1. Vernon Davis - Maryland Terrapins - 6’3” 254 lbs.

Positives

Davis has it all, blessed with tremendous speed and power to boot. He has long arms and can reach out and pluck the ball away from his body where a defender has no chance of getting the pass. He has a good leaping ability and is extremely athletic for a TE. His hands are soft and he has a natural feel for catching a pass the right way. He has a great burst off the line and is difficult to jam because of his initial quickness. He knows how to open up his body on a route and give his QB the best and biggest target to throw to. He has incredible body control and makes the most acrobatic catch seem routine. It’s not just all flash with Davis, he’s a willing blocker as well.

Negatives

He doesn't have ideal size for a NFL TE, but makes up for it with his leaping ability. Needs to continue to improve on his cuts in and out of breaks. Better suited as a downfield blocker as he can be overpowered at the line of scrimmage.

Numbers Game

4.38 - His 40 yard dash at the combine rocketed him up draft boards.

NFL Comparison

Alge Crumpler

Summary

Vernon Davis is an outstanding athlete and he can create mismatches galore for an offense. For a big man he is a very good route runner and knows how to set up defenders on the 2nd level. His leaping ability makes him a great red zone threat. While in college Davis was a workout warrior and set numerous records at his position. His soft hands, nose for the ball, and deep speed make him a weapon that can be used in many situations. Vernon has clearly established himself as the top TE coming out in this year’s draft. The TE position is an emerging position in the NFL, and playmaking TE’s are the most coveted. Davis’ skill set could work in any offense, and he will contribute right away to whatever team drafts him.

2. Marcedes Lewis - UCLA Bruins - 6’7” 271 lbs.

Positives

Marcedes has great measurables. His size gives him instant mismatches, and his speed is elite, making him a nightmare to cover. He is very athletic for a big man and is surprisingly elusive in the open field. His skill set is more like a big WR than a true TE, and Lewis has lined up in the slot, on the line, or spread out wide. He has big hands and knows how to time his jumps to catch the ball at it’s highest point. He uses his frame well to shield off defenders and consistently catches the ball away from his body.

Negatives

Lewis is not much of a blocker. He doesn't play very aggressively and needs to improve as a downfield blocker. As a receiver Marcedes needs to get a better release off the line. He is a little stiff in the hips coming out of his stance. The timing on his routes can be thrown off by an aggressive defender at the line of scrimmage. He prefers to avoid contact, when he should sometimes just lower his head he tries to elude defenders.

Numbers Game

36 of 88 - Thirty-six of his eighty-eight targets went for 1st downs.

NFL Comparison

Tony Gonzalez

Summary

Marcedes Lewis won the Mackey Award in 2005 as the nations top TE in Division 1 football. He set a UCLA single season record with 741 receiving yards. Lewis is a playmaker, and can make the game-changing catches one expects from an elite TE. He has great measurables, and the long speed to be a legitimate deep threat at the TE position. There are questions about his attitude and work ethic, but there is no denying his incredible skill set. Lewis seems to have found inspiration from the prospect of competing in the NFL. If he were to put it all together he could be a very dangerous weapon on the gridiron for years to come.

3. Dominique Byrd - USC Trojans - 6’3” 255 lbs.

Positives

Dominique has good strength and outstanding body control. He uses his size to his advantage and is rarely pushed off routes. He uses his frame and his long arms to separate from defenders and catch the ball away from his body. He has considerable strength and can run through arm tackles consistently. He has great concentration and will look a pass in even when he knows he’s going to get clobbered by the safety. He has the muscle thickness to take a hard hit and absorb it without going down. He is a willing blocker that has good explosion off the line of scrimmage. Has become more adept at working back to the QB when there is pressure and a play breaks down.

Negatives

Injuries are a big concern and Byrd has had durability issues throughout his college career. In 2003, he tore his ACL and MCL in his left knee. In 2004, he suffered a knee cap injury sustained in a pickup game of basketball. In 2005, he had surgery to help repair a case of turf toe in the spring. These are major injuries that have some teams shying away from drafting Byrd. He doesn't have the long speed to be a deep threat. He needs to continue to show improvement as a route runner. Academic problems have some questioning whether he can digest a complicated playbook.

