Tag: Brayden Willis

One TE for Titans in every round of the 2023 NFL draft

A look at one tight end the Titans could target in every round they have a pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

It’s no secret that the Tennessee Titans’ offense needs a lot of help at the moment. Most people focus on the obvious holes out wide and along the offensive line, but the tight end position can’t be forgotten completely.

Yes, the Titans already have a budding star in Chig Okonkwo, but the team also has to ensure it has someone who can adequately complement his explosive skill set.

The team signed Trevon Wesco earlier this offseason to help out with the blocking aspect of their offense, but that’s hardly the type of addition that would prevent Tennessee from drafting someone they’re interested in.

This article is going to discuss one realistic tight end for each round of the draft in which the Titans have a pick. Tennessee has a pick in every round except the fourth.

We already covered the wide receiver position on Wednesday, and we will be doing the same concept going forward for each major position of need until they have all been covered.

This tight end group is considered one of the best crops in quite some time, so let’s dive right into it and see which prospects could be potential targets for the Titans throughout draft weekend.

5 things we’re watching for at Oklahoma’s spring game

Oklahoma has its spring game this weekend, and we’ve got five things we’ll be looking at for Oklahoma’s spring debut of team 129.

Team 129 in Oklahoma’s illustrious football history takes the field publically for the first time on Saturday afternoon. It’s a game and weekend that means a lot to the team, staff, fanbase, and recruits.

Oklahoma comes into this spring off the heels of its worst season in over 20 years. The Sooners were a rough watch at times. Despite that, they still found themselves in a bowl game against a talented Florida State team.

Oklahoma lost the likes of [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag], and [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag] to the NFL Draft process.

The Sooners saw players transfer out but also welcomed in a number of players from their top-five recruiting class. The Sooners attacked the portal with some serious intensity bringing in impact transfers on both sides of the ball.

It’s now time for the world to at least get a glimpse of some of these new Sooners while getting a chance to see how the returning players improved from last year.

Here are our top five storylines heading into the spring game.

49ers to host Oklahoma TE Brayden Willis on 30 visit

The #49ers are hosting Oklahoma TE Brayden Willis on a 30 visit per @JustinM_NFL.

The 49ers are working hard to find another tight end to bolster their depth behind George Kittle. Now they’re bringing in Oklahoma TE Brayden Willis on a 30 visit per the Draft Network’s Justin Melo.

Willis met with San Francisco at the combine and we highlighted him in our 49ers 2023 Prospect Watch series.

He’s an intriguing option because he has enough athleticism that could translate into him being a productive pass catcher in the NFL, but it’s how he can function in the offense that should have appeal for head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Willis lined up all over the field for the Sooners and had success as both an in-line and move blocker. That’s the first step for a TE getting on the field for the 49ers.

His pass-catching production wasn’t particularly notable. Willis caught 75 balls for 998 yards and 13 touchdowns during his career. What’s impressive though is how he finds space and sells blocks before sliding out and making himself an open target for his quarterback.

It’s unlikely the 49ers are going to find the next Kittle in this year’s draft, but Willis could quickly provide improved depth at the position for the cost of a late Day 3 pick.

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One tight end for the Vikings for every round of the 2023 NFL draft

Even with the top two solidified, @MattAnderson_8 identified a tight end in each round of the NFL draft that the Viking could target.

Last season, the Minnesota Vikings made a trade for tight end T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline. That move solidified the starter at the position for the foreseeable future. They followed it up at the start of free agency by signing Josh Oliver.

With the NFL Draft approaching, teams frequently make unexpected picks. Although it’s unlikely that the Vikings will use their high draft picks on a tight end, it’s still worth examining the draft class. Therefore, I have chosen one tight end from each round of the draft who could potentially be a good fit for the Vikings.

49ers 2023 prospect watch: TE Brayden Willis does a little of everything

The #49ers met with a TE prospect who could be another successful late-round selection:

The 49ers need some help in their tight end room. George Kittle is still one of the NFL’s best, but San Francisco has long been in search of an effective, versatile TE to slot in alongside him. Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner are both capable, but there could certainly be some improvement there. It appears they’ll aim to unearth their next TE via the draft, and they met with Oklahoma’s Brayden Willis during the combine per the Draft Network’s Justin Melo.

