The question of who the #1 TE off the board was a good one until the combine. Olsen pulled away from Zach Miller, looking like a thoroughbred running an astounding 4.51 40. Olsen is by far the best athlete of this TE class, and he's demonstrated the routes, hands, and awareness to be a great weapon in the pros. He will demand attention from safeties, and he'll instantly be one of the best TE's in the league running after the catch. There is a catch, and it's that Olsen is at best an average blocker. Teams that truly value a two-way TE may pass on Olsen. Olsen was never dominant at Miami (but then again, who has been lately on that offense?), which raises some questions about him not playing up to the considerable athletic ability and talent he flashed at the combine.

Miller was thought of as the #1 TE on a lot of boards before his average (even below average) combine. Where Olsen oozes potential, but has never cashed in on it, Miller is a tough, clutch player who gets the most out of his abilities, even if they are physically limited. It seems too obvious when a player is compared to his predecessor, but Miller really does play like Todd Heap. Zach makes the difficult WR like catches at full extension, and he's got no qualms about taking huge hits to make the play. He'll also be a better blocker than Olsen. Olsen is the consensus #1 now, but I have a feeling Miller is still #1 on at least a handful of teams boards.

Patrick is not as explosive as Olsen, and he's not as proven as Miller, but he just looks like the kind of big, fluid athlete who will do damage over the middle at the next level. Patrick got his degree from Duke and then transferred to I-AA to be featured more as a pass catcher. While he's rawer as a blocker than Olsen or Miller, he's the most fluid, natural pass catcher of the top 3.Patrick is also a smart kid (*cough* Duke *cough*) who said he wanted to prove himself as a blocker when we talked to him at the Shrine Game and Senior Bowl.

Listen to the talk with Ben at the Senior Bowl.

Listen to the talk with Ben at the Shrine Game.

Spaeth is a clutch short area receiver and the best blocker of the top 5 TEs. He's not going to blow anyone away with his very average athleticism, but he will help his team win games and get the most out of his ability with his toughness and work ethic. Spaeth played through the pain late in the season to offset any effect a severe shoulder injury might have on his draft stock.

Newton is even less impressive than Spaeth as an athlete, but he uses his big frame and sticky hands to come up with some ridiculous catches on poorly thrown balls. Newton will not stretch defenses, and he won't get wide open with nifty moves, but he will just make the play on 3rd downs and in the end zone. He's also got the makeup to work hard and improve as a blocker - his frame is OT-esque.

I had a lot of trouble slotting Chandler. Chandler's game screams oversized WR, and indeed, he's a WR convert. That means an NFL team will get a big guy who can run sharp routes and make natural hands catches with his receiving instincts, but that they'll also get a guy who is worth little as a blocker. He's worthless to some teams, but intriguing to others, depending on how they use their TE.

If you like basketball playing TEs, Boss is boss. His pro day numbers (35.5" vert, 10' broad, 4.71 40) confirmed that he's a very good athlete for the position, and he's a natural receiver to boot. The team that drafts Boss will be getting a project (small school, split time with b-ball), but he might end up being one of the top passcatchers from this TE class if the transition to full-time football and NFL speed goes well.

Allan is similar to Boss, a natural pass catcher with terrific innate athleticism who has not proven himself at an advanced level of play. Allan has an even longer frame than Boss, and he showed terrific ability to get up and catch balls over his head at full extension. His combine numbers were a shade better than Boss's, but Allan seems like a softer player, and his hands were inconsistent in the three days I got to watch him at the Shrine Game.

Milner's rare athletic gifts in a big frame should have made him a first day pick, but inconsistent hands and overall game will have to make NFL teams wonder if he'll ever even approach his potential. He has no excuses coming from the program that produced Ben Watson, Randy McMichael, and Leonard Pope in recent years, so I doubt he'll change his underachieving ways. His rare physical package still gets him a slot in a very weak TE class.

Listen to the talk with Martrez at the Senior Bowl.

Pudewell is a nasty blocker and serviceable pass catcher on short stuff, but he is one of the least impressive athletes in this TE class. He should still stick on a roster as a backup TE/H-back, and he might have latent upside as a receiver because he was rarely used that way at Nevada.

Worth Mentioning:

Matt Herian, Nebraska, 6'4" 242 - Herian is one of the most natural receivers in this class, but a grisly leg injury has robbed him of most of his upside.

Clark Harris, Rutgers, 6'6" 261 - Harris is not a standout blocker or receiver, and he's a stiff athlete, but he had a productive college career, and should get drafted if he's over the injury that knocked him out of the Senior Bowl.

Jonny Harline, BYU, 6'4" 248 - Harline is a clutch, tough pass catcher, but he's very limited as a blocker and he lacks the speed or athleticism to be a weapon at the next level.

Daniel Coats, BYU, 6'3" 257 - Coats projects as an H-back with his bulked up WR profile, but will not be a force as a downfield receiver or blocker. He does have good bread and butter receiving skills (hands, quickness, ball skills) and will work hard.

Donte Rosario, Oregon, 6'3" 244 - Rosario is another H-back type, but with very impressove physical attributes - he was near the top of the TEs in almost every category at the combine. He's an adequate receiver and tough run blocker, but will never be a true inline TE.

Derek Schouman, Boise State, 6'2" 247 - A terrific athlete who might be in for a rough transition to FB.

Zach Herold, Nebraska-Omaha, 6'5" 253 - Herold is a solid two way TE who will make the tough catch in a crowd.

Rodney Hannah, Houston, 6'6" 245 - Hannah is a raw basketball convert who has the athletic profile to possibly make it as a pass-catching TE.

Chad Upshaw, Buffalo, 6'5" 252 - Gene's nephew is a great athlete who will definitely get invited to a training camp.

Brent Celek, Cincinnati, 6'4" 255 - Celek is a gritty TE who gets by on guts more than talent.

Samuel Smith, Florida International, 6'2" 245 - Smith is a prolific, but raw pass catcher who was suspended for 2 games for his involvement in the FIU-Miami melee.

Luke Smith-Anderson, Idaho, 6'4" 252 - Smith-Anderson's list of injuries is almost as long as Cincinnati Bengal WR Chris Henry's rap sheet, but he's a talented enough pass catcher merit a look if he can stay healthy.

Tyler Ecker, Michigan, 6'6" 246 - Ecker is a smooth, fluid pass catcher who probably doesn't have the strength to make it as an inline TE.

Cody Boyd, Washington St, 6'8" 255 - Boyd is a massive, productive target in the passing game, but he might lack the toughness and strength to be useful as anything else.

Braden Jones, Southern Illinois, 6'3" 260 - You have to be intrigued by a TE who started at linebacker for Northwestern for two years with a 39" vertical. In fact, Jones pro day reads like a report card of straight A's: 4.58 40, 4.28 short shuttle, 10'6" board jump.