Incoming Rookie Class Shows Potential to Replace Elite NFL Tight Ends

Rookie tight ends don't receive much recognition once the draft process is completed. Yet the 2018 class is unique in how it must replace multiple well-established to Hall of Fame-caliber players.  

Mighty big shoes are in need of filling, and several teams moved past their reliable veterans by selecting draft prospects with the ability to contribute early in their careers. 

This approach goes against the grain since rookie tight ends usually don't provide much during their initial seasons. The New York Giants' Evan Engram is the only rookie tight end to eclipse 60 receptions (64) and 700 yards (722) over the last 15 years. Among those who fell short of those numbers are Jason Witten, Greg Olsen, Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham and Travis Kelce. 

But contributions extend beyond the stat sheet. 

Engram, for example, isn't a strong in-line presence, but his athleticism creates mismatches and flexibility within the scheme. Other tight ends can provide the opposite as blockers willing to do the dirty work. 

Even though today's tight ends are judged by how much they contribute to the passing game, a first-year player doesn't need to become a primary target to considerably help an offense. 

With Witten's retirement and the movement of a few high-profile free agents, certain situations lend well to rookie tight ends quickly becoming key pieces to the offensive puzzle. 

Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

The Dallas Cowboys will likely take a tight-end-by-committee approach to open the 2018 campaign with Blake Jarwin, Geoff Swaim and Rico Gathers on the roster. The organization also spent this year's 137th overall pick on Stanford's Dalton Schultz, who should immediately compete with the other tight ends. 

"What we liked about him is we feel he is more of a complete tight end," Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said after the selection, per Kurt Daniels of the team's official site. "Smart, tough … we like what he is all about."

Plenty of competition will ensue, but Schultz is an ideal replacement for Witten since he's an accomplished blocker (who developed in Stanford's run-first scheme) and a reliable receiver. He's more like the organization's all-time leader in receptions and receiving yardage than anyone else on the roster. 

"I've watched a lot of Cowboys film because their offense is a lot like ours," Schultz told SFGate.com's Tom FitzGerald. "So I've tried to pick and pull things from Jason Witten's game, how he lined up against zone coverage, things like that."

Much like Witten, the 21-year-old tight end isn't the flashiest player. He's a good athlete but not a great one. He works to get open by relying on route running and coverage recognition. Schultz is a smart player and solid in all facets of the game.

With his skill set, he'll eventually earn a starting role. 

Hayden Hurst, Baltimore Ravens

Sean Rayford/Associated Press

The Baltimore Ravens drafted not one but two tight ends to complement the weapons already found on the roster. Something needed to be done after the 37-year-old Benjamin Watson, who led the team with 61 receptions last season, returned to the New Orleans Saints in free agency. 

Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews are very different players, but both provide more athleticism and playmaking ability than what the Ravens had since neither Maxx Williams nor Nick Boyle have developed into anything more than part-time performers. 

Hurst, in particular, should be a big part of the Ravens' scheme after general manager Ozzie Newsome used the 25th overall pick to select the 6'5", 250-pound former minor league pitcher. Hurst's position value propelled him past Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley as the franchise's preferred choice. 

"As we thought about Joe Flacco, it was easy for us to envision Joe throwing the ball to Hayden Hurst and Hayden making plays in our offense," assistant general manager Eric DeCosta told Ryan Mink of the Ravens official site. "Even though it was a very tough decision—agonizing decision—Hayden made the most sense for us."

Two of Flacco's four highest passing yardage totals coincided with Dennis Pitta's most productive seasons. The quarterback also leaned on Todd Heap and Owen Daniels during his two most efficient campaigns (2010 and '14). Flacco is much better with a consistent tight end serving as his security blanket, and the organization must maximize the final four years on the 33-year-old quarterback's contract. 

Hurst is a three-down tight end as a receiving threat and willing blocker, while Andrews (86th overall pick) is a glorified slot receiver. Both have their place within the Ravens scheme, but the first-round option will receive far more opportunities early in his career. 

Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

A popular picture can be found on social media that shows Spider-Man pointing at a doppelganger. The meme represents a person seeing his or her mirror image. 

Replacing Julius Thomas with Mike Gesicki invokes the imagery since both are tremendous athletes who excelled at other sports as well and are ideal fits for Adam Gase's offense. 

The Miami Dolphins released Thomas two months ago because he's no longer the same explosive target he once was. The tight end earned Pro Bowl nods after the 2013 and '14 campaigns when he caught a combined 24 touchdowns while Gase was the Denver Broncos offensive coordinator. 

The two couldn't rekindle the magic in Miami, but the head coach has a new toy in Gesicki. 

Like a younger Thomas, Gesicki can thrive as a move tight end because he's a serious threat down the seam and in the red zone. Also like Thomas, blocking is optional. 

"Obviously, that's what everyone wants to talk about," the second-round pick said during an interview on CBS Miami's Joe Rose Show. "Media wants to focus on negatives and all that type stuff. Obviously, that's the part of my game I need to continue to get better at."

Even if Gesicki never develops into a competent blocker, his athleticism can't be matched by many. In fact, the former volleyball player tested among the 99th percentile of NFL tight ends in SPARQ (speed, power, agility, reaction and quickness), according to Three Sigma Athlete's Zach Whitman. A 6'6" target with a 4.54-second 40-yard-dash speed and a 41.5-inch vertical jump can be indefensible.

Previous history indicates Gase knows how to use a tight end with Gesicki's abilities. 

Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Schultz, Hurst and Gesicki provide value as receivers. The Seattle Seahawks won't replace what Jimmy Graham did, but fourth-round pick Will Dissly is exactly what their offense needs to improve upon a woeful run game and dismal pass protection. 

When everyone clamored for the Seahawks to select an offensive lineman in the fourth round, the organization waited with bated breath to select the 6'4", 262-pound tight end. 

"We thought he had a really unique fit that he could add to our football team," head coach Pete Carroll said, per the Seattle Times' Bob Condotta. " ... We were keeping our fingers crossed the whole time." 

Seattle selected the class' best blocking tight end with the 120th overall pick, which shows that the position's prospects aren't valued as much when they aren't projected as significant receiving threats. 

"I think blocking is something you've got to want to do," Dissly told Sports Radio KJR's Curtis Crabtree. "Obviously there's techniques here and there, but at the end of the day it's just something that you want to do." 

The Seahawks can't go another season with quarterback Russell Wilson leading the team in rushing yards and running for his life after dropping back to pass. Dissly is physical at the point of attack. More importantly, the tight end didn't allow a single quarterback pressure last season, according to Pro Football Focus. 

The Montana native caught only 25 passes for 336 yards during his collegiate career—all in his final two seasons—yet he didn't drop a single pass in those two years.

Dissly will serve an understated role compared to most tight ends, yet his importance to his team could be more significant than that of any other rookie. 

Expect the Unexpected

Any good fantasy football participant knows not to expect much from a rookie tight end. No one from this year's class should reverse that trend, but the group's on-field contributions will be worth far more to team success than fantasy lineups. 

Having a reliable option to replace a future Hall of Fame tight end can keep the Cowboys offense on track. Joe Flacco's newest first-round target has a chance to develop into his favorite. The Dolphins have an athletic standout to make their offense far more difficult to defend. And the Seahawks selected a player who will make life far easier for everyone in their backfield.

Eventually, each of these tight ends can develop into something more. What they are right now is good enough to prevent their position from being a weakness.

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL draft for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @brentsobleski.