The 2017 NFL Draft is stacked with talent, notably so at the tight end position. Analysts such as Todd McShay predict multiple tight ends being selected in the first round, a rarity in the modern NFL. Given the many high-level tight ends available and Jacob Tamme’s age and injury last season, it’s likely the Falcons grab a tight end in the draft.

Let’s look at some of the top TE prospects that could possibly end up in red and black:

O.J. Howard, Alabama

The acclaimed Crimson Tide tight end that seemingly appeared out of nowhere to help Alabama defeat the Clemson Tigers in the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship seems to be the consensus best tight end in the draft.

Howard had a fantastic senior season, raking in almost 600 yards and three touchdowns. Yet, his stats aren’t what have analysts raving, it’s his natural athleticism. Howard stands 6-foot-6 and weighs around 250 pounds, making him a big target for quarterbacks. Also, Howard uses his size well as an efficient blocker that can hold his own against pass rushers. Further, Howard has a lot of speed for a player his size. He recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.51 at the NFL Combine, showing that he is more than just a big-bodied tight end.

Unfortunately, with Atlanta picking at No. 31 in the first round of the draft and having more pressing needs, it is almost impossible that Howard will end up with the Falcons. Many draft experts have Howard going in top 25 picks, with some even saying he could go in the top ten.

David Njoku, Miami (FL)

Njoku, a sophomore out of Miami, decided to leave school early for the NFL and it looks like it might pay off with most analysts considering him the best tight end available after Howard.

Njoku was a monster in 2016, tallying just under 700 yards and eight touchdowns. Also, he impressed experts with his frame: 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, combined with a 40-yard dash time of 4.61 seconds. Njoku used his quickness to get open down the field. If his quarterback, Brad Kaaya, threw with more accuracy and consistency, it’s not hard to envision Njoku having an even better season than he did.

Unfortunately, Njoku’s youth is a double-edged sword. He has great raw athleticism, but he still has room to develop his blocking and fine-tune other aspects of his game. For example, if Njoku could further fill out his frame and become a bigger force on the field, then he would be of an more NFL-ready prospect.

The Falcons selected Austin Hooper in 2016, and he is a similar type of tight end to Njoku. They are both great receivers with natural athleticism, but neither have notable strengths in the blocking aspect of their game. Meaning that, while talented, Njoku is an unlikely prospect for Atlanta.

Evan Engram, Ole Miss

The Rebels significantly under-performed expectations in 2016, but Engram was a bright spot in a dull season. The senior tight end was the leading receiver for Ole Miss, with over 900 yards and eight touchdowns. Engram stepped up tremendously in big games, with 120+ yards against both Florida State and Alabama. His biggest advantage is his speed, as he recorded the fastest 40-yard dash among all tight ends at 4.41 seconds.

However, Engram is significantly undersized to be an NFL tight end, as he is only 6-foot-3 and weighs just 235 pounds. This means he has yet to develop as an efficient blocker and looks to be more adequate as hybrid between wide receiver and tight end. He has potential to be like a Jimmy Graham or Julius Thomas type if he can develop into a receiving threat to compensate for his comparative lack of size.

For the same reasons as Njoku, Engram is not a likely prospect for the Falcons. They are looking for a more physical tight end that has better developed their blocking to complement Hooper in his second year.

Now that we examined the potential first- and second-rounders, let’s look at tight ends Atlanta would be more likely to pick:

Adam Shaheen, Ashland

This relatively unheard of tight end out of the relatively unheard of university in Ohio is nothing short of a beast.

Shaheen stands tall at 6-foot-7 and weighs in at just under 280 pounds. This is incredible size for his position and he can still move down the field despite his large frame, as evidenced with a 4.79 second 40-yard dash time. He abused college secondaries in his junior year, with over 850 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.

While Shaheen would dwarf most linebackers covering him in the NFL, some question his big numbers given his competition. He played in Division II, meaning he was not exposed to the best talent in college football. This leads to the question, did he use his size to dominate rather than fundamental skills?

Regardless of concerns with Shaheen’s development, you can’t teach height. His build is ideal for an NFL blocking and red zone target tight end. Most analysts and draft experts expect him to go in the third or fourth round, right where the Falcons could potentially be looking for a tight end. Atlanta’s offensive line opened gaping holes for running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman in 2016. Now imagine what they could do with a guy north of 270 pounds bowling defenders over.

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Keith Towbridge, Louisville

The highly explosive Cards offense turned almost everyone on the team into stars, so why was Towbridge relatively unheard of in 2016?

Well, the senior was recovering from surgery. He did play some, gathering an unimpressive 22 yards and no touchdowns. However, looking past his stats, he has the potential to serve as a good blocking tight end due to his frame and athleticism. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs about 260 pounds, with a mediocre 4.93 second 40-yard dash. Towbridge isn’t the fastest player or the guy with all the highlights and stats, but he has the potential to be a very effective blocker as a second or third option tight end.

Unfortunately, Towbridge does have health concerns. He’s undergone surgery twice for a foot injury that could prove a problem for the remainder of his football career. This is a concern especially because of his physical and aggressive nature of play.

While not worthy of a high pick, most consider Towbridge deserving of a place in the NFL due to his passion for the game and potential as a blocker. He will likely go very late in the draft or miss the draft entirely, making him possibly an effective contributor at a very low cost. If the Falcons have the opportunity to snag him in the seventh round or pick him up as an undrafted free agent, it might be worth the relatively low risk.

Michael Roberts, Toledo

The tight end with a rough upbringing has fought hard to prove himself throughout all of his life, and he could be one of the best options for Atlanta in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Roberts was a strong blocker and more than capable red zone target in his time playing for the Rockets, tallying an impressive 533 yards and 16 touchdowns. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 270 pounds, he has an NFL-ready build to be a capable blocker.

While Roberts notably exceeded at run-blocking from the right side of the line his senior year, there are still other aspects he can fine tune, such as blocking in space and a few drops. Still, he is a solid tight end and could be valuable as both a receiver and a blocker.

Roberts should be available in the third or fourth round, and given his strengths and high potential, he would be a great selection for the Falcons.