Falcons scouting report roundup: 6 TE draft prospects

Draft Wire has released several individual scouting reports over the past week, including six tight ends that Atlanta could have interest in with Austin Hooper potentially out.

Our friends over at Draft Wire have released individual scouting reports of some of this year’s top prospects, including six tight ends that the Atlanta Falcons may have interest in drafting with Austin Hooper potentially on his way out.

Let’s go through all six tight end profiles and see what Draft Wire had to say.

Thaddeus Moss — LSU

Size: 6-foot-2, 250 lbs

Strengths:

“Great blocker on the edge, running backs will love running behind Moss. Some of the best hands in the class, he is as sure handed as they come. Get the ball near his frame and Moss likely comes down with the ball. Rarely will he require double-catches to bring the ball in. When dealing with smaller defenders, will box them out with his wide frame to seal off defenders to prevent passes defended.”

Weaknesses:

“Not a well defined route runner, a bit of a shock since he is the son of the one of the two best wide receivers of all-time. Needs to become more refined as a route runner since Moss won’t win matchups with his limited athleticism.”

Highlights:

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2020 NFL draft: Adam Trautman scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Dayton tight end prospect Adam Trautman

Adam Trautman | TE | Dayton

Elevator Pitch

Trautman is a small-school pass-catcher who put up big numbers for the Flyers. The rule of thumb is that if you played at a small school, you better dominate. In two seasons of production, he hauled in over 150 passes for 2,295 yards and 31 touchdowns. Check that box, he can be a real weapon at the next level for a team.

Vitals

Height | 6-5

Weight | 255

Class | Redshirt Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Combine Profile

Strengths

Trautman was a somewhat unknown NFL prospect for most of the college football season until he stepped onto the field in Mobile, Alabama for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. His strong week against the top level competition showed that he can perform when the bright lights are on. He showed that despite dominating lower end competition, Trautman is ready to take on the best the league has to offer.

Trautman usually wins with his athleticism, you can he see he played basketball in high school with how he boxes out defenders. Uses his hands to secure the catch and does so away from his frame. Which gives quarterbacks a nice catch radius. He showed against FCS opponents that he is much to powerful for defenders, with time at the next level he could continue that style of play.

Where he wins best will be up the seam of a defense and in the red zone. Not a guy who you have to lineup as an inline target, has flexibility to move around. At Dayton, Trautman lined up in the backfield, on the line and split out wide. Great matchup chess piece for any offensive coach.

Weaknesses

The biggest worry in Trautman’s game comes as an inline blocker. He will need to be refined with his stance, hand placement and blocking technique. He is very raw in terms of understanding how to be a blocker at the next level. He was recruited to play quarterback but switched to tight end after his redshirt freshman season.

In terms of being raw, Trautman will need to be refined as a route runner as well. It is a relative unknown on how he will respond to press coverage as his tape showed a lot of free releases, so how does he react when he is impeded by coverage?

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL Combine: Winners from the TE group

Overall, the tight ends group underwhelmed on the day but a few players stood out and likely separated themselves from the pack.

The 2020 NFL Combine opened their on-field drills with the tight ends group. The group began, as always, with the 40-yard-dash, but when they shifted into position drills, we were introduced to a few new drills.

Overall the group underwhelmed, and with the Lions investing heavily at the position last offseason, it would be surprising if they selected a tight end from this year’s class before the later part of Day 3.

Let’s take a look at those who did earn positive marks today.

Adam Trautman, Dayton, 6-5, 255

In the mix to potentially be the first tight end selected, Trautman ran a middle-of-the-road 4.75 40-yard-dash but looked sharp in drills — including a new blocking sled drill, where he may have been the only player to use proper technique. As one of the more balanced tight ends in the class, he will likely be selected before the Lions start looking at the position.

Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri, 6-5.5, 258

Entering the season Okwuegbunam was discussed as the potential top tight end in this class, but an underwhelming redshirt junior season that saw him put up a career-low statistical season quieted the hype around him.

