Is Vernon Davis the Best TE in the NFL?

Kellen Winslow II is the highest paid TE in the NFL. The Bucs kinda screwed the pooch on that deal.

he still has way too many dropped balls. He’s top five for sure, and if his 2010 season is like his 2009 season than yeah I think he deserves mention as being the best in the NFL.

Right now I wouldn’t call him that.

If the 49ers lose Davis they’re left with Gore and an emerging Crabtree and that’s it. Plus the 49ers offense puts more emphasis on TE play than a lot of other offenses which makes Davis more valuable to the 49ers than he is to some of the other teams out there. A part of me is nervous about giving him a huge contract but another part of me feels he is very important to the 49ers future. A contract in the area of 6-7 million a year with 20-22 guaranteed feels about right.

Has requested the following extension. This was reported via PFT

Per Maiocco, Davis has requested a five-year, $40 million contract, with $25 million guaranteed.

That would round out to 8 million a year. I say the deal gets done and he gets a 5 year 36 million with 18 guaranteed

he isnt the best yet but if he keeps up the work he will be

As long as Alex Smith improves his game and continues to gain chemistry with VD, they will be a potent combo for years to come. Vernon will repeat his 2009 performance or at least get close and he will lead the team in all the receiving catergories. He deserves to be paid.

He is on the rise, while the only other TEs that stand in his way are not in very good shape (Owen Daniels had season-ending surgery last season, and Antonio Gates is almost thirty and past his prime). Davis is currently the most dangerous TE in the league.

to be the best TE in the league but at this point he not the best. He still has to put together some consistant years but he’s well on his way. Its vital they sign him but he has to continue to grow and be a leader for the team.

Is for Delanie Walker to keep getting better at his route running and blocking. Can you even imagine the mismatches with two TE’s who can both block or toast a LB/Safety on a pass route? Line up bunched then flex both out to a 4-wide look…if the defense is in base they are hosed. Heck, even Nickel they got a CB on one of the TE’s…defenses would have to pick a player to cover and take their chances that the other 3 wouldn’t beat single coverage.

Ya you would pick Vernon Davis.. he’s the best. and he’s on our team!

Antonio Gates is still the best TE in the NFL. Dallas Clark and Jason Witten are also both clearly better IMO. After those 3 you could make an argument, but I would put another few guys ahead of Vernon personally.

Davis has only had one good season, and even in that season only 60% of the passes thrown his way were completed. His yards and TD’s are shiny, but they threw the ball to him a ton.

There are 2 things that a TE’s are expected to do well. Block, and catch TD’s. The biggest problem for TE’s is their proclavity for getting injured. As far as I can see, TE’s are so pro for injuries that most NFL teams keep them on a short leash when it comes to contracts (outside of KW II) Looking at the current crop of top TE’s in the league, only Antonio Gates of the Chargers and Dallas Clark of the Colts, haven’t been hit by injury year in and year out.

Thus, with those 2 as a starting point. I would say that V.D. is probably the 3rd best right now. Clark and Gates are HUGE parts of their teams offenses respectively. And as such they should be the litmus test by which V.D. is measured. Davis, for all of his 3 yrs in the league, by some folks account, is still raw. Has more than enough upside to continue to skyrocket. His potential is only limited by the arm throwing to him and the system he plays in.

In essence, I think he definately has played himself into a position that sits between the 1st and 2nd best contract in the league, and is worth every penny. But, I bristle slightly at the habit of paying TE’s tons of money, due to their chances of getting injured. (Going over the middle and getting hit by LB’s for 2 hrs every week wears on a guy.) Thus locking up a sizable amount of your cap, and then being on the sidelines. Congrats V.D….but, you have been warned.

He must continue his production this year and every year to be considered the best TE. He is without a bought the most talented and gifted TE in the Game. He needs to focus on the game and not his wallet. He was drafted high so his rookis contract has given him much money. 5 years 40 million and 25 guaranteed, is way too steep. Less money and they should be able to get a deal done.

VD is the best TE in the NFL if not for Mike Martz using him as a slot receiver and he was blocking 50% of the time he would have had pro bowl numbers that year. Yes he was there at tops of the league in dropped passes but to Tie the NFL TD record for TE goes to show how a rare talent like this should be utilized. He is by far the most complete TE in the Game and is the fastest VD is a FREAK… Niners better get a deal done before the season starts and have him Blow uo this season and see his value jump to where the niners would be bidding against some stupid team wiling to pay him some ridiculous amount of money that the niners cant afford with all the other guys that have contracts ending. GET IT DONE NINER FO

He could play in a high passing system and running system. he is the most versatile. Clark isn’t even top 3 because he cannot block, he is a big slow WR playing TE in a pass heavy offense and couldn’t start in a run heavy offense. Gates was number 1, Gonzalez was 2 and Davis 3, but after last season, Gates 2, Gonzalez out of top 5 and Davis 1, and Owens is overrated.

It may be due in part to homerism but here was my thinking:

First of all we all know he tied the single season TD record for TE’s. That’s an incredible accomplishment and if it’s not legit, I don’t know what is.

Secondly, we also know that he is a great blocker and you cannot undervalue that. He is better at this than his competition is. I wonder how many more times our QB’s would have gotten sacked with out him here over last few years. I wonder if Gore would have had three straight seasons of 1,000+ yards without him here. His elite blocking skills are invaluable, especially to this team that has needed it so badly.

Third, his size and speed combo create matchup problems that no other TE in league can. I think people are undervaluing this. He’s bigger and faster that Witten, Gonzales, Clark, etc. There is basically no one in the league that can really cover this guy over the middle except maybe our very own Patrick Willis. Line him up outside and you have to use your best and fastest CB and usually this still doesn’t work because VD is bigger. This is why he had more TD’s than any other TE in ‘09 and it’s why he will have a ton next year as well. The matchup problems he creates benefits our offense immensly and in so many ways.

Sure he can drop a few less balls, but Vernon Davis blocks better, catches more touchdowns, is bigger and faster and let’s not forget his work ethic and newfound leadership skills. I think the combination of these things makes him the best TE in the league right now.

Neither Clark, Gates, nor Witten can block like Davis does. Now he has incorporated catching ability to it. At this point he is the best TE in the NFL.

I’d argue Vernon Davis is the most dynamic, and arguably the best playmaker among all the tight ends. Dallas Clark and Jason Witten are both beasts as well, and might be better at this point in time. But I think the upside of Davis is higher than either of them, and by a fairly decent margin. He combines a size, speed and athleticism that neither Witten or Clark can match.

At this point, it’s a matter of Davis maximizing that potential on a consistent basis. He had a great 2009, but not it’s a matter of working on the drops, and becoming a consistent threat year in and year out.