Albert Okwuegbunam | TE | Missouri
Elevator Pitch
Okwuegbunam brings plenty of intriguing physical tools to the table; it’s just a matter of whether or not he can capitalize on them. He’s a raw prospect, but his size, speed and physicality project him as a dangerous red-zone target at the next level.
Vitals
Height | 6-5
Weight | 258
Strengths
Though his 4.49 40-yard dash was a little bit surprising, Okwuegbunam does have plenty of athletic ability for his size.
The Mizzou standout has very good straight-line speed, both in workouts and on tape. He accelerates well off the snap and has the long speed to stretch the field as a tight end, which not many players are able to do. He has also shown promise as a route runner, as he can change his tempo up pretty well and make sharp cuts at times. Okwuegbunam’s body control across the middle of the field is solid, and he has the ability to make adjustments to the ball in mid-air in jump-ball situations. He has natural ball skills and does a good job of tracking down balls and high pointing them.
Okwuegbunam’s body control is complemented by his hulking frame and physicality as a pass-catcher. He does a great job of boxing out defenders and using his strength to physically overwhelm man-coverage defenders. His value in red-zone situations is apparent in the stat sheet, as he caught 23 touchdown passes in three seasons with Mizzou. While still improving as a blocker, he has shown the grip strength and the flashes of tenacity to become a more-than-adequate in-line tight end when considering his physical talents.
Weaknesses
While Okwuegbunam is athletic, he doesn’t always get the most out of his athleticism. He’s a bit stiff-hipped as a route runner, as he struggles with consistently sinking his hips into his cuts and accelerating coming out of his breaks. His routes can be rounded at times, and he can do a better job of playing with consistent effort when he runs his routes, regardless of whether or not he’s the first read. His value doesn’t come after the catch, as he doesn’t have much lateral quickness and can’t make defenders miss.
Okwuegbunam’s technique as a blocker could use some work, as his pad level and weight distribution isn’t quite developed at this stage of his career. He lunges a bit too much and can sink his hips into contact better than he currently does. Durability is also a bit of an issue with Okwuegbunam, as he has battled through minor shoulder, knee and leg injuries over the span of the past two seasons. For a weapon with his frame, staying healthy is going to be crucial if he doesn’t want to lose out on his athletic tools.
Projection: 3rd-4th Round
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