The hype started back up today after he ran an official 4.49 40-yard-dash (no other tight end ran under 4.60). But, when they shifted on-field, his speed slowed in favor of improving his catch accuracy, which will leave scouts wondering if he actually plays as fast as he can run in a straight line.

Stephen Sullivan, LSU, 6-5, 248

Sullivan’s 4.66 40–yard-dash was a solid score, but when he got on the field, it was no surprise that the former wide receiver stood out in the pass-catching drills. At LSU, he took a backseat in production to Thaddeus Moss, but with the NFL’s desire to add more mismatch move tight ends, his stock could be on the rise. If the Lions don’t bring back Logan Thomas — or find his replacement in free agency — Sullivan could be a late-round target.

Notes:

Moss (6-2, 250, LSU) was flagged with a broken foot during medicals and was not cleared to participate.
Cole Kmet (6-6, 262, Notre Dame), who may challenge Trautman for top honors, didn’t do enough to stand out.
Hunter Bryant (6-2, 248, Washington) was expected to fly based on his game tape, but his 4.73 40-yard-dash, while respectable, was slower than expected.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah talks 2020 EDGE, TE prospects

With Vic Beasley on his way out, the Atlanta Falcons currently have a major need at defensive end. There’s also a very realistic possibility that the team will have to find a replacement for Pro Bowl tight end Austin Hooper.

Since we know the Falcons don’t have much salary cap space, the draft seems like the most logical path to finding a new edge rusher and tight end.

During a scouting combine conference call, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah gave his thoughts on some of the draft’s top defensive end prospects, including Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa — one of the players most frequently mocked to Atlanta in the first round:

I think (Epenesa’s) absolutely in the mix to be in the top half of the first round because he plays a premier position and he’s a really good football player. I think he’s a 1 — I feel like he’s a lock as a 1. And I think he’s got a chance going through the process to find his way up into the top half of the first round.

Jeremiah also discussed this year’s tight end class, saying there were some talented players, but none that warrant a first-round selection:

When I look at this tight end position, I think there’s really kind of, I have it with 1, 2, 3 guys right there at the top, where I have the same grades on Adam Trautman from Dayton, Harrison Bryant, who you mentioned at FAU, and Cole Kmet from Notre Dame. I think all those guys are in position to potentially be the first tight end picked. I don’t think any of them are first-round guys.

Atlanta also holds two second-round picks, so the team should have plenty of opportunity to find a player that makes Hooper’s potential exit less detrimental to the offense in 2020.

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Who and what to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine: Tight ends

The Lions Wire staff has identified which tight ends Detroit Lions fans should be watching at the 2020 NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine on-field workouts begin Thursday, February 27th in Indianapolis and the tight ends group will take the field on opening day. Adding a tight end won’t be a priority for the Lions this offseason — beyond possibly a third option — but it’s always good to scout the competition.

This is the latest in a series of articles leading up to this year’s NFL Combine, where the Lions Wire team has identified players they will be tracking in order to determine potential fits within the organization.

If you missed the previous articles in this series, be sure to check out our quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers previews.

Tight end traits to evaluate

Like with the wide receivers group, scouts will be focused on several traits that revolve around pass-catching and movement:

Natural hands: Do they fight the ball or allow it to land softly in their grasp?
Acceleration in and out of breaks: Do they throttle down, or can they maintain speed?
Quickness versus long speed: where do they gain separation?
Body control: Being fast is great but it means nothing unless they can maintain balance and focus.
Ball tracking: Do they have the patience to look late and still locate? Do they maximize their speed by not reaching early?

Cole Kmet, Notre Dame

Suggested by: Max Gerber

A two-sport athlete at Notre Dame (baseball), Kmet is a balanced tight end who is likely to find more success as a pass-catcher in the NFL. He is one of the more NFL ready tight ends in this class despite still have some areas of his game that need to be improved.

