High Side by Jason Wood
There are a lot of promising young tight ends in the league, and this draft was no different. However, the savvy fantasy football owners will not let an important fact escape their draft day preparation. Take a look at the following statistics:

• 33 receptions for 368 yards and 2 TDs
• 7 receptions for 99 yards and 1 TD
• 34 receptions for 363 yards and 1 TD

If you guessed that these were the first year totals of Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe and Bubba Franks respectively, then you're correct. There is undeniable evidence that tight ends, no matter how talented, take at least a year to become an integral part of the team's offense. Unlike receivers, a pass-catching tight end must also learn complex blocking schemes and prove his mettle as a sixth offensive guard in addition to being a route runner. That's why I believe Todd Heap (in his second season) will assuredly outperform rookie tight ends such as Jeremy Shockey, Daniel Graham and Jerramy Stevens.

But my expectations for Heap don't stop there. This guy was a physical marvel coming out of Arizona State, and he was one of the most prolific pass-catching tight ends of his collegiate era. When you consider that Heap was selected by Ozzie Newsome, arguably the best tight end in the history of the game, as the heir apparent to aging Shannon Sharpe, it's difficult to question his abilities or opportunity. Furthermore, Heap was able to spend a year learning his craft from Sharpe, one of the best receiving tight ends of all-time.

So many factors point toward Heap having a dominant season this year:

• · Chris Redman takes over the quarterback position for retired Elvis Grbac. While some are concerned about Redman's ability to be effective, Brian Billick insists that the time has come for Redman to shine. Either way, history has shown that rookie quarterbacks often look for 'safety outlets' in the form of a pass-catching tight end and/or a running back out of the backfield.
  Baltimore's offense is predicated on getting the tight end involved. In the last two seasons, the tight end position has accounted for 1,924 yards and 8 touchdowns. That's more than 28% of the total passing offense going to the tight end position. Now, with Shannon Sharpe gone Todd Heap steps into that role, a role which Billick and Ozzie Newsome had in mind for him from the outset.
• Unproven receiving corps. Baltimore is likely to have trouble moving the ball this season. The lone 1,000-yard receiver in its history, Qadry Ismail, has moved on to Indianapolis. While Travis Taylor has the physical talent to emerge, it's clear that Heap will have plenty of opportunities to make plays all over the field.
• In limited duty last season, Heap averaged 12.9 yards per carry, which was almost 2 yards more per reception than Shannon Sharpe.

When all is said and done, Heap will assuredly be both Redman's "safety blanket" and his only reliable option in the red zone. While I'm not ready to anoint Heap as the 2nd coming of Tony Gonzalez, I don't think 50+ receptions for 600 yards and 4-6 TDs is out of the question, which puts Heap in the top five of his position.

Low Side by David Shick
The reason I'm so cool on Heap is his whopping 16 catches last year. If you use the logic that Heap will pull in all the balls that Sharpe did last year (73) Heap looks dominate. I just don't buy it. Todd Heap is nowhere in the realm of Shannon Sharpe. Sharpe is headed to Canton. Heap may still be headed to the scrap-Heap.

I currently have Heap ranked #10. To me this is a great (and realistic) goal for Heap this season. There are just too many established veteran tight ends that I think are worthy of being considered as elite tight ends.