2017 NFL draft position preview: Tight ends

Alabama underused tight end O.J. Howard last season, most draft analysts agree. That won’t surprise many who watched USC play at the start of this decade.
Alabama’s offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin, seemed averse to throwing to tight ends when he coached the Trojans, and while Howard could have enjoyed a higher profile for the Crimson Tide last season, NFL personnel types certainly weren’t scared away.
Howard is certain to be the first tight end off the board, and a high-firs