Adam Trautman, Dayton

Suggested by: Bryce Rossler, Derek Okrie, and Matt Urben

Trautman may have the highest upside at the position in this class but coming from a small school there will be some learning curve involved as he transitions to the NFL. The Elk Rapids, Michigan native grew up playing quarterback but his natural athleticism made the transition to tight end a smooth one. He’s a big target in the passing game and can handle a large volume of work.

Hunter Bryant, Washington

Suggested by: Scott Bischoff

Bryant is a move tight end who will spend the majority of his time trying to create mismatches in the slot. His athleticism shines when the ball is in the air or after the reception when it’s in his hands, as he routinely generates yards after the catch. His height (est. 6-2) and lack of impactful blocking skills will limit the schemes he will be successful in, but the right fit could be magical.

Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic

Suggested by: Jeff Risdon

This past season’s Mackey Award winner (the nation’s top tight end), Bryant is an athletic pass catcher whose experience is in the slot, but he can also survive occasionally setting up inline. He has the potential to produce at all three levels but he has a few things to clean up in his route precision in order to find consistent success.

Devin Asiasi, UCLA

Suggested by: Erik Schlitt and Scott Warheit

Asiasi was heavily recruited by Michigan, but after a brief stint with the Wolverines, he transferred back home to UCLA. The moves across the country slowed his development and with him being an early entrant into the draft, he only has one-year starting experience for analysts to evaluate. He has NFL traits, and will mostly find success in the short and intermediate areas, but he will need to improve his blocking if he wants to see the field as a TE2 or TE3.

Thad Moss, LSU

Suggested by: Zack Moran and Ty Finch

The son of NFL Hall-of-Famer Randy Moss, Thad Moss only has one-year starting under his belt due to a transfer from North Carolina State, two-foot surgeries, and declaring early for the NFL Draft. In LSU’s dynamic offense, despite a loaded roster, Moss managed to secure 47 receptions for 570 yards and four touchdowns — two of which came in the National Championship game. Despite his limited starting experience, Moss’ blocking is a plus and will help him carve out an early role as reserve/role tight end.

Steven Sullivan, LSU

Suggested by: Sonja Greenfield

While Moss was the Tigers balanced tight end option, Sullivan was slated more in the pass-catching/big slot receiver role. Despite his role, he only had about 25-percent the production Moss had last season, as LSU favored wide receivers over a bigger body with limited blocking experience. This same situation is likely to follow him to the NFL and will limit his suitors. He showed well at Senior Bowl practices, illustrating his upside, and he will need to continue to showcase those traits to prove he was a hidden gem on a loaded LSU roster.

Patriots 4-round mock draft: Bill Belichick finally lands Gronk’s replacement

A small-school prospect with major upside.

As the 2020 NFL combine approaches, it’s time to dive deeper into mock drafts, with multiple-round projections of how the draft will go. It’s all in good fun at this point in the process, with plenty of evaluation and rumor milling still to go. Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling put together a four-round mock draft, which features three selections from New England.

The Patriots traded away their second-rounder for receiver Mohamed Sanu, and while they are likely to get two third-round compensatory picks (Trey Flowers, Trent Brown), the NFL has yet to award those selections. So Easterling skipped them for now. Here’s a look at the Patriots’ three picks.

23. Antoine Winfield, Jr. | S | Minnesota

Here’s what Easterling wrote on the selection:

“Another safety not named Grant Delpit? Don’t be surprised. Tom Brady’s future is obviously the big question mark, and finding him another pass-catcher could be a priority here if he returns. That said, the Pats need to address their need for youth on the back end of the defense, and Winfield’s combination of physical and mental tools would be a perfect match.”

It’s fun to consider the Patriots drafting Brady’s successor, a tight end (like Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet) or a receiver (like LSU’s Justin Jefferson). But the Patriots need to get younger at safety, where Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung are entering their mid 30s. McCourty is also a pending free agent, and may depart this offseason. Even Duron Harmon looks like a candidate to be a cap casualty, even if that feels unlikely. Winfield isn’t a sexy pick, but it’s the type of selection Bill Belichick likes to make.

