With Eric Ebron likely to hit the free-agent market this offseason, the Indianapolis Colts will be searching for a high-upside move tight end. There’s a chance wide receiver Chase Claypool is an option in the 2020 NFL draft.
Though he isn’t a typical tight end prospect, there is a chance teams are looking at him in that way. He measured in at the NFL combine on Monday standing 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 238 pounds.
#NFLCombine key measurements thread…
37. #NotreDame WR Chase Claypool
Height: 6-4 2/8
Weight: 238
Hand: 9 7/8
Arm: 32 4/8
Wingspan: 80— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) February 24, 2020
How teams will view Claypool isn’t yet clear. The Notre Dame product certainly has the size to be a tight end in the NFL and his wingspan suggests a large catch radius.
Having a move tight end that presents a mismatch for opposing defenses is a large part of being successful in that area. It’s one of the reasons Ebron was able to have such a strong 2018 season with the Colts. Of course, Andrew Luck certainly helped, but the Colts put Ebron in a position that made him a mismatch.
Claypool would be far from a finished product and there would inevitably be questions about his blocking, but there is plenty of intrigue if the Colts wanted to make him a receiving tight end working alongside Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox.
Spoke to four scouts and three said Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool won today’s weigh-ins. Put on nine pounds since @seniorbowl (229 lbs in Mobile and 238 today). Might be embracing the TE conversion. He’s going to be a mismatch problem at the next level.#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/J8EBFq1Hci
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) February 24, 2020
Claypool is coming off of a strong senior season from South Bend. He caught 66 passes for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 15.7 yards per catch.
Claypool is obviously a big target but he uses his frame well. He’s shown to make sound adjustments to his targets and already possesses the size and athleticism to be successful in the red zone.
Have him line up against linebackers and safeties, and the Colts could have a mismatch.
A move to tight end might help Claypool’s draft stock. How much remains to be seen, but he would present the Colts with an interesting option if they feel he can make the transition from wide receiver to tight end.