Purdue's Keller makes the grade

There is no tight end in this year's draft rated as highly as Greg Olsen was a year ago, when the Bears made him the 31st overall pick.

There is, however, very good depth with several players capable of contributing quickly in the NFL. As many as five or six tight ends could come off the board by the end of the second round, but perhaps none in the first round.

Before the Scouting Combine, not one of this year's tight ends was considered a first-round draft pick, but Purdue's Dustin Keller emerged from Indianapolis with the potential to be drafted even higher than Olsen on the strength of spectacular workouts that propelled him to the top of the tight end class.

At least for this year, the term "workout warrior" should be accompanied by Keller's mug shot. He literally blew away the competition in testing at his position.

Keller had the best 40-yard dash time among the tight ends at Indy (4.55); faster than some wide receivers. He had the best vertical jump (38 inches), which he bettered by 3 inches at Purdue's pro day on March 7. He had the best broad jump (10 feet, 11 inches) and the fastest 20-yard shuttle (4.14 seconds), which he shaved two-tenths of a second off at his pro day. He was second with 26 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, runner-up in the three-cone drill at 6.88 seconds and fourth in the 60-yard shuttle at 11.74.

Keller's stock has soared even though he's far from ideal size at 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds. That doesn't make him a terror as a blocker, but he caught 124 passes for 1,652 yards in his final two seasons at Purdue.

Much like the Bears' Olsen, Keller exhibits the skill set of a wide receiver, which is what he came to Purdue as before converting after his redshirt freshman season.

"I completely feel like a tight end now," he said. "It's been a transition in the making the past three years, but I definitely feel like a tight end."

And Keller has become a proficient and willing blocker thanks to hundreds of hours in the weight room. It was part of the transformation necessary to convert from a finesse position to a more blue-collar job.

"You definitely have that knock immediately: 'Is he tough enough; is he willing to get his head in there and block somebody?'" Keller said. "You don't get much of a chance to prove that at the Combine, but hopefully people will get to watch more of my film and see that I am willing to get in there and block somebody."

NFL Draft: The top tight ends

Player, college Size 40-time

Dustin Keller, Purdue 6-2, 242 4.55 Bob LeGere's skinny: Emotional competitor whose outstanding postseason workouts have boosted stock, but he lacks the size and blocking ability of a classic TE.

John Carlson, Notre Dame 6-47/8, 255 4.75 Finesse player lacks power and bulk but catches well, runs good routes, has smarts and work ethic. Won't stretch field.

Fred Davis, USC 6-2½, 255 4.68 Pumped up WR who blocks like one but also shows movement skills of a smaller man, runs well, makes tough catches and showed improvement every year.

Martin Rucker, Missouri 6-5, 248 4.63

4-year starter, good route runner with smarts and instincts but has inconsistent hands, lacks strength and isn't an eager blocker.

Martellus Bennett*, A&M 6-6, 259 4.68

Fluid, athletic, has great size and big, soft hands but isn't as good as he thinks he is, and doesn't work very hard. Boom or bust.

* Denotes junior in college