“There’s one guy that can change this offense and that’s Tyler Eifert,” Buoniconti, a Notre Dame alum, said of the 6-6 Fighting Irish tight end and former receiver.

“But I’m not sure the Dolphins have the vision to get him,” Buoniconti said. “If he stays healthy, he will re-write the tight end record books. He’s that good. If the Dolphins had any sense of wanting to improve the team down the middle and open it up for other receivers, this is the guy. He’s a gem.

“I’m sure he doesn’t fit the mold for the Dolphins. He’s too good.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t fit the mold for the Dolphins. He’s too good.”

Eifert is a guy that has the potential to be like another Rob Gronkowski ...

Wow. What an ass.

Shocker that he's a Notre Dame alum. Way to be objective, dude.

i've been thinking that it is possible we could get Patterson to play receiver at pick 12 and Eifert might be there at pick 42. Instant jolt to the offense.

Best first-round tight ends of the last decade
By Gregg Rosenthal NFL.com

There have been a lot of articles written about the dearth of first-round running backs selected of late. But the reality is that more running backs were taken in the first round than quarterbacks over the last decade.

If you want a position truly underrepresented in the first round, tight end is the better pick. We haven't seen two tight ends taken in the first round since 2006, and we probably won't see any taken that high in 2012, for a second consecutive season.

Here are ATL's best first-round tight end picks over the last 10 years. As always, we are basing the ranking on past performance with future expectations mixed in. We discussed our best quarterback and running back picks previously.


1. Vernon Davis, 49ers (No. 6, 2006)
2. Dallas Clark, Colts (No. 24, 2003)
3. Heath Miller, Steelers (No. 30, 2005)
4. Kellen Winslow, Browns (No. 6. 2004)
5. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions (No. 20, 2009)
6. Jeremy Shockey, Giants (No. 14, 2002)
7. Dustin Keller, Jets (No. 30, 2008)
8. Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars (No. 28, 2006)
9. Jermaine Gresham, Bengals (No. 21, 2010)
10. Daniel Graham, Patriots (No. 21, 2002)
11. Greg Olsen, Bears (No. 31, 2007)
12. Ben Watson, Patriots (No. 32, 2004)
13. Jerramy Stevens, (No. 28, 2002)

The bust rate of first-round tight ends over the last decade is exceptionally low. Guys like Lewis, Gresham, and Graham were good picks; solid starters. Watson is second-to-last on this list, but even he was a reasonably productive player.

Cook, Keller, Davis, Myers and Bennett escaped the tag.

My money is on one of them, Fasano and Clay being the TEs in 2013.

I don't see Eifert being an option unless Miami reaches for him at 12.

Grab Mike Wallace in Free agency, then you have two immediate upgrades to the offense.