Position Breakdown: Tight End

1.  Eric Ebron (JR) 6'4 250 North Carolina
Analysis:  Can line up all over field. Sneaky fast who has a knack for getting open. Above average route runner. Good hands. Can make splash catch, but also drop the routine. Below average blocker.
Projection:  Top 15

2.  Jace Amaro (JR) 6'5 265 Texas Tech
Analysis:  Good athletic ability and speed. Uses quickness and savy route running to work the middle. Good YAC threat. Catches the ball well, but will drop a few easy ones. Average blocker.
Projection:  Top 40

3.  Austin Seferian-Jenkins (JR) 6'5 262 Washington
Analysis:  Can go up and get the ball. Average athlete who moves well. Good hands who can adjust to throws. Above average blocker. Struggles to get off the line. Injury and off field concerns. Potential #1 TE
Projection: 2nd Round

4.  Troy Niklas (JR) 6'6 270 Notre Dame
Analysis:  Traditional inline TE. Above average run and pass blocker. Uses his size and length to shield defenders in the passing game.  Threat in the redzone. Likely a teams #2 TE. Jack of all, master of none.
Projection:  Day 2

5.  CJ Federowicz (SR) 6'5 265 Iowa
Analysis: Traditional inline TE. Good run and pass blocker.  Good hands who catches everything in his area. Below average athlete. Average route runner.  Doesn't offer much run after catch.
Projection: 3rd or 4th Round

6.  Richard Rogers (JR) 6'4 257 California
Projection: 3rd or 4th Round

7. Crockett Gilmore (SR) 6'6 260 Colorado State
Projection: 4th or 5th Round

8.  Trey Burton (SR) 6'2 224 Florida
Projection: 4th or 5th Round

9.  Arthur Lynch (SR) 6'5 258 Georgia
Projection: 4th or 5th Round

10.  Jacob Pederson (SR) 6'3 238 Wisconsin
Projection: 6th or 7th Round

11. Xavier Grimble (JR) 6'4 257 USC
Projection:  6th or 7th Round

12. AC Leonard (SR) 6'2 252 Tennessee State
Projection:  Undrafted

Player Profile: Zach Ertz

Zach Ertz

Height:  6'5
Weight:  249
School:  Stanford
Position:  Tight End
Ranking:  #2 Tight End
Projection:  2nd Round

Strengths
-Ideal Height (6'5) and weight (249) for the position.
-Frame allows him to add weight and not lose a step
-Does a good job stretching the field in the passing game
-Good quickness that allows him get separation and to get off the line
-Good route runner who uses head fakes to keep defenders guessing
-Makes catching the ball look easy.
-Does an excellent job tracking the ball on deep routes
-Knows how to use his body to shield defenders
-Has the ability to make defenders miss in the open field
-Shows good strength (24 reps)
-Big Game player.  Shines when the focus is on (two game winning TD catches)
-Can be flexed out to the slot and have success
-Great ball security.  Only one fumble in career

Weaknesses
-Short arms could make blocking difficult
-Doesn't have that elite speed
-Balance needs to improve in blocking
-Has focus drops on occasion
-Needs to become a better blocker

Summary
With the tight end becoming an important part of NFL offenses teams are going to fall in love with Zach Ertz and what he can bring to the offense.  Ertz is a great route runner who uses his quickness and head fakes to create separation.  He has good size and knows how to use it to "box out" defenders especially in the red zone.  Ertz also excels stretching the field and despite not having great speed he is excellent tracking the ball down field and can create big plays down field.  Teams will also love his flexibility being able to play inline, in the slot, or out of the backfield.  That will allow him to stay on the field and the offense to give different formations to confuse defenses.  The surprising thing about Ertz was the fact that he isn't as good of a blocker as most people think.  With Stanford being a power running team, Ertz actually struggled to be an effective blocker and was used more split out.  However with some added weight and technique he could become an effective blocker.  Look for Ertz to go somewhere in the early to mid second round.  Cleveland is a team to watch.  With a former TE coach as their new head coach they'll look to improve the position that is pretty bare right now. 

Player Profile: Tyler Eifert

Tyler Eifert

Height:  6'6
Weight:  250
School:  Notre Dame
Position:  Tight End
Ranking:  #1 Tight End
Projection:  Top 40 pick

Strengths
-Great size (6'6) and length (33" arms) for the position
-Solid frame to add weight
-Good strength (22 reps)
-Can go up and get the ball (35.5" vertical leap)
-Good speed (4.68 40) to be a vertical threat in the seam
-Very athletic who uses good quickness to get in and out of breaks
-Natural pass catcher.  Makes it look easy.
-Experienced.  38 games played.
-Versatile.  Has the ability to line up end line and out in the slot.
-Knows how to use his frame to shield of defenders
-Good body control in the air

Weaknesses
-Doesn't have the big hands you'd like (9.18")
-Durability.  Former back and head injuries
-Needs to do a better job of setting up routes.  Too predictable
-Doesn't offer much after the catch
-Not a great blocker.  Get's overpowered. 

Summary
The NFL is a copy cat league and right now teams are having a lot of success with athletic tight ends.  That's a great spot to be in for somebody like Tyler Eifert.  Eifert has the size (6'6) and athletic ability to really help a teams passing attack.  Eifert runs good routes and can go up and pluck the ball out of the air.  He knows how to use his body and can sheild off defenders.  He'll be a great threat in the red zone because of his size, jumping ability, and body control.  The only real problems that Eifert has is that he isn't much of a run after the catch guy and isn't going to offer a whole lot in the blocking game.  Those aren't deal breakers especially blocking because a lot of the top tight ends aren't asked to block a whole lot.  If Eifert can learn the proper technique he can manage to get by.  Because of his ability and the desire for tight ends like him he'll be a hot commodity in the late first and early second round.  Houston and Atlanta could be options in the first rounds but don't look for him to last too long into the second.