Willis is an interesting player. His measurables don’t jump off the screen. He’s 6-3, 241 pounds and there’s not a ton of explosiveness to his game.

However, he’s a capable blocker as either an in-line TE or as an H-back. Willis isn’t likely to dominate as a blocker, but his effort is there and it stands to reason getting into the 49ers’ offense would help him improve in that area.

He also played in 58 games with 25 starts across his five seasons with the Sooners. In those contests he racked up 75 catches, 998 yards and 13 touchdown catches. He broke out during his final year when he put up 39 receptions for 514 yards and seven touchdowns.

There’s a fluidity and nuance to his route running that should make him a functional pass-catcher in an offense where he’s alongside so many other weapons. Plenty of his 75 catches came in instances where he’s flowing back against play action or fitting into a seam after a linebacker was cleared out with another TE or receiver. Those are the kinds of plays he’d be asked to make in San Francisco’s offense, and he proved capable of doing that at Oklahoma.

The 2023 draft class at tight end is deep and the 49ers may be aiming for a higher-rated prospect, but Willis still checks a lot of boxes if they want to try and find a TE late in the draft.

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Where did Oklahoma Sooners land in ESPN 7-round mock draft?

Led by Anton Harrison, five Oklahoma Sooners were selected in Jordan Reid’s seven-round 2023 mock draft for ESPN.

The 2023 NFL draft is a month away and the Oklahoma Sooners look like they’ll be well-represented throughout the seven-round selection process.

The biggest question is will they have a return to the first round of the draft? After CeeDee Lamb’s selection in the 2020 draft, Oklahoma’s gone two-straight without a first-rounder. Offensive tackle Anton Harrison could change that.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid produced a seven-round mock draft (ESPN+), and five Oklahoma Sooners were selected. Where did they land? Let’s check it out.

Oklahoma No. 3 in ESPN’s future quarterback power rankings

With Dillon Gabriel returning and the arrival of Jackson Arnold, the Oklahoma Sooners have one of the best quarterback situations in the country.

With a number of losses on the offensive side of the football to the NFL draft, there’s reason to wonder how good the Oklahoma Sooners offense will be in 2023.

The Sooners lost their leading rusher, top two receivers, and a pair of starting offensive tackles that are likely to be top 100 picks in the 2023 NFL draft. And still, they’re returning the player that matters most to offensive success; the quarterback.

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] returns for his second season in Norman in what will be his last hurrah at the collegiate level. Gabriel brings back the most returning production at the position in the Big 12. That sets the Sooners up to be able to better mitigate the sting of the departures of [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag].

With Gabriel for 2023 and [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] waiting in the wings, offensive coordinator [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] has the Sooners set up really well at the quarterback position for 2023 and beyond. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg ranked the top 25 quarterback situations for 2023 and beyond (ESPN+), and the Oklahoma Sooners landed at No. 3.

The start of the Brent Venables era in Norman didn’t go well, but Gabriel wasn’t the problem. He passed for 3,168 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions, while adding 315 rushing yards and six scores. Despite missing a game and most of another, his numbers compared favorably to his first two seasons at UCF. He could play two more seasons at OU, which retained coordinator Jeff Lebby, and should continue to produce. Oklahoma seemingly is well-positioned for whenever Gabriel departs after signing Jackson Arnold, ESPN’s top dual-threat quarterback and No. 3 overall player in the 2023 class. Arnold earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors after passing for 3,476 yards and 33 touchdowns as a high school senior, while adding 921 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns.

