What Craig Stevens' retirement means to Titans' tight ends
In his eight-year NFL career, tight end Craig Stevens caught all of 60 passes, topping the 20-reception mark in just one season.
But he was one of the last power-blocking tight ends in the NFL, so in his own way, Stevens will be harder to replace than a tight end who regularly hauls in 40 or 50 passes per year.
“They’re very hard to come by,” Titans coach Mike Mularkey said. “They’re hard to find, guys that can get up and block a defensive end consistently like he has over the years.
“They’re not in college anymore. The offenses are all spread out. They’re all standing up in two-point stances now.”
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Stevens' decision to retire earlier this week will alter the roles of some of the team’s tight ends and give others a better opportunity for making the roster.
Here’s a breakdown on each:
Delanie Walker (6-foot-2, 248 pounds)
Walker is coming off a Pro Bowl season, one in which he caught 94 passes for 1,088 yards.
The 11-year veteran isn’t big enough to stand up to big defensive ends consistently like Stevens did, but he will be required to do some more blocking.
Along the same lines, Walker will get even more reps with Stevens retired. The Titans will have to make sure that the increased use — and slightly different role — doesn’t wear down the 32-year-old.
Anthony Fasano (6-4, 255)
Like Stevens and Walker, Fasano graded out well against the run last year, though he wasn’t used in the run game as often as Stevens. Mularkey described Fasano as a 'tweener, one who has some talents as both a blocker and a receiver.
“He can be as effective as Craig is,” Mularkey said. “Craig is a little more physical doing it. Anthony does it a little more schematically, getting the block done.”
Phillip Supernaw (6-5, 248)
If Supernaw was a question mark as a fourth tight end, Stevens’ retirement means he’s a virtual lock to make the team as the third tight end. Mularkey said that in the second preseason game against Carolina Supernaw did a good job with many of the same blocking assignments Stevens usually handled.
Supernaw described himself as a “mauler” on the line of scrimmage, noting that “technique is huge, but it’s still about being physical. The most physical guy is going to win.”
Jerome Cunningham (6-3, 250)
Cunningham, who played nine games for the Giants last year, becomes an intriguing fourth tight end possibility now, as he has a style similar to that of Stevens.
“He’s more of that point tight end, the guy who does the brunt of the blocking,” Mularkey said. “He’s a very powerful guy.”
Alex Ellis (6-4, 253)
Ellis was more of a blocking tight end at the University of Tennessee, so that will be an especially good asset with Stevens gone. A plus for Ellis is that he’s also shown good hands, evidenced by the touchdown catch he made Saturday.
Reach John Glennon on Twitter @glennonsports.