2012 Atlanta Falcons Training Camp Roster Overview: Tight Ends

Another group that Matt Ryan will love to have, there is a lot of competition at the tight end spot in Atlanta this year. There is the aging veteran Tony Gonzalez in one of his final seasons, and it could very well be his last season. 

After Gonzalez this year, there isn't much in terms of draft picks, and the overall competition will be amazing. It is very possible that the Falcons will only keep two tight ends on the active roster to have a sixth wide receiver, so the competition here could get very intense.

Tony Gonzalez

2011 Role: Starting tight end

2012 Role: Starting tight end

Tony Gonzalez is the best tight end of all time, but now he is starting to wind down his career and has said that this will be his final season, according to Evan Silva of Pro Football Talk. Gonzalez is still one of the best tight ends in the game and is still one of the better intermediate options in the offense.

Michael Palmer

2011 Role: Reserve tight end

2012 Role: Reserve tight end

Michael Palmer has been a reserve tight end for the Falcons the past two years and has the ability to both block and catch. Palmer is going to come in and be the No. 2 tight end starting out and should be able to keep his job as the backup to the legendary Gonzalez.

Tommy Gallarda

2011 Role: Practice squad member of the Falcons

2012 Role: Competing with three others for the final tight end spot

Gallarda is a talented receiver in the red zone but was on the practice squad for Atlanta in 2011. He is primarily a blocker and will be able to compete for a roster spot in camp.

Adam Nissley

2011 Role: Starting tight end for Central Florida

2012 Role: Competing with three others for the final tight end spot

Nissley is best as a blocker where he can use his 6'4", 264-pound frame to push people around. However, in his senior year he started to develop as a receiver, and a year behind Tony Gonzalez could make Palmer and Nissley a solid starting combination in the future.

Aron White

2011 Role: Backup tight end for Georgia

2012 Role: Competing with three others for the final tight end spot

White was behind Orson Charles at Georgia but may not make it out of training camp for the Falcons. Unfortunately, White feels more like a camp body more than anything else at this point and will really have to impress coaches to earn a roster spot.

Lamark Brown

2011 Role: Starting wide receiver for Minnesota State-Mankato

2012 Role: Competing with three others for the final tight end spot

Brown is a long-time wide receiver but is one of the bigger players at the spot, so the Falcons will try him out in an H-back role that will be heavily used by Dirk Koetter. However, he doesn't look like the true H-back type and could fall flat for the Falcons in camp.