year.
18. Lee Smith, TE, Marshall
    Height: 6-6. Weight: 267.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
    Projected Round (2011): 7-FA.
    4/3/10: I’m sure the former pitcher was upset to hear that his namesake was thrown out of Tennessee after a DUI arrest. This Lee Smith collected 23 receptions and 335 yards in 2009.
19. Alston Umuolo, TE, San Diego State
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 245.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.66.
    Projected Round (2011): 7-FA.
    4/3/10: Collected 22 receptions, 243 yards and three scores.

WalterFootball.com: 2011 NFL Draft: Tight End Rankings.

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