87. Adam Trautman | TE | Dayton

The Senior Bowl standout showed that, while he spent his college career at a lower level of competition, he is physically capable of competing with some of the nation’s best college players. But what about the best pros? Here’s what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said about Trautman:

“Trautman is a fluid big man, and his basketball background shows at the catch point with his ability to adjust and attack. His routes need fine-tuning and his blocking is based more on effort than technical understanding right now, although he doesn’t lack in intensity or effort in either category. Overall, Trautman doesn’t have the body of work versus top-level competition, but his athleticism and pass-catching traits for a player his size make him a highly intriguing prospect, projecting as a player who should crack the starting lineup as an NFL rookie.”

Considering the Patriots were woefully understaffed at tight end in 2019, they’d be wise to stock up on talent at the position in the draft and during free agency. It’s much clearer than last season: Rob Gronkowski isn’t coming back. They should act accordingly.

115. Robert Hunt | OL | Lafayette (pick from CHI)

With the Patriots potentially set to lose both Joe Thuney and Ted Karras in free agency, New England may want to keep restocking with young talent in hopes one of their picks will prove ready to start. The Patriots have Hjalte Froholdt, a 2019 fourth-round pick who spent his rookie season on IR. New England also traded for Jermaine Eluemunor. Add in Hunt, and they should have a satisfactory level of competition for the starting job at left guard.

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5 TE prospects Bears should watch at NFL Scouting Combine

Tight end is arguably the Bears’ biggest offseason need. Chicago is expected to address the concern both in free agency and the NFL Draft.

There were no shortage of issues on offense for the Bears in 2019, but tight end was one of the biggest struggles. Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen both underwhelmed prior to landing on injured reserve, and Chicago will be looking to strengthen the position.

Tight end is arguably the Bears’ biggest offseason need. So much so that Chicago is expected to address the concern both in free agency and the NFL Draft.

With that said, here are five tight end prospects the Bears should watch at the NFL Scouting Combine next week:

1. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue

Perhaps the best fit for Matt Nagy’s offense, Brycen Hopkins is a player the Bears have already had an eye on. Hopkins confirmed that he’d met with Bears scouts at the Senior Bowl, which makes sense given the importance of fixing the instability at tight end.

Hopkins had 830 yards and six touchdowns with Purdue in 2019, which is the kind of production the Bears are seeking from the position. He would be the perfect fit for Nagy’s “U” tight end. He’s a strong route runner and also brings explosiveness to the position.

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Meet Adam Trautman, the sleeping giant of the 2020 TE class

Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Dayton tight end Adam Trautman

The teams that routinely win the NFL draft are the ones that are able to find the best players, regardless of where they played their college ball. It’s about finding diamonds in the rough, and getting the best value across all seven rounds.

If your favorite NFL team is looking to check all those boxes with a tight end prospect in the 2020 NFL draft, they should look no further than Dayton’s Adam Trautman.

One of the biggest winners at this year’s Senior Bowl, Trautman recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his experience against top competition in Mobile, how he handles the “small-school” criticism, and what kind of impact he’ll make at the next level.

JM: What was your experience like at the Senior Bowl?

AT: It was a great experience. For a guy like me and with my situation being a small school guy, it was a huge opportunity for me to go out there and compete against the top seniors around the nation. It was important for me to go out there and prove that I belonged. I got to showcase myself against some of the best of the best. The week itself was a grind but it was a lot of fun. It’s football so naturally I had an awesome time out there.

JM: Was your main focus out there to quiet some of the small-school talk?

AT: Yeah, I wanted to specifically prove that I’m a complete tight end. I can put my hand in the dirt and attack people in the run game. I of course wanted to showcase my abilities in the passing game as well. I basically wanted everyone in attendance to realize that everything I put on film throughout my entire college career will translate exactly to that level of competition as well. I definitely feel like I did that and proved that to everybody.

