Rookie tight ends usually don't make a huge impact in the receiving game during their rookie season. Rob Gronkowski's rookie season where he had "only" 42 receptions for 546 yards and 10 touchdowns is probably the high water mark. Which is why none of us were expecting Maxx Williams to light up the world this season. But he's had a good rookie season and has managed to set a new franchise record.
Todd Heap had 16 receptions for 201 yards and one touchdown during his rookie season. That record stood as the high-water mark for rookie tight ends for 14 years. Ed Dickson had 11 catches for 158 yards and one touchdown as a rookie, Dennis Pitta had one catch for one yard, Crockett Gillmore had 10 catches for 121 yards and one touchdown. Maxx's numbers were probably expected to be somewhere around the Dickson-Gillmore range.
Williams currently has 26 receptions for 215 yards and one touchdown. That's 10 more catches and fourteen more yards than Heap had as a rookie in 2001 with one more game to play in 2015. Williams has been a reliable receiver, as he has not dropped a single pass this season and he has consistently received high marks from PFF for his blocking. Williams has been rated as one of the best tight ends in the NFL by PFF.
The Ravens tight ends have been a reason for fans to have hope for the future and Maxx Williams is no exception. With another offseason to learn the playbook and hone his craft, he could be a serious weapon for the Ravens in 2016, and the Ravens should have one of the best tight end corps in the NFL next season.