Arnold should help with depth, as Oklahoma struggled mightily without Gabriel in losses to TCU and Texas. OU lost a quarterback with Nick Evers transferring to Wisconsin, but returns veteran Davis Beville for another year. If Arnold delivers on the expectations around him, the Sooners should be in very good shape under center through 2025. – Rittenberg, ESPN

The Sooners landed one of the top quarterbacks in the 2023 recruiting class in Jackson Arnold. He’s an ascending player, growing into a five-star player during his senior year, which included Elite 11 MVP honors and the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award. Arnold got a jump start on his collegiate career as a mid-year enrollee but will serve as a backup quarterback for the Sooners in preparation for his turn at the helm, likely starting in 2024.

Though he hasn’t committed yet, the Oklahoma Sooners are heavily favored to land 2024 four-star quarterback [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag]. Lebby and the Sooners will have to do battle with Sonny Dykes, Kendall Briles, and the TCU Horned Frogs, but are in a good spot to land the talented Hawkins when he commits on April 8.

The Sooners have already received their quarterback commitment of the 2025 recruiting class with the pledge of [autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag]. He’s a talented dual-threat quarterback that will be a fantastic fit in Jeff Lebby’s offense.

The Sooners came in behind USC at No. 1 and Ohio State at No. 2.

The Trojans are set up well with Heisman trophy winner [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] and 2024 five-star signee [autotag]Malachi Nelson[/autotag]. They’ll be a force offensively for as long as Lincoln Riley is in Los Angeles. But will the defense make enough improvements to help the Trojans get into national title contention?

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

2023 Player Profile: Dillon Gabriel looking to lead OU to one final Big 12 title

A look at Dillon Gabriel as the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for their final season in the Big 12.

Evaluating the current roster, Sooners Wire profiles the current players, with quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] up next.

Continue reading “2023 Player Profile: Dillon Gabriel looking to lead OU to one final Big 12 title”

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 62, Oklahoma TE Brayden Willis

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Oklahoma tight end Brayden Willis.

The Green Bay Packers could be losing veteran tight ends Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis to free agency this offseason. With those two potentially on their way out of Green Bay that leaves Josiah Deguara as the only tight end with any significant experience under contract.

When the dust from the 2023 NFL Draft settles, it’s possible that the Packers have one or two rookie tight ends on the roster. 

A player that could be a potential target on day three of the upcoming draft is Brayden Willis. The Oklahoma tight end checks in at No. 62 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown. 

A three-star recruit out of Texas, Willis hauled in seven receiving touchdowns during his first four years as a Sooner. This past season, Willis enjoyed a breakout season, recording 39 receptions for 514 yards and seven touchdowns. The playmaking tight end also threw one passing touchdown.

“I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure Willis had an NFL future before the season,” Ryan Aber, the Oklahoma beat writer for The Oklahoman, said. “But he made some big strides this season, particularly as a receiver. When things weren’t going well for the Sooners’ offense, he was a steady target for Dillon Gabriel.”

Willis gets after it as a blocker. He’s more than happy to do the dirty work to help open up running lanes.

“He loved to block,” Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables said during the Senior Bowl roster reveal. “What a punishing finisher.”

At 6-3, 239 pounds, Willis isn’t an intimidating figure on the football field like fellow 2023 draft-eligible tight end Darnell Washington. What he lacks in hulking size, he makes up for with grit and a tenacious attitude. He is looking to drive his opponent into oblivion. 

“His greatest strength is his physicality,” Aber said. “He can hold up well as a blocker even against defenders who are much bigger. He’s also relentless, sticking with blocks for as long as they’re needed.”

Willis is a sledgehammer as a lead blocker. He’s like the energizer bunny with the effort he gives as a blocker. He will hit his target when he’s on the move and drive them into the ground. He gets into the chest of the man across from him and drives his legs through contact to create movement.

“As a blocker, he’s solid,” Aber said. “I’ll be interested to see how that skill translates at the next level, as he won’t have as many mismatches. But his physicality will help him tighten that gap.”

Willis accelerates quickly off the line of scrimmage. He has the route quickness to separate from linebackers. This past season he showcased reliable hands with the ability to snag the ball away from his frame. According to Pro Football Focus, Willis was flagged for three drops this past season. 

