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The earlier item on Vernon Davis led regular blog commenter EDTGO to recall a now-quaint 2011 item about Davis bracing for competition from NFC West rivals at the position.

That led me to produce this chart, which compares Davis' production last season (counting playoffs) to combined regular-season totals for all tight ends from the 49ers' division rivals.

We see that Davis finished with more than twice as many touchdowns and twice as many long plays (40-plus yards) as Jeff King, Todd Heap, Rob Housler, Jim Dray, Zach Miller, Anthony McCoy, Cameron Morrah, Lance Kendricks, Billy Bajema, Michael Hoomanawanui and Stephen Spach.

We'll continue this conversation in the not-too-distant future. First, off to the NFC West chat.

Following up on tight ends, the Seattle Seahawks still have an opening for one after losing John Carlson to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency.

Visanthe Shiancoe visited Seattle and would presumably fit the offense after playing for Seahawks coordinator Darrell Bevell in Minnesota. So far, however, the Seahawks have focused on adding veteran depth at other positions, including defensive tackle (Jason Jones), linebacker (Barrett Ruud) and guard (Deuce Lutui).

Age is a primary consideration; Shiancoe turns 32 in June and the Seahawks, owners of the NFL's third-youngest roster, generally want to build with younger players. They have no players older than 30 and only one projected starter is older than 29 (Chris Clemons).

But the Seahawks also could use help at tight end, where Zach Miller's backups include Cameron Morrah, Anthony McCoy and John Nalbone.

The chart, from ESPN Stats & Information, shows the Seahawks' tight ends ranking 28th or worse last season in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns and percentage of passes dropped. Carlson missed the season with a shoulder injury, affecting depth.

Miller fared well as a blocker. His prospects as a receiver figure to improve with better play from the offensive line and quarterback. Miller, signed from the Raiders after training camps had opened, also went into last season with very little time to learn the Seahawks' playbook or get accustomed to their personnel. That will change in 2012.

Schiancoe, despite age concerns, has never missed a game in nine NFL seasons.

Thoughts on where NFC West players ranked for 2011 in yards per pass target:

• The players ranked second through seventh included four first-round picks and a second-rounder. The player ranked first, rookie Doug Baldwin, was not drafted. Think how many teams would draft Baldwin if given second chances. Seattle would have.
• Larry Fitzgerald's 9.2-yard average ranked a close second and was the most impressive mark in the division because he had so many targets (153).
• Sidney Rice did not make the intended impact in Seattle, but he did average 15.1 yards per catch and 8.5 per attempt. Those numbers were healthier than Rice, who battled injuries and currently faces three to four months rehabilitation from shoulder surgery.
• Braylon Edwards' 5.3-yard average says plenty about why the San Francisco 49ers released him. Injuries were a factor. We can speculate over whether Edwards fit well with the team, but a lack of production was the No. 1 issue. He did average 9.3 yards per target on third down, however. That ranked third in the division.
• Filtering to show third-down averages produced results of interest for qualifying players (min. 10 targets on third down). Niners rookie Kyle Williams shot to the head of the list with an 11.9-yard average on 11 targets. Six of those 11 plays gained first downs. He had gains of 56, 15, 12, 11, 10, 10, 9 and 8 yards on third down.
• Baldwin ranked second to Williams on third down, averaging 9.7 yards on a division-high 42 targets. Teammate Golden Tate was fifth at 8.8 yards per third-down target, ahead of Fitzgerald (7.7). Tate had 19 third-down targets, a relatively high number (Fitzgerald had 31).
• Brandon Lloyd's average with St. Louis should have been higher. The Rams threw to him frequently and weren't able to connect enough. I'd blame that on overall offensive incompetence, including at quarterback. Lloyd was no the problem in St. Louis.
• Dropped passes help explain why Frank Gore ranks so low on the list. Gore had seven drops on 30 targets. Only Cleveland's Montario Hardesty averaged fewer receptions per drop among players with at least five catches, and it was close (2.3 to 2.4). Seattle tight ends Anthony McCoy (2.6) and Cameron Morrah (3.0) were third and fourth on that list. The Seahawks went all season without a touchdown reception from their tight ends. Zach Miller added a welcome dimension as a blocker, at least.

Thanks to Hank Gargiulo of ESPN Stats & Information for providing raw data for me to mine.
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One play from Charlie Whitehurst stood out more than the others during the Seattle Seahawks' 6-3 defeat at Cleveland in Week 7.

