Tight ends on Hawks’ shopping list

In 2002, the Seattle Seahawks used two draft picks on tight ends, only to see veteran Itula Mili have back-to-back career years.

What the Seahawks had was a glut of options at the position.

Now Mili and former draft picks Jerramy Stevens and Ryan Hannam are gone, and what the Seahawks have is a draft-day need.

In that way, this weekend’s NFL draft might play right into their hands.

Because the tight end crop is not as top-heavy as it has been in recent seasons, the first round could come and go without a single tight end coming off the board. Seattle, which does not have a first-round pick because of the Deion Branch trade, wouldn’t mind getting a crack at one of the top prospects in Round 2.

“We need to look at the future there,” team president Tim Ruskell said last week.

The consensus top prospect is Miami’s Greg Olsen, a 6-foot-6 tight end who came out a year early to fortify an otherwise dearth class. Pro Football Weekly called Olsen a good fit for a West Coast offense, while a scouting report in The Sporting News said Olsen “dominates linebackers man-to-man.” Olsen can also long-snap.

But he’s generally considered an average to poor blocker, and he has had a history of minor injuries.

The only other prospect considered to be in Olsen’s class is Arizona State junior Zach Miller, who also has size (6-4, 256 pounds) and pass-catching ability but does not have a lot of upside. PFW’s draft guide says Miller “does everything well but is not exceptional in any one area.”

There is a decent chance both Olsen and Miller will be gone by the time the 55th overall pick comes up and the Seahawks are on the board. And it’s also likely Seattle could go another direction in Round 2 and wait until the middle rounds to select a tight end.

Some of the other prospects include Iowa’s Scott Chandler, Minnesota’s Matt Spaeth and Delaware’s Ben Patrick. An intriguing small-school prospect with Washington ties is Whitworth’s Michael Allan, who could go as early as the third round. Washington State’s 6-7 Cody Boyd is also available.

Ruskell said the team feels comfortable with 35-year-old Marcus Pollard, blocking tight end Will Heller and unproven youngsters Leonard Stephens and Ben Joppru at the position, but the team will look for a young prospect at some point this weekend.

As it stands now, Pollard is the likely starter. But the free agent from Detroit caught just 12 passes last season as the Lions changed offensive systems. Pollard also appears to have lost a step in terms of speed.

It’s a safe bet the Seahawks will address the position at some point this weekend, but Ruskell doesn’t say the team feels any sense of desperation.

“We feel good about it for this year,” Ruskell said. “Would we like to get a guy who takes us into the future? Yes.”