Apparently, the Falcons really are looking at possibly drafting the future of the tight end position in 2011.
Hot on the heels of a report that Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph is getting a workout with the team next week, the National Football Post tells us that Nevada tight end Virgil Green is getting a look, as well. Two is good enough to declare a trend, I always say.
Unlike Rudolph, the ultra-athletic Green isn't expected to sniff the first round. He gobbled up 35 receptions for 515 yards and five touchdowns in 2010, putting up an impressive 4.54 40-yard-dash, but isn't considered as polished a player as Rudolph and may lack his upside as a blocker.
That said, the Falcons need to start thinking about a replacement for Gonzalez. I'm a big believer in Michael Palmer, but his best fit may be as a complementary tight end who can draw significant snaps as a blocker. Green has the potential to be a lights-out receiving tight end at the NFL level, and he'd make sense for the Falcons as a guy who could learn behind Gonzalez for a year or two until the future Hall of Famer hangs it up.
What say you?