It stood out enough for me to list it second among the five observations posted Tuesday.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle takes a much closer look at the missed opportunity. He diagrams the play and explains in detail how Whitehurst should have dodged a defender and thrown a likely touchdown pass to tight end Cameron Morrah. Instead, Whitehurst threw away the ball as if afraid to make a mistake or unsure of how to handle the situation.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team was pleased with Robert Gallery's performance against Cleveland. Noted: I watched Gallery closely and also thought he was better. The offensive line in general wasn't the problem for Seattle, save for a few breakdowns from rookie right tackle James Carpenter. Quarterback play and tight end play seemed like much bigger problems.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says Whitehurst showed why he's the backup.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with an orthopedic surgeon for thoughts on what could be wrong with Beanie Wells' injured knee.

Also from Somers: a comprehensive look at the Cardinals' roster with an eye toward what the team could realistically change following its 1-5 start. Somers: "So, put all that together and here's what you have: a rookie tight end (Rob Housler) who needs to play more. A young linebacker (Sam Acho or O'Brien Schofield) who should be starting. A high-priced linebacker (Stewart Bradley) who needs to find a home, and nose tackle (David Carter) who's earned more time."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the team is trying to help its offense by having coordinator Mike Miller down on the field during games.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with Rams special-teamer Chris Chamberlain, who has worked his way into the starting lineup at linebacker. Chamberlain did not seem assured of a roster spot when the Rams signed multiple veteran linebackers in free agency. Thomas: "Chamberlain made the final 53, and five games into the 2011 season, he found himself in the starting lineup against Green Bay. One of those free agents, Zac Diles, didn't make the final roster. Another of the free agents, Ben Leber, was benched after three lackluster starts, giving way to Chamberlain." Noted: The fact that Chamberlain has worked his way into the starting lineup is great for him, but also a symbol of what's wrong with the Rams this season. They signed all of those veteran linebackers precisely because they didn't want to rely on special-teams players at linebacker.

Also from Thomas: the Rams' run defense is on a record pace. Not the good kind, either. Thomas: "The Rams are allowing 183.8 rushing yards a game, a pace that would have them yielding 2,941 yards on the ground by season's end. And that would smash by nearly 500 yards the previous franchise record for most rushing yards allowed in a season, a dubious mark belonging to the 2008 Rams of head coach Scott Linehan and interim head coach Jim Haslett. Those Rams yielded 2,475 yards."

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis offers personal thoughts on what the Rams leadership is going through.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says 49ers receiver Braylon Edwards ran a variety of pass routes at top speed upon his return from a knee injury Tuesday. Maiocco: "Edwards underwent arthroscopic surgery Sept. 19 on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus. It appears as if he will be available to return to action Sunday at Candlestick Park against the Cleveland Browns, the team that made him the No. 3 overall selection in the 2005 draft."

Also from Maiocco: The 49ers are seeking counsel from ... MC Hammer.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News looks at NaVorro Bowman's emergence as a key contributor for the 49ers.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle checks in with Fox analyst and former NFL fullback Daryl Johnston for thoughts on the 49ers' run schemes. More here.

Five things I noticed while watching the Seattle Seahawks during their 6-3 defeat to the Cleveland Browns in Week 7:

• All's quiet against Joe Thomas. The Browns' Pro Bowl left tackle operated with quiet efficiency against a long list of Seattle defenders. Red Bryant, Raheem Brock, Chris Clemons, K.J. Wright and others went against Thomas without making much headway. Brock came closest to beating Thomas around the corner. Finding another pass-rusher to pair with Clemons will presumably be a priority for Seattle in the offseason.
• Whitehurst had man open. The Seahawks settled for a field goal after having first-and-goal from the 9 and another first-and-goal from the 2 during a critical stretch late in the third quarter. Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst threw away the ball on one play despite having tight end Cameron Morrah open in his field of vision. Pressure on the play forced the decision to throw away the ball, but in looking at the play, this appeared to be a missed opportunity. It seemed like a touch pass would have worked here.
• Zach Miller badly, badly missed. With Miller sidelined by a concussion, John Carlson on injured reserve and Morrah just returning from injury, the Seahawks relied heavily on Anthony McCoy at tight end. They paid a high price. McCoy dropped multiple passes. He missed a blitzing Chris Gocong, leading to a sack. The Seahawks hope to get Miller back this week. They need him. The team's relative strength at wide receiver and depth issues at tight end show up in personnel charting. Seattle has run only 84 plays with two tight ends this season, the third-lowest total in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The rest of the league averages 143 such snaps.
• Rough game for wideouts. Seattle's wide receivers had not dropped a single pass heading into this game, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Ben Obomanu and Doug Baldwin dropped passes Sunday. Throw in McCoy's two drops and Seattle suffered four in this game, one more than in the previous five games combined. Whitehurst targeted wide receivers 15 times, completing only four through a combination of errant throws and drops. Seattle had been much better in the passing game recently and I suspect they will be much better in the future. This was an unusually horrible game on that front.
• Offensive line depth tested. The Seahawks have sought to upgrade their depth along the offensive line. They seem to be succeeding. Seattle went into this game with 24-year-old former undrafted free agent Lemuel Jeanpierre at center. Jeanpierre was making his first career start. His presence in the lineup wasn't a big deal going into the game or coming out of the game. That is a good sign. The Seahawks have been willing to continually churn their roster on the line. Tyler Polumbus was at least serviceable as a spot starter at tackle last season, but the team released him because Jarriel King, claimed off waivers from the New York Giants, has more upside. The team is also getting healthier up front, making it easier to carry fewer linemen on the roster.