JM: You just know that some scout or whoever is gonna ask you about the small-school competition. Will you point him in the direction of your Senior Bowl tape?

AT: Yeah, I would honestly tell them to pull up the tape from the week of practice I had out there. It clearly translated for me. They can’t just say that I was giving more effort out there or whatever because if you watch my tape, that’s how I played all season. I go hard all the time. That would be my response. People are gonna have their opinions and I understand that. I had a chance to prove myself throughout the three days of practice and in the game as well. I definitely feel good about it. I don’t think I should have an asterisk next to my name. I was thrilled with how the week went.

JM: You put up 70 catches, 900+ yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Those are some impressive numbers. What is it about your game that allowed you to be so productive?

AT: It comes down to great game-planning. It starts there. Our offensive coordinator did a great job being creative and putting me in different situations that allowed me to thrive and be successful. Opposing defenses had a difficult time game-planning for me in any given situation because we threw so much at them. We did a great job hiding me, finding me mismatches and getting me into 1-v-1 opportunities. A huge amount of credit goes to our offensive coordinator. I also put in a lot of work throughout the summer. I really honed in on route running and blocking. I was fortunate to see that hard work translate over. I’m very happy with the season that I had.

JM: There was such a big jump in production for you from 2018 to 2019. Why do you think that happened?

AT: I was really focused throughout the off-season. Going in as a senior, I knew this was my last run at it. There’s a new level of focus that comes with that realization. I certainly spent a lot of time on the little techniques. Those things did a great job carrying over for me. They lead to a lot of big time opportunities on game-day. I was able to make some big plays for my team and dominate in the run game as well. That really was where my focus was at. I also think our offense did a great job evolving this past season. We were able to carry over the momentum from the year before and take that a little further. We went from scoring 36 points per game to 42.5 points per game which was the best mark in the country. That’s a credit to our offensive coordinator.

JM: What’s your favorite part about playing tight end?

AT: I enjoy being able to impact the game in multiple aspects. You can be that go-to guy in the passing game as the chain mover or play-maker if you will. You can also be the guy on 4th and 1 who demands for the team to run the ball behind you. We’re able to impact the game in so many ways as a tight end. The NFL has seen an increased usage of multiple tight end sets as of late. That’s really what I love about the position.

JM: You’re an excellent route runner. Do you have a favorite route to run?

AT: Yeah, I’d have to say a corner route. That’s definitely my favorite route to run. Being able to change the angle when you come off of a cut, just having that freedom makes it my favorite.

JM: I have a two-part question here for you. Is there one NFL defender that you’re looking forward to squaring off with? How about one NFL quarterback you’d love to catch a pass from?

AT: Wow, those are tough. I have to think about a safety or someone I could realistically square off with in coverage. Tyrann Mathieu definitely comes to mind. I’ve always loved watching him play the game. He’s a heck of a player. As for the quarterback question, I don’t really care (laughs). I’ll catch a pass from any NFL quarterback. That’s a tough one. I like Deshaun Watson. I grew up a Houston Texans fan. I grew up in Houston up until I was 11 years before we moved to Michigan. Catching a pass from Watson would be pretty cool but I honestly don’t have a preference at all.

JM: The NFL Scouting Combine is fast approaching. Are you looking forward to any drills in particular?

AT: I’m really just looking forward to having another opportunity to go out there and compete on another big stage against my peers. There’s so many talented guys throughout the country and I’m excited about competing alongside them. I’m looking forward to meeting the teams and interviewing with them. The position drills are big. It’s another chance to show that I can separate and move with the best of them. I can get in and out of breaks effortlessly and I can move guys off the ball in the run game. I’m excited for it all. I’ve been watching the combine on television for at least seven years in a row now. I’m looking forward to partaking in it.

JM: This is a long, taxing process, but it’s an incredibly rewarding one. What are you most looking forward to?

