Mike Leach once said “God didn’t make very many true tight ends.” This year’s draft class appears to be proof of that.
There’s a severe deficit of players who’ve shown the requisite receiving skills and physicality as a blocker to truly play the position effectively in the NFL. And the player I liked most on the list was a bit more difficult to evaluate because he played at the FCS level.
Mostly what I see in this group is players who lean toward one side of the TE skillset more than the other, and could be effective in the right system. They’ll be valuable as long as they aren’t asked to do too much, but they are unlikely to become true game-changers.
1. Adam Trautman, Dayton
In a weak class of tight ends, Trautman stands out. He’s big, he’s athletic, he can run routes, he blocks and his hands are not an issue. He can also do damage after the catch. The big concern with Trautman is, of course, competition level, as his production came against FCS athletes. But Trautman’s testing numbers and a good week at the Senior Bowl should alleviate those concerns.
Grade: 2nd Round
2. Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
Kmet may never develop into a big threat as a pass-catcher but he’ll be a useful player at the next level based on run blocking alone. He just turned 21 in March and has the size and athleticism to develop into more of receiving threat even if he never becomes a great route runner. My biggest concern: Kmet was not a big contested catch guy in college so it’s difficult to envision him developing that trait against NFL athletes.
Grade: 3rd Round
3. Cheyenne O’Grady, Arkansas
Let’s get the red flags out of the way first: O’Grady was suspended three times at Arkansas and ended up leaving the program during the 2019 season, and he’ll be 24 by the end of his rookie season. He was a physically dominant player in the SEC but he was older than the players he played against, which may have given him an unearned advantage. O’Grady is a basketball-type tight end, in that he’s not much of a blocker or a polished route-runner but he can dominate contested-catch situations. The red flags are a concern, for sure, but O’Grady has star potential. The question is, will a team be willing to take a chance and use a Day 2 pick on a wild card like him?
Grade: 3rd Round
4. Hunter Bryant, Washington
At 6-2, Bryant is undersized for the tight end position. He did put on weight before the combine but ended up running slower than expected, which makes you wonder if he’ll keep that weight on. Even if he does, he’s a tweener who might be more of a receiver than tight end. Bryant wasn’t much of a blocker at Washington, and it shows in his usage. He lined up in the slot more often than he lined up at a traditional tight end spot attached to the offensive line. Some might bill him as a “mismatch guy,” but Bryant is not someone you’re going to isolate one-on-one and expect him to win a matchup. He does most of his damage on straighter routes (drags, seam routes, fades, etc.), but he does have some ability after the catch. Bryant will be a scheme-dependent player at the next level.
Grade: 4th Round
5. Bryce Hopkins, Purdue
Hopkins is probably the most athletic tight end in the class. So if a smart coaching staff gets ahold of him, look out. He’s a solid enough route runner but drops are a major issue. On top of that, he doesn’t block … at all. Hopkins is basically a one-dimensional deep threat WR who just happens to play tight end. The biggest concern with him as a receiver: He’s had issues beating man coverage, which limits his ceiling. While his tape shows an explosive athlete, Hopkins’ combine numbers were a bit of a letdown.
Grade: 5th Round
Five more prospects to keep an eye on…
6. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic
7. Devin Asiasi, UCLA
8. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
9. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
10. Colby Parkinson, Stanford