Ravens: Full Position Breakdown and Depth-Chart Analysis at Tight End

With July here, we're less than a month away before NFL training camps open.

The Baltimore Ravens will field a talented roster when camp opens that figures to contend for a spot in the playoffs once again. That's because most of last year's 10-6 team is back this year.

Adding to that, the Ravens will have one of the more established rosters of any NFL club. As many as 19 starters on offense and defense will be back this season to ensure that Baltimore has as much continuity as possible.

That doesn't mean there won't be a lot of changes on the depth chart, though, especially when it comes to tight end.

Several talented players were added at that position through the NFL draft. There's also the possible return of Dennis Pitta on the horizon after he missed most of last year with a hip injury.

Here’s a complete breakdown of Baltimore's depth chart at tight end heading into training camp.

Baltimore Ravens Tight Ends at a Glance

NAME		HEIGHT	WEIGHT	AGE		COLLEGE
Nick Boyle	TE	6-4	270	22	R	Delaware
Crockett Gillmore	TE	6-6	251	23	2	Colorado State
Dennis Pitta	TE	6-4	245	30	6	Brigham Young
Allen Reisner	TE	6-3	255	26	3	Iowa
Konrad Reuland	TE	6-5	260	28	3	Stanford
Maxx Williams	TE	6-4	250	21	R	Minnesota

The Practice Bodies: Konrad Reuland and Allen Reisner 

The Ravens aren't going to keep more than four tight ends, and they may keep just three on their final 53-man roster. 

Konrad Reuland and Allen Reisner are journeymen who will most likely be just practice bodies for training camp. Neither has much of a shot at making the final roster so long as the guys ahead of them are healthy.

Reuland, a third-year player out of Stanford, has played in 26 career games with the New York Jets while catching 12 passes for 90 yards. He didn't play at all in 2014, though, and he'll need an amazing training camp and preseason to warrant consideration for the final roster.

As for Reisner, he too is a third-year player who played college ball at Stanford. He's played in just 15 career games and also didn't play at all in 2014. 

Both Reisner and Reuland are here to be practice bodies and possibly make the roster if there are several injuries at this position. 

Butch Dill/Associated Press

Fourth String: Nick Boyle

Coming into the offseason, tight end was one of the biggest areas of need for Baltimore, which led to them spending two draft picks on that position. 

After grabbing Minnesota's Maxx Williams in Round 2, the Ravens drafted Delaware's Nick Boyle in the fifth round with the 171st pick.

Playing in the FCS ranks, Boyle had 101 catches for 984 yards and 12 scores during his college career. He was the team’s leading pass-catcher in 2014 with 37 catches for 304 yards and four scores. 

Because he was a late-round draft pick, Boyle won't be assured of a roster spot this year, but he should make the final 53-man roster. At worst, he'll be on the practice squad. 

Whatever happens, it's unlikely Boyle will make much—if any—impact this year as he transitions from playing in the FCS to the NFL. 

Don Wright/Associated Press

Third String: Crockett Gillmore

While all the attention this offseason has been on Maxx Williams and Dennis Pitta, Crockett Gillmore has quietly flown under the radar. 

Gillmore, a third-round rookie out of Colorado State last year, caught 10 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown in 2014. He also caught a 21-yard score against the Pittsburgh Steelers in their wild-card playoff matchup. 

There's reason to hope he still has a lot of room for growth in Year 2. He may even end up being Baltimore's No. 2 tight end in 2015.

Second String: Dennis Pitta 

When healthy, Dennis Pitta is one of the better tight ends you'll find in the NFL.

The problem is that Pitta has rarely been healthy. missing 25 games over the past two seasons. That came after his breakout 2012 campaign in which he caught 61 passes for 669 yards and seven scores. 

The problem is that Pitta has still not been medically cleared to play this year, according to Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com. That doesn't mean he won't be before training camp opens, but it's not an encouraging sign.  

If Pitta can stay healthy, he'll challenge for the starting tight end job this year. Until he shows he can stay healthy, though, there's no reason to list him as the starter.

Starter: Maxx Williams

The Ravens made sure to get the best tight end in this year's draft by trading up to grab Minnesota's Maxx Williams at pick No. 55. 

The 6'4", 249-pound Williams led Minnesota in receptions (36), yards (569) and receiving touchdowns (eight) this past season. That made him a finalist for the 2014 John Mackey Award, which honors the nation's top tight end every year.

Heading into the draft, both CBS Sports and ESPN had Williams ranked as the No. 1 tight end in addition to a top-50 overall prospect. He's a very talented player who will almost certainly be starting at some point his rookie year.

Williams has also looked good in OTAs this offseason, but he'll need to have a good showing in the preseason to lock up his starting spot. 

Summary

The Ravens have a talented group of tight ends heading into the 2015 season. The problem is none of them are established players Baltimore can count on to start every game this year and be productive.

Williams is a rookie, Pitta is injury-prone and Gillmore is a relative unknown still. This will definitely be one of, if not the most intriguing positions to watch for in training camp and through the preseason.

The good news is the future is bright at this position with so much talent there. The Ravens hope that talent shows itself in 2015.