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Tennessee football’s top five NFL TEs of all time

By Caleb Calhoun

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 21: Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys makes a catch against the Carolina Panthers during play at Bank of America Stadium on October 21, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Cowboys won 19-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 21: Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys makes a catch against the Carolina Panthers during play at Bank of America Stadium on October 21, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Cowboys won 19-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images /

David Martin. player. 839. Scouting Report. 1997-2000. Years in NFL: 11. Pick Analysis. 3

Teams played for:

  • Green Bay Packers, 2001-2006
  • Miami Dolphins, 2007-2009
  • Buffalo Bills, 2010-2011

From 1997 to 2000, David Martin was a big receiving target for Tennessee football. He had five touchdowns in his final two years on Rocky Top and never went over 300 receiving yards in a season, but the Green Bay Packers saw him as a guy who could play tight end at the next level. As a result, they took him in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.

At 6’4″ 264 pounds, Martin became a valuable receiving target for Brett Favre. He was never a regular starter in the rotation, but he extended his career to have enough longevity value to make this list. Martin was part of two playoff teams in Green Bay, and he had 87 receptions for 766 yards and nine touchdowns there.

Martin then he went to the Miami Dolphins, where his production increased. Despite their horrendous 1-15 season in 2007, Martin had over 300 yards receiving and two touchdowns. In 2008, he had his best year, gaining 450 receiving yards with three touchdowns, leading them to the AFC East title and the NFL Playoffs in a historically great turnaround.

The Buffalo Bills signed Martin in 2010, and he had one receiving touchdown, but he didn’t do much after that. His final season in the pros was 2011. However, he finished his career with 159 receptions for 1,562 yards and 15 touchdowns. Martin’s ability to have a decade-plus career and be able to become a blocking tight end after being a receiver puts him on this list.

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