Is this the year there's a first-round run on tight ends in the NFL draft?

Typically, when the time comes for NFL teams to build through the draft, tight ends tend to be low-end commodities on the priority spectrum.

Over the past 20 drafts, exactly 20 of them have been picked in the first round — with none going in the top five. Since 2011, only two (Tyler Eifert in 2013 and Eric Ebron in 2014) have heard their names called in Round 1.

Yet this might finally be the year there's a run on tight ends to kick off the draft. Former Alabama star O.J. Howard and David Njoku of Miami (Fla.) are widely perceived as virtual first-round locks. The wild card is Mississippi's Evan Engram, whose unique skill set might provide just enough intrigue to make this the first draft in 15 years to have a Round 1 trifecta at the position.

"Vegas has the prop bets out this year. I'd be willing to bet if it was two and a half (tight ends in the first round), I would take the over — and I'd bet a lot of money," ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay told USA TODAY Sports. "I think Evan Engram will very likely be drafted (in Round 1).

"It really is an impressive group, and I think there are probably eight, nine, maybe up to 10 tight ends that could go in the first three rounds."

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Howard, an excellent receiver who's also the best blocker among this year's top prospects, could be selected in the top 10. Njoku isn't as refined yet but has tremendous athleticism and considerable upside at just 20 years of age.

And then there's Engram. At 6-3, 234 pounds, many would argue he's an oversized receiver, and his 4.42 time over 40 yards only feeds that notion. In addition to his speed, he also showcased Velcro hands at the scouting combine and could project as the kind of match-up nightmare that's in vogue at the pro level.

And with so many NFL teams favoring double-tight sets, demand might just outstrip even this year's impressive supply.

"To me, tight end is the deepest class on the offensive side of the football this year, and I don't ever recall that in my nearly 20 years of analyzing the draft," CBS analyst Rob Rang told USA TODAY Sports.

"This tight end class really is a Baskin-Robbins kind of pick your flavor. Everything's available."

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Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis

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