Updated 04/1/10

Check back as I update my rankings every week!

1. Jermaine Gresham - Oklahoma, 6’6” 258 lbs. - Like Gronkowski, Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham missed the entire 2009 season due to injury.  Gresham tore cartilage in his knee after coming back to OU for his senior season when many considered him the best tight end in college football after his junior year in 2008.  He’s a good blocker and can hold up at the point of attack with his strong base.  As a receiver, he’s got everything NFL teams are looking for - size, strength, hands, fearlessness and determination. 

2. Rob Gronkowski - Arizona, 6’6” 265 lbs. - Gronkowski is a natural hands catcher with great size, strength, and speed to attack the seams of a defense.  He’s powerful enough to keep his feet, even after taking on a big hit - and defenders find him difficult to bring down after the catch.  A sharp route runner, Gronkowski can give linebackers fits in coverage.  Durability is a major concern with him as back surgery cost him the entire 2009 season.  He’s dropped one spot in my rankings because of the reports that he has spinal stenosis, a career threatening injury.  The Redskins OT Chris Samuels played with this for year, but it ultimately forced him to retire this year.

3. Ed Dickson - Oregon, 6’4” 244 lbs. - Dickson is a smooth athlete that was a reliable target during his time at Oregon.  He’s adept at using his frame to shield defenders away from the ball, and can line up all over the field.  He’s not much of a blocker but with better coaching he has the work ethic to get better.  Because of his size/athleticism it makes him too big for a safety to cover and too fast for most linebackers to cover.  Coming out of the spread offense, Dickson will have to prove he can work (and be effective) out of a more traditional set.

4. Dennis Pitta - BYU, 6’4” 245 lbs. - Simply put, Pitta catches nearly everything that’s thrown at him.  He has incredible hands, and the concentration to secure passes through traffic.  He’s a tough player that will hold onto the ball after a big hit.  Pitta consistently finds the soft spots in zone coverage and does a good job of squaring up to the quarterback (to give him the biggest possible target) and coming back to the ball.  He’s not an elite athlete and fails to do much after the catch.

5. Aaron Hernandez - Florida, 6’2” 250 lbs. - Hernandez is what scouts call a “move” tight end.  He’s a pass catcher that plays more like a “super sized” wide receiver.  He can weave through traffic after the catch, and understands angles of pursuit.  His measurables aren’t prototypical for a traditional tight end, and he doesn’t have elite speed. 

6. Jimmy Graham - Miami, 6’7” 259 lbs. - The former Hurricanes basketball star now gets to star on the gridiron.  With one year of college football under his belt Graham is extremely raw, but has shown flashes of brilliance during his limited playing time.  Like most tight ends, he needs to work on using his leverage better as a blocker.  NFL teams are always looking for the next Antonio Gates, and Graham may develop into that type of player - it just may take a few years.

7. Anthony McCoy - USC, 6’5” 249 lbs. - McCoy is a very strong tight end that plays with a mean streak.  He has strong hands and is not afraid to go over the middle - in fact McCoy is often the one dealing the blow!  He can bounce off tacklers or run through arm tackles, and has good field awareness.  He’s not the most athletic tight end in this draft class and character/academic concerns surrounded him during his career at USC.

8. Andrew Quarless - Penn State, 6’4” 248 lbs. - Quarless is a tight end with good potential.  He improved over the course of his college career, and became a trusted receiver for the Nittany Lions during his senior season.  He needs to play with more physicality, and character concerns (DUI, Marijuana suspension) will keep NFL teams from reaching for him too early in the draft.

9. Colin Peek - Alabama, 6’6” 250 lbs. - Peek transferred from Georgia Tech and became a trusted receiver and blocker for the Crimson Tide.  He has good hands and will look a pass in before turning his eyes upfield for yards after the catch.  While not the most athletic player on the field, Peek is a good effort guy and will work hard to maximize his game at the next level.
 
10. Dorin Dickerson - Pittsburgh, 6’1” 220 lbs. - Dickerson was a jack of all trades for the Pitt Panthers, playing everything from wide receiver, fullback, and linebacker.  He’s not the biggest tight end, and will likely have to make a switch to H-back in the NFL.  Dickerson will fight hard for yards after the catch, and can be counted on as a red zone threat.