Draft Preview: Tight End Prospects
March 15, 2024
by David Earl
Tight End Draft Prospects
The following evaluations are a compilation of NFL draft combine numbers, Draft Buzz breakdown, and Lance Zierlein’s overall prospect grade. The Next Gen score is a combined rating of overall production score and athleticism grade compared against their peers. The purpose of utilizing each player’s broad jump measurement is to show both lower body power and explosiveness. The shuttle run tests short-area agility while showing the ability to maintain balance throughout the drill’s change in direction. Both the broad jump and shuttle run are valuable tools to help assess a tight-end skill secondary to what the actual game tape displays.
|
Player |
Height |
Weight |
40 Yard Dash | Broad Jump | 20 Yard Shuttle | Next Gen Stat Score |
| Brock Bowers, Georgia | 6’3″ | 243 | 4.55 | NA | 4.44 | 96 |
| Prospect Grade 6.71: “Year 1 starter“ | His size and speed plus excellent body positioning make him a formidable pass catcher. Great burst after the snap and maintains consistent balance through his routes. Doesn’t utilize his size and agility consistently in blocking but is a capable blocker. Day 1 starter with comparison to George Kittle. Projected 1st round pick. | |||||
| Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas | 6’4″ | 245 | 4.69 | NA | 4.32 | 84 |
| Prospect Grade 6.37: “Will eventually be plus starter“ | Size and coordination are his strengths in traffic with excellent bursts post catch to be a yards-after-catch player. Lateral movement makes his transitions out of routes seamless and rarely drops a pass. He lacks the ability to be an in-line blocker in the run game but does well as a downfield blocker. Potential early season contributor with comparisons to David Njoku. Projected early 2nd round pick. | |||||
| Cade Stover, Ohio State | 6’4″ | 247 | 4.65 | 9’9″ | 4.45 | 76 |
| Prospect Grade 6.26: “Will eventually be an average starter“ | Consistent footwork technique with excellent adjustment to the ball. Won’t kill you with speed but is a powerful bruising runner after the catch. Needs refinement in routing running and the power he shows in running after the catch doesn’t translate into run blocking. Most likely an average starter with comparisons to Jake Ferguson. Projected 3rd round pick. | |||||
| Ben Sinnott, Kansas State | 6’4″ | 250 | 4.68 | 10’6″ | 4.23 | 80 |
| Prospect Grade 6.13: “Good backup with the potential to develop into a starter“ | Tracks the ball well and makes adjustments fluidly. Has a good initial burst after the catch and is a polished route runner. A good blocker in space on screens but doesn’t offer reliable pass protection when isolated against a defender. | |||||
| Theo Johnson, Penn State | 6’6″ | 259 | 4.57 | 10’5″ | 4.19 | 76 |
| Prospect Grade 6.15: “Good backup with the potential to develop into a starter” | True possession receiver from the tight end group, he will not wow defenses with his speed. Very explosive off the line and has excellent body control especially when breaking out into a route. Offers very little though in blocking by playing too high and being overpowered by defenders. Projected 5th round pick. | |||||
| Dallin Holker, Colorado State | 6’3″ | 241 | 4.78 | 10’2″ | 4.21 | 76 |
| Prospect Grade 5.96: “Average backup or special-teamer“ | Strong reliable hands and a large catch radius. Excellent footwork and quick into routes make him a threat in the short field area, especially in the red zone. Won’t take a top off a defense but is one of the better pass-and-run blocking tight ends in this draft. Will struggle against press coverage and can round off his routes at times. Projected 5th round pick. | |||||
| AJ Barner, Michigan | 6’6″ | 251 | 4.70 | NA | NA | 67 |
| Prospect Grade 6.10: “Good backup with the potential to develop into a starter“ | Good initial burst off the line and maintains good control through the catch. Tracks the ball well and fights off press coverage with some ease. Doesn’t give great top-end speed but does accelerate well after the catch. Projected 5th round pick. | |||||
| Jaheim Bell, Florida State | 6’2″ | 241 | 4.61 | 10’4″ | NA | 76 |
| Prospect Grade 5.89: “Average backup or special-teamer“ | Doesn’t carry the ideal size for the position but stretches the field effectively. His excellent agility and fluid lateral movement make him a very good run-after-catch receiver. Very limited as a run blocker and his overall size hurts his ability to be an effective pass blocker too. Probably best used in more of an H-back type roll or aligned over a slot corner. Projected 5th round pick. | |||||
