The first round of the 2017 NFL Draft was maybe even more unpredictable than the best draft analysts were projecting it to be, with a run on offense overtaking what was thought to be a class heavy on defensive talent.
One position that saw plenty of talent come off the board was tight end where three collegiate stars were taken between picks 19 and 29. Those three players include O.J. Howard from Alabama (Tampa Bay), David Njoku of Miami (Cleveland), and the surprise tight end that rose late in the process, Evan Engram from Ole Miss who landed with the Giants.
RELATED: NFL Draft Primer: Where Will Adam Shaheen, Other D2 Players be Drafted?
With the consensus top three tight ends off the board, that leaves one player left as the best in the bunch. That player is none other than Adam Shaheen from D2's Ashland, one of the more notable stories in the draft process this year for his rise from a basketball player at Pitt-Johnstown to a walk-on superstar with the Eagles.
With that in mind, it is highly likely that Shaheen becomes a second round pick on Friday night as there are still a handful of teams in search of help at the position in the middle-to-late parts of the round. After originally slotting the former Ashland stud to the Bucs in round two, we are here to give an updated projection at where the best D2 product in this class may land.
MORE: Shaheen: "I'm Ready For My Opportunity"
Take a look below at five possible landing spots for the dominant tight end, and let us know where you think Shaheen could go in the comments below.
Make sure to follow the entire draft process here at HERO Sports, as well as on Twitter at the various HERO handles including: @HEROSportsNews, @HEROSportsFCS, @HEROSportsD2FB, and my personal one where I will be reacting to the D2 draftees, @zach_prosba.
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Possible Spots For Shaheen
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Atlanta Falcons
A bit of a luxury for them to select a tight end, but that is the one position on their offense that lacks some consistent threats on the depth chart. Getting a safety blanket to work the middle of the field for Matt Ryan while Julio Jones goes deep could help to keep the offense moving on third and short.
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Dallas Cowboys
Jason Witten just signed an extension this offseason, but how much longer is he really going to last? Shaheen could come in and learn from one of the most complete tight ends in recent memory and eventually become a key piece for Dak Prescott as he continues to develop as a passer.
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Denver Broncos
The Broncos need some more help for whoever their quarterback will be besides protecting him, and Shaheen could step in and be an immediate pass-catching option as he refines his blocking.
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New England Patriots
What better than to pair "Baby Gronk" with "Gronk", giving the Patriots another dynamic 1-2 punch at tight end as they had last season with Gronk and Martellus Bennett. Blocking would not be as important for Shaheen in the New England scheme, so it might be a better chance to get on the field immediately.
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Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers don't really need a tight end because their depth chart has enough bodies that can be successful for Ben Roethlisberger. But there has been talks that Ben asked for another one, and that the Steelers were monitoring the second round to pick one. Shaheen might be there when they pick at 62, and he would be a great grab if he landed in the Steel City.