Numbers Game

9¾ - Good hand size means few passes get by him, plus he’s ambidextrous.

NFL Comparison

Stephen Alexander

Summary

Dominique Byrd is a versatile player that has a team first mentality. Potential is a dirty word, and Byrd has a ton of potential. He will do whatever it takes to help out his team, as evidenced by him playing DE for a while during his freshmen season. He is a phenomenal athlete, with great body control and decent speed. He is a great short area target, and works best when working the underneath routes. As a blocker he’s just average, as he needs to sustain his blocks longer. He has shown great heart by working through all these injuries, but one has to wonder if he can ever stay healthy. When Byrd isn't on the injury report he can definitely be a consistent contributor for which ever team drafts him.

4. Joe Klopfenstein - Colorado Buffaloes - 6’6” 255 lbs.

Positives

Klopfenstein is a big TE and provides a sizable target for his QB to throw to. He has good downfield vision and converted 22 of 33 receptions in 2005 for 1st downs. He is a competitor and will fight off defenders for jump passes. Has a knack for timing jump balls and catches the ball consistently at the highest point. He is a stout player and consistently runs through arm tackles. He knows how to sit down in the soft spots of zone coverage, and will give his QB the best lane to throw in. His hands are soft, and he has a natural feel for looking passes into his hands and catching away from his body.

Negatives

Joe is slow off the line of scrimmage and needs to show a better short area burst. He has a tendency to round off his routes and gathers himself before he makes a cut. He has poor blocking technique and has trouble sustaining blocks.

Numbers Game

13 - He set a Colorado record for TD catches in a career by a TE.

NFL Comparison

Jeb Putzier

Summary

Joe Klopfenstein can make plays in the passing game. He has good sustained speed and his exceptional body control allows him to make amazing catches. His speed is deceptive and he’s hard to line up for a direct hit. He has above average strength and can fight for extra yards after contact. Unfortunately, at times during his college career he was taken out on obvious run situations because of his blocking. He has a good work ethic and he is a very mentally tough player. Joe would be best served in a pass first type of offense where he could take advantage of his natural ability. He will enter the NFL as a pure offensive weapon, but he has the desire and determination to turn into a great all-around player.

5. Leonard Pope - Georgia Bulldogs - 6’8” 258 lbs.

Positives

The first thing one notices about Leonard Pope is his size. He has the size of a basketball player, and the all around athleticism as well. He has a tremendous wing span and can easily get over defenders for jump passes in the red zone. He has the size and strength to consistently beat the jam, and he can get up the field in a hurry. His initial burst is good, and he has a long stride that allows him to gain separation on unsuspecting defenders. He plays aggressively and attacks a defense. He consistently shows the ability to catch the ball at the highest point. He is a nightmare matchup for nearly any defender he lines up against.

Negatives

During a game Pope is known to have mental lapses that result in stupid penalties. He needs to play a more controlled game and keep his head in the game. He did have an off the field incident that resulted in him getting suspended for one game in 2005. Needs to become a better route runner, and is currently just getting by on raw athletic ability. His blocking leaves a lot to be desired.

Numbers Game

37½ - His vertical leap, plus his 6’8” size make for a nice red zone target.

NFL Comparison

Courtney Anderson

Summary

Leonard Pope is a work in progress. He has unbelievable measurables, and he is a good kid that is a very coachable player. He’s incredibly tough, once dislocating Tennessee DB Jason Allen’s hip during an attempted tackle. He must bulk up, and add more muscle to his frame to be truly effective against bigger, stronger NFL defenders. His mind seems to wander during games, so the coach will have to be inside his head. Even though he had some academic problems, scouts seem to think he can digest a complicated playbook. Pope is the ultimate boom or bust pick. There are no injury concerns with Leonard, only maturity concerns. Under the right coaching situation Pope could develop into a very dangerous TE.