Sam LaPorta seems to be the talk of the tight end conversation for the 2023 NFL draft and that rhetoric is growing in its noise each day. The Iowa Hawkeyes tight end has went from a fringe top-five tight end to a constant in the group of what tight ends could go in the first or second rounds.
His name is continuing to appear in mock drafts and each one seemingly tries to outdo the previous one by putting him higher and higher in LaPorta’s predicted landing spot. Pro Football Focus has joined the party by putting him in their top five tight ends of the 2023 NFL draft.
Top 5 TEs in the 2023 NFL Draft, via @TampaBayTre pic.twitter.com/ztMQq6NNpV
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 11, 2023
The conversation about what each tight end brings is rather intriguing. LaPorta is a true tight end from a proven school that churns out tight ends. He is an all-around tight end that can make plays after the catch.
Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer is a bulldozer. Mayer is a strong, physical, big-bodied presence that can block very well and is extremely hard to bring down. Darnell Washington’s physical prowess may be even more intriguing. At 6-foot-7, 270 pounds, the Georgia Bulldog tight end is a bit more of an athletic project with a massive upside.
Dalton Kincaid out of Utah is a modern-day tight end that had 70 receptions last year and can run really well, creating mismatches across the board. Don’t sleep on South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft either. He is a walking first down, averaging at least 11.9 yards per catch each season of his career. He is an intelligent player that can consistently get open.
Which tight end goes first is a true unknown, but it should not come as a shock to many no matter who it is or how many are selected in the first round.
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