AT: I’m really excited to see where I could take this thing. I’m excited to ultimately find out where I’m gonna end up. Where I was before last season, I’ve seen quite the rise. The way teams view me has changed drastically. There’s a big difference in where I’m projected now to where I was a year ago. It’s gonna be exciting to see how high I can end up and how I can continue to elevate myself. Continued development is very important to me. I’ve been working with some great position coaches as I prepare for what’s next. I’ve obtained a lot of knowledge over the last little bit. I love developing as a player. I’m already excited to head out to rookie mini-camp wherever that might be (laughs). I can’t wait to do what I do best.

JM: What kind of impact is Adam Trautman gonna make at the next level?

AT: I plan on being a huge contributor. I’ll take up whatever role I need to. If they need me to be the third tight end and play special teams, I’ll be ready to embrace that. I’m absolutely all for that. If they need me to be the blocking tight end in a two tight end set or the leading pass catcher of the position group, I’m ready for whatever role’s coming my way. I’m looking forward to contributing to whatever organization believes in me.

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Mapping out a perfect Washington Redskins offseason in 2020

There are a number of roster decisions for the Redskins to make this offseason, but these are at the top of our list for a perfect 2020.

The pieces are starting to be put into place for the Washington Redskins to actually find some success in 2020 and the years beyond. With a core of young and dynamic players on both offense and defense, plus a new coaching staff that will offer a fresh set of eyes to what can improve around the building, there is a reality in which the Redskins find themselves competing for a playoff spot in the near future.

The Redskins are set to start out the year with just under $40 million in salary-cap space, according to Over The Cap, but that number could rise a heck of a lot higher with some tweaking. All they have to do is make the right roster decisions, and that starts this offseason. In order to help provide a path forward, we decided to map out what would be a perfect offseason, in our eyes, hoping it leads to eventual Redskins’ success.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 01: Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins embraces head coach Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers before their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Cutting Players:

There are a handful of players that the Redskins will likely let go ahead of free agency this year, but two big-name players come to mind for us. Josh Norman and Paul Richardson Jr.

The writing has been on the wall for Norman, as he was benched at the end of the season in order to let practice squad players get a chance in front of him. At age 32, with a significant drop in production since becoming the highest-paid CB in the NFL with the Redskins, it’s time for Washington to rid of Norman’s contract and look to the younger players. According to OTC, the Redskins would save $12.5 million by cutting him this offseason, giving them over $50 million in available space.

Likewise, Richardson has spent two seasons now trying to stay healthy enough to live up to his $40 million contract that the Redskins gave him in 2018, but failing. In 2019, Richardson was passed up by three rookie wide receivers on the depth chart, which was the icing on the cake. If the Redskins were to part ways with Richardson this offseason, they would save $6.5 million in 2020, but with some of that becoming dead money, the cap space would only rise to $52 million.

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5 standouts from the 2020 Senior Bowl that should be on Bears’ radar

There were several prospects that flashed throughout Senior Bowl week, and some that should be of interest to the Bears.

The Senior Bowl is officially in the books. Following a week of practices and meetings with scouts, the Senior Bowl culminated in a 34-17 win for the North.

There were several prospects that flashed and elevated their draft stock throughout the week, and there were a few that should certainly be of interest to the Bears.

The Bears have several needs to address this offseason, and there are some intriguing prospects that could certainly help them do that.

Here are five players that impressed this week during the Senior Bowl that should be on the Bears’ radar.

1. EDGE Bradlee Anae, Utah

The Bears are in need of help coming off the edge, and one player that raised his stock at the Senior Bowl was Utah edge rusher Bradlee Anae, who was an absolute force during Saturday’s game.

Anae made life difficult on Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts Saturday. He simply couldn’t be blocked, and he came away with back-to-back sacks of Hurts in the second quarter. He also affected one of Hurts’ throws that was easily intercepted by Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison.

Anae projects to be a top 50 prospect, and luckily for the Bears they have to top-50 picks at No. 43 and No. 50. If Anae is still on the board when pick No. 43 rolls around, you have to imagine it’d be hard for the Bears to pass Anae up.

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