It's looking like I'll be following the San Francisco 49ers quite a bit in the second half of the season. First, though, I'll be at CenturyLink Field for the Seahawks' game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8. Here's hoping the teams combine for more than nine points.

Thoughts as quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and center Max Unger showed up as "doubtful" on the Seattle Seahawks' injury report Friday:

• QB decision an easy one: Jackson's pectoral injury isn't expected to sideline him for long, but while he's still limited, the team gets another chance to evaluate backup Charlie Whitehurst. Better yet, the Seahawks can do so without demoting Jackson. It's a big upset if Jackson plays Sunday. Seattle also has hopes for third-string quarterback Josh Portis. Keeping Portis active as the No. 2 quarterback could make sense. The Seahawks are not a quarterback-driven team. Might as well check out the backups.
• Line continually in flux: The Seahawks have used 14 starting combinations on their offensive line since Pete Carroll became head coach last season. The team has never used the same five more than three times in a row or at all. Lemuel Jeanpierre, who broke into the NFL with Kansas City as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2010, would likely make his first career start if Unger cannot play. That would make 15 starting combinations on the line in 24 regular-season and postseason games under Carroll. The Seahawks under Carroll have rolled with personnel changes, never stressing over them outwardly. Still, replacing the quarterback and center heading into a road game isn't an ideal situation.

Also, tight end Zach Miller will miss this game for Seattle with the neck injury he suffered against the New York Giants. The team could activate Cameron Morrah from the physically unable to perform list. Miller's absence hurts the Seahawks' run game, most likely.

The San Francisco 49ers' game over the Detroit Lions in Week 6 featured more high-impact, controversial officiating decisions than usual.

I listed several of them following the game, but did not notice a biggie. Turns out officials gave the 49ers a 5-yard head start on their go-ahead touchdown drive in the final minutes.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers felt as though they got the short end of several officiating calls Sunday, but with the game on the line, referee Mike Carey and crew made a mistake in San Francisco's favor. The crew spotted the ball at the Detroit 35 following Ted Ginn Jr.'s 40-yard punt return in the fourth quarter even though Ginn had gone out of bounds at the 40. Noted: I went back and watched this sequence this morning. Sure enough, the 49ers got the ball at the 35 even though Ginn clearly went out of bounds at the 40.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee runs through the 49ers' winning drive against the Lions.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat finds fault with Jim Harbaugh's description of postgame handshakes as something he can improve upon, and the coach's reasoning for not offering an apology, notably that apologies seem like excuses to him. Cohn: "Oh boy, this is a whopper. Harbaugh sees the handshake as a task he can improve at like putting in golf. He does not see it as a courtesy or an issue of manners. Someone needs to help him with this. ... Apologies are excuses? This is an extraordinary point of view which contradicts everything we’ve learned about human behavior from the Bible to the ancient Greeks through Shakespeare up to the modern day. Someone in the Niners organization needs to explain to Jim Harbaugh the function of an apology in civilized society. And Harbaugh and (Jim) Schwartz need to apologize to each other and the world for acting like 2-year-olds."