| Jared Wiley, TCU | 6’6″ | 249 | 4.62 | 9’10” | 4.71 | 73 |
| Prospect Grade 5.95: “Average backup or special-teamer“ | Physical receiver in traffic and rarely has a bad drop. His footwork is better set in as a pass blocker than breaking into a route. Won’t be a consistent yards-after-catch player even though he can be a shifty runner at times.Needs to better recognize zone coverages and where he needs to sit down in his route. Projected 6th-round pick. | |||||
| Erick All, Iowa | 6’4″ | 252 | 4.75 | NA | 4.27 | 69 |
| Prospect Grade 6.14: “Good backup with the potential to develop into a starter“ | Hands are largely reliable as the glaring issue at times is loss of focus tracking a ball leading to some bad drops. Won’t kill anyone with his speed but is quick out of his breaks. Does a nice job selling routes and is not afraid of contact after the catch. Projected 7th-round pick. | |||||
| Tanner McLachlan, Arizona | 6’5″ | 244 | 4.61 | 9’9″ | NA | 75 |
| Prospect Grade 5.96: “Average backup or special-teamer” | Reliable hands in traffic and tough to bring down running with a very low pad level. While he has fluid footwork setting up into his routes, doesn’t remain as fluid or coordinated as a run blocker. Works very well after the catch driving through would-be tacklers plus he is elusive enough to make the first man miss. Projected 7th-round pick. | |||||
| Tip Reiman, Illinois University | 6’5″ | 271 | 4.64 | 10’1″ | 4.26 | 70 |
| Prospect Grade 5.98: “Average backup or special-teamer“ | Better in pass protection than run blocking as he does well mirroring a pass rusher. Quick bursts after the snap but struggles with separation downfield. Fluid mover in the underneath zone finding openings plus a strong receiver in traffic. Will struggle against press coverage and have critical drops coming back for the ball. Projected 7th-round pick. | |||||
Notable Tight Ends
The following players are most likely priority free agents who could slip into the back end of the draft. These are developmental players who have the tools to be a contributor as a pass-catching tight end in the NFL. The biggest hurdle here is recognizing one of the underutilized talents to determine whether or not their skill sets translate into a viable option as a starting tight end. Are any of these tight ends capable enough to run and pass block at an effective level in the NFL?
Trey Knox, South Carolina: 6’3″ and 240lbs
- Comes from a spread offense and running a limited route tree. He was an underutilized player with a single-season high of 37 receptions. Has excellent agility and lateral movement with enough speed to run seam routes getting separation after the catch. Accelerates quickly after the catch and is a tough runner to bring down. A limited route tree and not used much as a blocker leaves more questions than answers. Ideally a developmental player with a potential high ceiling.
Devin Culp, Washington: 6’3″ and 231lbs
- With good speed and agility plus being a precise route runner, he provides a potential nightmare in coverage for defenses. Strong contested catch receiver who certainly carries a physical nature for the game. Does struggles in route timing in the intermediate passing game and needs to better recognize where to finish off his route in zone coverages. Also underutilized in the passing game with a career-high 25 receptions in the 2022 season.
Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota: 6’6″ and 260lbs
- Has a quick first step after the snap and into his routes but lacks the speed to pull away from defenders. Good hand technique allow him to shed press coverages with relative ease. Will struggle at times to track the ball down especially when he needs to adjust in the middle of his route. His overall build will limit his effectiveness as a blocker.
McCallan Castles, Tennessee: 6’4″ and 249lbs
- Quick and precise out of his routes while maintaining excellent balance through his route. Does well tracking the ball and adjusting in the middle of his routes. Struggles with press-man coverage and securing a catch when having to come back for a pass in traffic. Solid blocker in the open field but lacks consistent footwork technique to maintain an isolated block against a pass rusher.