Ben Troupe

The Titans led the NFL with 23.3 percent of their red-zone targets going to tight ends, but the team splits those between Troupe and Bo Scaife. After a breakout season in 2005, Troupe regressed (10 catches in 13 games) last season and will compete with Scaife for the starting job this year. Both are capable pass catchers and will limit each other’s opportunities, but because the team is thin at wideout, each could have some mid-level value.

No team threw to its TEs more often than Tennessee in 2005, completing 149 passes to three different players. Troupe, Erron Kinney and Bo Scaife were targeted more than any Titan wideout except for Drew Bennett. The addition of WR David Givens should reduce the number of passes thrown to the TE position in 2006, but of the three, Troupe, who has the best speed and hands of the group, will be the least impacted.

Troupe started last season slowly, but eventually became the team’s leading pass catcher at tight end, ahead of Erron Kinney and Shad Meier. Troupe had 33 receptions for 329 yards, but figures to add to those totals in 2005. Meier (25 receptions, 127 yards) departed Tennessee, which is seventh in the league in tight-end usage the last four years. Early reports have Norm Chow, the Titans’ new offensive coordinator, moving Troupe outside at times to take advantage of some mismatches. He could be a nice sleeper pick once all the known commodities are off the board. An injured foot sidelined him in the offseason, though it is not expected to jeopardize his season.

Troupe was one of the most talented tight ends in the 2004 draft, and the Titans will be sure to find him some playing time this season. That being said, he is still the backup to Erron Kinney, and Troupe is probably a couple of years away from making a serious impact.