Nice FYI about TEs, but basically irrelevant to the Packers IMNHO.

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Why Irrelevant?

Depending on how the players fall from 1-20, Ebron may be the best available option for Ted to take.

Nobody knows how this draft is going to go.

I don't think ted will "reach for a defensive player, it there is a huge run on them from 1-20.

I will go as far to say that Ted could even go WR if one of the top 3 for some reason falls to 21.

A good GM is prepared for anything, and IMHO, The Packers have one of the best.

No position is irrelevant when it comes to this years draft with the potential talent at many positions.

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I agree. This draft seems loaded with great options should it fall one way or another, offense or defense, skill players v. linemen, etc. Our options at 21 and 53 should be pretty great, all the way through 85 and 98...

While I am not wild about Ted possibly taking a TE in R1, I won't begrudge him if that is his choice there. A top flight TE can go a very long way towards moving the chains in this offense, while keeping the opposing offense on the sidelines. That alone will help our D out, by keeping drives alive and avoiding three and outs. Not to mention, the added weapons for Rodgers to score. I think if we get Ebron at 21 that would have to be considered a steal, and we could pretty much pound defenders with the majority of our remaining picks. 4 or 5 of our 9 picks spent on defense should go a long way to improving this team.

yeah yeah yeah ....... the Packers don't need no stinkin' TE in the 1st round - or the 2nd or the 3rd or the 4th.

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We have one of the worst groups of TEs in the NFL without Finley. A bunch of street free agents and late draft picks does not make a contender. With our offense becoming more balanced the TE position is even more important since we'll be using more 2 TE formations. If Ted Thompson doesn't take one in the first 4 rounds I'll be shocked.

I like what I see from Quarless better than the way Finley played. There's reason to hope Bostick or even Stoneburner will be good too, and Taylor fill his role well enough.

The bottom line, though, is that the best TEs now and in the past were NOT the hot shots coming out of college who got drafted high, but the Graham, Gates, Witten, Gronkowski (fairly high - late 2nd), Ben Coates, Shannon Sharpe, all the way back to John Mackey - mostly unknowns or low round picks. I'd rather Thompson scan the list of Power Forwards not good enough for the NBA than use a high round pick for a TE.

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Round, overall pick

Modern Era: Tight Ends (8) (as listed at the HOF website)
Dave Casper 1974-1984 2nd Round, #45
Mike Ditka 1961-1972 1st Round, #5
John Mackey 1963-1972 2nd Round, #19
Ozzie Newsome 1978-1990 1st Round, #23
Charlie Sanders 1968-1977 3rd Round, #74
Shannon Sharpe 1990-2003 7th Round, #192
Jackie Smith 1963-1978 10th Round, #129
Kellen Winslow 1979-1987 1st Round, #13

Gets skewed somewhat with the smaller number of teams. Mackey would have gone in the 1st round if drafted in the same spot today. Likewise, Jackie Smith goes in the 4th round today. Even going by the old numbering, you get the average of Round 3.375. Putting Mackey and Smith in their modern draft spots, you get Round 2.5, #62.5 overall.

Players you listed
Jimmy Graham 3rd Round, #95
Antonio Gates UDFA
Jason Witten 3rd Round, #69
Rob Gronkowski 2nd Round, #42
Ben Coates 5th Round, #124

Assigned Gates 8 for draft round and #257 for overall draft position (the most draft picks in one draft the past five years was 256 picks in 09), you come to Round 4.2, #117.4 overall.

Pro Bowlers from the past 5 years
Jordan Cameron 4th Round, #102
Jason Witten 3rd Round, #69 X4
Jimmy Graham 3rd Round, #95 X2
Tony Gonzalez 1st Round, #13 X4
Rob Gronkowski 2nd Round, #42 X2
Antonio Gates UDFA X3
Aaron Hernandez 4th Round, #113
Jermaine Gresham 1st Round, #12 X2
Mercedes Lewis 1st Round, #28
Zach Miller, 2nd Round, #38
Dallas Clark, 1st Round, #24
Heath Miller, 1st Round, #30 X2
Vernon Davis, 1st Round, #6 X2
Kyle Rudolph, 2nd Round, #43
Julius Thomas, 4th Round, #129

Same number values for Gates as before. Included the number of times selected but didn't weigh those numbers extra for the sake of simplicity. Somebody more mathematically inclined could take a stab at it if they want to.
Round 2.53, #66.73 overall

Green Bays picks this year
Round 2, #53
Round 3, #85
Round 3, #98 (comp)
Round 4, #121

Going by your criteria and not selecting a TE in the first 4 rounds, you've got Jackie Smith, Shannon Sharpe, Ben Coates and Antonio Gates to choose from. Not a bad group, but you've just eliminated 88% of the possible TEs mentioned above. Will we for sure get a Pro Bowler or a future Hall of Famer at those picks? No, but it sure seems if you want quality at the TE spot you gotta pay for it.

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Here's a look at my reports  on the tight ends.

I'm very high on Austin Seferian-Jenkins. He reminds me a lot of Rob Gronkowski. It doesn't mean he's the next Gronk, but I think he could be special in Green Bay’s offense.

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Anybody heard of this guy? Former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva? 6-9 270 TE who played at West Point?

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/alejandro-villanueva-1.html 
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000341231/article/super-regional-combine-army-veteran-giving-nfl-one-last-shot 

Seems like a good prospect who would be raw, but I'm sure he would be committed to learning and giving his all. Can you imagine this guy as a target in the red zone for Aaron? He would be tough to cover, especially after a couple of seasons of development.

Can you imagine him on STs blocking kicks? Oh, man! I think he would be worth taking a flyer on.