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams gave no timetable for when Sam Bradford might return from the high-ankle sprain he suffered against Green Bay. It is possible Bradford could play against Dallas in Week 7. Receiver Mark Clayton, coming off the physically unable to perform list, might have unwittingly put pressure on Bradford to play this week. Clayton: "Bradford's tough. He'll be able to rough it out. Ben Roethlisberger goes out there and plays with a broken ankle, broken ribs, broken neck."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' newest receiver, Brandon Lloyd, produced about as much in 2010 as all the Rams' receivers active in Week 6 have produced for their careers. Coach Steve Spagnuolo: "Anybody that you go into a game as a defensive coach and say that you have to adjust things or change things defensively because of this person, that's pretty good. And I remember last year when we did game plan against (Lloyd) that we had to be aware of where he was and change some things coverage-wise. So that probably speaks volumes right there."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Roy Lewis, Deon Butler and Cameron Morrah will resume practicing for the team Wednesday after opening the season on the physically unable to perform list. Noted: Rules allow players to return from the PUP list after the first six weeks of the season, not necessarily the first six games.

Also from Farnsworth: Walter Thurmond says he's more than ready to start at cornerback for Seattle after Marcus Trufant landed on injured reserve.

Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says there's a chance Tarvaris Jackson could play for the Seahawks against Cleveland in Week 7. Coach Pete Carroll: "He’s thrown the ball a little bit, and so we’ll just take it one day at a time and see how he tolerates. He was running around here a little bit. He’s way ahead of any schedule that anybody would have thought of at this point, and we’ll see just where that takes us -- we don’t know."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says getting better play from Kevin Kolb stands as the top priority for the Cardinals coming out of their bye. Somers: "At this stage of the season, one performance, good or bad, can skew statistics. But those of us who have watched the Cardinals can trust our eyes, and what we've seen from Kolb lately hasn't been good. He looks uncomfortable in the pocket and he's not making plays when he's on the move. But If I'm a Cardinals coach or player, what's most troubling to me is that Kolb is missing open receivers. In Minnesota, he missed tight end Rob Housler twice: once wide open in the end zone and another time down the seam. (The Cardinals have tried hard to hit that tight end seam pass all year. Doing so a few times might make opponents think twice about keeping a safety over the top on Fitzgerald.) He's thrown behind and ahead of receivers."

Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic quotes Larry Fitzgerald as saying Cardinals players need to step up more than coaches at this point.

Aaron Curry, apparently headed for Oakland, has plenty of company among 2009 NFL draft choices failing to meet expectations with their original teams.

The player Seattle's previous leadership drafted fourth overall was part of a draft featuring quite a few underwhelming players near the top.

Thirteen NFC West choices from the 2009 draft remain with their teams: Max Unger, Deon Butler and Cameron Morrah in Seattle; Beanie Wells, Rashad Johnson, Greg Toler and LaRod Stephens-Howling in Arizona; Jason Smith, James Laurinaitis, Bradley Fletcher and Darell Scott in St. Louis; and two players in San Francisco, Michael Crabtree and Ricky-Jean Francois.

Let's sift through the rubble ...

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Players on practice squads get very little public attention during the season, but teams sometimes rely on them heavily for depth during the week.

NFC West teams are carrying the maximum eight-man allotments heading into Week 4. My updated 26-column rosters, available for download here, feature players on practice squads and active rosters, plus former players and those on reserve lists.

The charts below break down positional counts for 53-man rosters and practice squads.

The St. Louis Rams have only seven offensive linemen on their 53-man roster, but with three more on the practice squad, they're able to function during the week.

The Seattle Seahawks have only two tight ends on their active roster, but they have three available to them for practice, plus Cameron Morrah, who remains on the physically unable to perform list, and John Carlson, who is on injured reserve. Former tight end Jamison Konz, now one of two defensive linemen on the practice squad, helps numbers at his current position.

A few notes on practice squad players, straight from the collective bargaining agreement:

• Practice squads are limited to eight players at a time.
• Players on practice squads are eligible to sign with any team's 53-man roster, but they cannot sign with their current team's next opponent later than 4 p.m. ET on the sixth day preceding the game (10th day during a bye week).
• Minimum salaries for players on practice squads are $5,700 per week in 2011 and 2012, escalating throughout the 10-year labor agreement. Salaries peak at $8,400 in 2020.
• Players are eligible for practice squads if they have zero accrued seasons, and when they spent fewer than nine regular-season games on an active roster in their lone accrued season.
• Players can spend two seasons on practice squads, with a season defined as three or more regular-season or postseason games. They can spend a third season on a practice squad, defined as one or more games, if their team keeps 53 players on its roster at all times.
• Any player signed from a practice squad to an active roster is guaranteed three weeks' salary at the 53-man level, even if he's released before spending that long on a roster. The player will count on the team's 53-man roster for three games, with a bye week counting as a game, unless the season ends first.

