With a majority of the undrafted free agents signed, here is a look at the relevant options at the tight end position. Some are above-average physical talents, others have optimistic depth chart situations. Here are the 2014 undrafted rookie tight ends to monitor this offseason:
Xavier Grimble, USC
Signed by: New York Giants
Why to Watch
Grimble has above-average size (especially hand size and arm length) paired with good speed for his weight. Grimble did not ever put things together in college to have a solid share of the passing game production at USC, but is young enough (22.0 years old for week one) to see continued growth on his slow, but upward trend in college. The Giants also do not have a locked-in starting option. Adrien Robinson remains a wait-and-see project for fantasy owners.
Jacob Pedersen
Signed by: Atlanta
Why to Watch
Pedersen has little going for him in terms of physical traits, his age (25.4 years old to kick off his rookie season), or college production. Atlanta, however, is a wide open situation at tight end with Tony Gonzalez retiring after 2013. Levine Toilolo was a late-round pick and does not project asa fluid downfield receiver. Pedersen, while pedestrian in his own right, has the ability to challenge for offensive touches with the current crop of options on Atlanta's roster.
Marcel Jensen
Signed by: Jacksonville
Why to Watch
Despite being older than his opposition in college, Jensen was an underwhelming producer during his Fresno State days. He does, however, possess prototypical size and decent speed. Jensen also has one of the longest arm lengths among tight end prospects of the last decade at nearly 35". Marcedes Lewis is a shell of his former first round pick self in Jacksonville and backup Clay Harbor is more of an H-back option than traditional tight end.
Justin Perillo, Maine
Signed by: Green Bay
Why to Watch
The Packers tight end depth chart is wide open with Brandon Bostick being the most intriguing veteran name heading into the summer months. Perillo has above-average athleticism and age-weighted production from his days at Maine, including one of the best three-cone times of the 2014 tight end rookie class.
Colt Lyerla, Oregon
Signed by: Green Bay
Why to Watch
Lyerla is in the conversation as the most talented tight end in the 2014 class. His vertical and broad jumps were both in the top 5% of all tight end prospects over the past 15 years. While easily a top-100 pick on the field, Lyerla has an off-the-field resume that caused him to go undrafted. Lyerla is easily the most talented tight end on the Packers roster, but went days prior to signing a priority undrafted deal because of his personal demons. The upside is high *if* Lyerla can string together a few good decisions, but his past paints the picture of a powder keg instead.
A.C. Leonard, Tennessee State
Signed by: Minnesota
Why to Watch
Leonard was one of the combine stars with a blistering 4.40 40-time at 252 pounds. Despite strong athleticism marks and collegiate production, Leonard was not drafted. Past Kyle Rudolph, the Minnesota depth chart is wide open and Leonard, who profiles more as a dynamic H-back than traditional tight end, can see the field early in his career.
Gator Hoskins, Marshall
Signed by: Miami
Why to Watch
Hoskins, like A.C. Leonard, is in the mold of a Charles Clay more than a hulking traditional tight end. Hoskins had above-average athleticism marks and production and a better metric resume than drafted tight ends like Richard Rodgers and Arthur Lynch this year. The Dolphins have already shown the ability to utilize an undersized option like Clay, making Hoskins more interesting as a secondary weapon on offense.
Michael Flacco, New Haven
Signed by: San Diego
Why to Watch
Ladarius Green profiles more as an oversized slot receiver than traditional tight end and Antonio Gates has been in physical decline of late. Flacco profiles as a potential Gates replacement as an in-line option, allowing Green to roam downfield. Flacco showed strong production at New Haven and possesses prototypical size, paired with middling athletic explosiveness on his resume.
Dave Wright, Westminster
Signed by: Tennessee
Why to Watch
Wright is solid across the board in terms of size, athleticism, and age-weighted college production. His weight-based speed is behind only A.C. Leonard, Eric Ebron, and Austin Seferian-Jenkins of the tight ends likely to be drafted. He vertical of 36” and broad jump of 125” are two of the best marks in the class as well.
Justin Jones, East Carolina
Signed by: New England
Why to Watch
Jones is a behemoth at 6’8” and over 270 pounds. In college he was used like Joseph Fauria in Detroit last season – a goal line specialist with a very high touchdown rate as a result. Jones ran a surprising sub-7.00 three-cone time, which at his size is quite rare. While sticking in the NFL likely means being a sixth-offensive lineman or blocking tight end, his touchdown upside is worth tracking to see if he sticks on a roster.
Blake Annen, Cincinnati
Signed by: Philadelphia
Why to Watch
Annen’s size-speed ratio is off the charts historically. Only Vernon Davis has a better documented 40-time for his weight in the past 15 years. While previous versions of this receiver speed in a tight end body have not fared all that well out of the gate (Luke Willson, Adrien Robinson, Taylor Thompson, James Hanna), they have stuck on NFL rosters. Annen did little in college, making him a big-time projection to have relevance at the NFL level. His production marks are similar to Robinson and Thompson from the above list. The creative Chip Kelly is an ideal landing spot if Annen can capitalize on his physical traits.
Asa Watson, North Carolina State
Signed by: New England
Why to Watch
Watson is the least attractive of this list, but makes the cut with above-average broad jump and three-cone marks. His 40-time and 10-yard split were also above-average. In terms of overall athleticism, Watson grades out higher than well-known prospects like Gator Hoskins, C.J. Fiedorowicz, and Jace Amaro in the 2014 tight end class. Rob Gronkowski has missed time of late, Aaron Hernandez is out of the picture, and the wide receiver depth chart has a laundry list of question marks. Watson has the athleticism to make an impact as a receiver-tight end hybrid.
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