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San Francisco 49ers: Stacking up the tight ends against the NFC West

By Kevin Saito

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring on a eight-yard touchdown catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring on a eight-yard touchdown catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers
GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 26: Ricky Seals-Jones #86 of the Arizona Cardinals runs in a 29 yard touchdown in the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Arizona Cardinals

Key Contributors: Ricky Seals-Jones, Jermaine Gresham, Gabe Holmes

We’re currently ranking the Cardinals as the second-best tight ends group in the NFC West, but the gap between first (49ers) and Arizona is a wide one. But, if the Cardinals don’t catch a break, they could go from the division’s second-best tight end group, to the worst.

The depth chart is currently in flux for Arizona, as second-year pro Ricky Seals-Jones was recently arrested and charged with assault, third-degree criminal tresspassing, and disorderly conduct, at a Scottsdale hotel after a scuffle with security after he was denied entrance to the bathroom in the lobby.

Seals-Jones, who could be facing discipline from the league for his arrest, had been expected to compete for a starting spot after finishing last season with 201 yards and three scores, on 12 receptions.

Given that we don’t know yet if Seals-Jones will face league discipline (and if so, what form that will take), one would think that appears to give ninth-year pro Jermaine Gresham the inside track to the starting spot – assuming he is recovered from injury.

Last season, Gresham, posted 322 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 33 receptions before tearing his Achilles in the season finale.

If everything breaks the wrong way, the Cardinals could find themselves in very big trouble. If Seals-Jones ends up being suspended by the league and Gresham isn’t fully recovered by the season opener, Arizona is going to have Gabe Holmes – and nobody knows what they have in Holmes. The Raiders held on to him for a while thinking he had some potential upside before parting ways with him. And although he appeared in two games with Arizona last year, he didn’t record a single catch.

Arizona is holding out hope that Seals-Jones, who could possibly be primed for a bigger role, doesn’t face Commissioner Roger Goodell’s ever-mysterious Wheel of Punishment and/or Gresham finds his way back to the field sooner, rather than later.

If those things happen, they’ll be okay. If not, they’ll be in big trouble.