There are a few more specific rules, but these are the basics.

Bigger numbers for a position on a practice squad usually correspond with smaller numbers on the 53-man roster.

The freshly updated NFC West roided-out rosters feature a lineup change no one could have envisioned just two years ago.

Moving rookie K.J. Wright into the Seattle Seahawks' starting lineup over Aaron Curry leaves NFC West teams with six of their own 2009 draft choices as projected starters heading into Week 3. The other divisions average about 10 starters from their 2009 draft classes.

Curry joins a growing list of NFC West picks from that class failing to meet expectations. Arizona's second-rounder Cody Brown never earned a spot on the Cardinals' 53-man roster even though the team needed, and still needs, young outside linebackers. Glen Coffee, the San Francisco 49ers' third-round choice in 2009, retired last offseason.

The six current NFC West starters from the 2009 class: Jason Smith, James Laurinaitis and Bradley Fletcher for the St. Louis Rams; Max Unger for the Seahawks; Michael Crabtree for the San Francisco 49ers, provided he moves back into the starting lineup; and Beanie Wells for the Arizona Cardinals. Of those, only Laurinaitis and Fletcher have met expectations.

Fourteen players from the 2009 class remain with the NFC West teams that selected them: Smith, Fletcher, Laurinaitis and Darell Scott for the Rams; Wells, Rashad Johnson, LaRod Stephens-Howling and Greg Toler (injured reserve) for the Cardinals; Curry, Unger, Deon Butler (physically unable to perform list) and Cameron Morrah (also PUP); and two 49ers, Crabtree and Ricky Jean-Francois.

I'd rank the Rams' 2009 class best in the division, no surprise given how early the the team was drafting. The Cardinals' class would rank second even though Arizona was coming off a Super Bowl and ranked 31st in the draft order. That reflects poorly on the Seahawks' and 49ers' classes that year.

Surprise move: There really weren't any because the Seahawks had already parted with so many familiar names over the past couple seasons. Colin Cole was the most established player shown the door. He had been injured, his salary was $3.75 million and the team had re-signed Brandon Mebane with an eye toward moving Mebane to nose tackle. Those factors worked against Cole sticking around.

Receiver Isaiah Stanback, valued on special teams, landed on injured reserve along with defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson and tight end John Carlson. Rookie safety Mark LeGree, a fifth-round draft choice, was the Seahawks' only 2011 selection to miss the initial cut. Jeron Johnson, one of three undrafted rookies to earn roster spots, beat him out.

No-brainers: Golden Tate's status had drawn considerable attention in recent weeks, but the Seahawks never planned to release him. Tate came through with a strong performance in the final exhibition game, putting to rest questions about his status. Running back Justin Forsett wasn't in danger, either, even though Leon Washington could be moving past him on the depth chart behind starter Marshawn Lynch. With Washington and Forsett sticking around, there was no room for Thomas Clayton. Undrafted rookies Josh Portis (quarterback) and Doug Baldwin (receiver) had clearly done enough to earn spots initially. Both stuck.

What's next: The situation at fullback and tight end bears monitoring with Carlson landing on injured reserve, as expected. Dominique Byrd stuck as the third tight end for now. Assistant head coach/offensive line Tom Cable has valued h-back types in his offense and it's unclear whether the Seahawks' current personnel addresses that function adequately. Fullback Michael Robinson stuck on the roster as well. Seattle will have to wait six games before bringing back receiver Deon Butler, cornerback Roy Lewis and tight end Cameron Morrah. All are on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. The severity of left guard Robert Gallery's knee injury could influence how the team proceeds on the offensive line.

The Seattle Seahawks didn't really need to pursue a starting tight end in free agency this offseason. They felt fortunate when the Oakland Raiders let Zach Miller reach free agency, and they were thrilled to sign a young, proven talent.

The signing took on additional importance Tuesday when the Seahawks announced that John Carlson, the incumbent starter at the position, would require season-ending shoulder surgery. Coach Pete Carroll announced the news following practice.

Carlson's long-term future with the team was in question even before the team signed Miller. That was because Carlson was entering the final year of his contract, and the Seahawks remained a team in transition with yet another set of coaches on offense. The injury most likely prevents the Seahawks from considering trade options. It will also likely affect Carlson's value in free agency next offseason.

The Seahawks do have options. Second-year tight end Anthony McCoy and veteran Dominique Byrd have made plays during the preseason. Each has seven receptions and the two have accounted for all three Seattle scoring receptions. Cameron Morrah remains on the physically unable to perform list after making a positive impression as a receiving threat last season.

Miller is the key. He gives the team a strong, versatile presence at the position. The Seahawks would have been better off with Miller and Carlson working in tandem, but Miller still provides an upgrade over what the team has had at the position previously.

Matt from Toronto asks whether the NFC West has the best group of tight ends in the NFL.

Mike Sando: I'll need to take a closer look as time permits. It's tough envisioning one division having a more capable group, however.

The San Francisco 49ers' Vernon Davis is looking like a perennial Pro Bowl type. Delanie Walker plays extensively for the 49ers and could see his production spike under new coach Jim Harbaugh. Third tight end Nate Byham was emerging as one of the better blocking tight ends in the NFL before suffering a season-ending knee injury recently.

Seattle added a Pro Bowl tight end when signing Zach Miller from Oakland. The Seahawks already had John Carlson, who caught two touchdown passes against New Orleans in the playoffs last season. Carlson's production had been in retreat before then. Miller's addition calls into question Carlson's future with the team. For now, though, he's another starting-caliber tight end. Backup Cameron Morrah emerged as a receiving threat for Seattle on occasion last season.

The Arizona Cardinals used a 2011 third-round pick for tight end Rob Housler before using free agency to sign Todd Heap and Jeff King. They still have Stephen Spach. Housler appears as though he'll need some time to develop, but the Cardinals like his talent. Heap is 31 years old, so the Cardinals are catching him on the back side of his career. But he still caught 10 passes in a playoff game last season.

The St. Louis Rams used a 2011 second-round pick for tight end Lance Kendricks. They still have Mike Hoomanawanui, who showed promise as a rookie last season. Injuries were a concern for him. They still have Billy Bajema as well. The Rams plan to play Kendricks extensively, and early reports from training camp appear positive.

Sounds like something for me to speak to Davis about following 49ers practice, which is under way.

RENTON, Wash. -- It's tough getting younger and better in unrestricted free agency.

The Seattle Seahawks' deal with Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller allows them to do both. Miller, 25, has 126 receptions and eight touchdowns over the past two seasons. He counts as a luxury signing, in my view, because the team already has a young option at the position in 27-year-old John Carlson, who appears to be a good fit for Seattle's offense.

Miller's ties to Seahawks assistant head coach/offensive line coach Tom Cable gave Seattle confidence the team was making a sound investment. Cable was the Raiders' head coach before coming to the Seahawks this offseason. Miller went to the Pro Bowl last season.

The Seahawks confirmed the agreement. Carlson is entering the final year of his contract, raising questions about whether the team would consider trading him before losing him in free agency. Cameron Morrah and Anthony McCoy are also young tight ends on the roster.

Our ongoing discussion on tight ends raised questions about which ones possess the best -- and worst -- hands.

"Any way you can add in 'thrown to' and 'drops' in this stat?" Furfanam asked in one comments section.

Consider it done.

Jason Vida of ESPN Stats & Information produced the information. I've broken it out in four charts. A few notes on the findings:

• Jason Witten, who edged Antonio Gates for the top spot in our rankings, dropped only two of the 126 passes thrown his way last season. That gave him easily the lowest drop rate -- 1.6 percent -- among tight ends with at least 50 receptions.
• Heath Miller had the most receptions (42) without a drop. Green Bay's Jermichael Finley (21), Jacksonville's Zach Miller (20) and Jim Kleinsasser (17) were next.
• Brandon Pettigrew, Dustin Keller and Kevin Boss had the most drops with nine apiece. Chris Cooley, Tony Gonzalez, Aaron Hernandez and Owen Daniels were next with six each.
• The St. Louis Rams' Daniel Fells ranked 13th in lowest drop percentage among players with at least 20 targets. Teammate Billy Bajema, with three drops in 21 targets, had the highest drop percentage in the same category.

The first chart ranks NFL tight ends by most receptions. It also shows number of targets, drops and drop percentage. Witten, Jacob Tamme and Gates were the only tight ends with at least 50 receptions and no more than two dropped passes.



The second chart shows lowest drop percentages among tight ends targeted at least 20 times last season. Miller's standing atop the list backs up James Walker's contention that the Pittsburgh Steelers tight end was underrated in our power rankings.



The third chart ranks NFL tight ends with at least 20 targets by the highest percentage of dropped passes.

ESPN Stats & Information's totals on Bajema matched my charting. I had Bajema dropping passes against Tennessee, Denver and Arizona.



The final chart focuses only on NFC West tight ends, ranking them by lowest percentage of dropped passes.