“As a pass catcher, he improved a ton in 2022, transforming into a tight end who could be flexed out wide,” Aber said. “His hands still aren’t the best, but they’re much better than they were a year ago.”

Willis is physical after the catch. He’s able to run through arm tackles with ease. According to PFF, Willis racked up 282 yards after the catch this past season.

“It’s physicality,” Aber said. “He doesn’t have breakaway speed but if defenders are in front of him, he’s not often brought down on first contact.”

During his time at Oklahoma, Willis logged 845 special teams snaps, including 186 snaps this past season. Last offseason, the Packers invested heavily in their special teams unit. That trend will likely continue this offseason and with his ability to provide an immediate impact on special teams, it’s a safe bet that he could be a day-three target for Green Bay. 

“He might have been our most valuable player on special teams,” Venables said. “Just an all-around terrific football player.” 

Fit with the Packers

Willis would bring a ton of versatility to the tight-end position. He can line up in line. He can line up as an h-back. The Oklahoma tight end could even line up out wide or in the slot. During Oklahoma’s matchup against Texas, Willis took snaps as the team’s Wildcat quarterback. He has the skill set to be a weapon in the passing game, as well as a valuable asset as a blocker in Green Bay’s rushing attack. On top of what he could bring to Green Bay’s offense, Willis could provide an immediate impact on special teams. 

‘I think he’s a solid day three option if nothing else because of the versatility he brings to the position,” Aber said. “He can do a bit of everything and make the most of the role. Willis also is extremely well-thought-of for both his football IQ and locker-room presence. When Dillon Gabriel was hurt heading into Oklahoma vs. Texas matchup, it was Willis who was called on to be the Sooners’ wildcat quarterback. He was Oklahoma’s unquestioned leader last season and even through some turmoil, handled the role well.”

In a lot of ways, Willis is a lot like Deguara. However, it would be short-changing the Oklahoma tight end’s skill set to label him as an “h-back only” type of player. 

He showcased this past season that he could be a valuable weapon in the passing game. With his versatility and skillset, Willis could be the type of player that could provide an immediate impact on special teams, as a blocker and as a weapon in the aerial attack. 

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‘Seamless’ transition for returning Sooners TE Austin Stogner

Sooners TE Austin Stogner’s return to Oklahoma ‘seamless’ according to Brent Venables.

With [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag] leaving the Oklahoma Sooners for the NFL Draft, the offense needed a big, dependable target to rely on. They got one in the transfer portal when South Carolina Gamecocks tight end Austin Stogner announced that he would be coming back to OU.

Any Sooners fans who owned their very own [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] jersey were no doubt thrilled when they heard the news that he would be returning from South Carolina. Even in this transfer portal era, a player returning to a school that he transferred from a year prior is pretty unheard of.

Transferring can bring a long adjustment period, but according to [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], Stogner isn’t having a hard time getting acclimated to his new environment.

He’s really happy to be back,” Venables said of Stogner’s return.”And I think he’s in a comfortable place. I think he enjoyed his time at South Carolina, and maybe something that he needed in, you know, in that time of his life.

“I think it gave him an opportunity to, to have the right perspective about this opportunity here at the University of Oklahoma and being close with his family and having an opportunity to be in this type of system to highlight, quote, unquote, you know, his ability in the use of our tight end.”

Stogner has the athleticism and could finally receive a full complement of snaps to have a breakout season for the Sooners in 2023. But it’s not simply the things he can do that provide excitement for what could be a big year for Stogner. It’s also the stuff he does off the field in preparation for the season.

“He’s a worker,” Venables continued. “He’s a tough guy. He’s got a lot of juice and energy when it comes to competing.”

With Willis gone and the Sooners young at the tight end position, Oklahoma needed a veteran presence to lead the unit in 2023. Stogner has the benefit of familiarity with [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag] to give him the opportunity to have a big year in the passing game.

In addition to Willis, the Sooners have to find a way to replace [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag]’ production. With a lot of new and unproven faces in the wide receiver room and a new WR coach in Emmett Jones, [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] will need a security blanket to get the ball to as other targets emerge.

Stogner is no doubt looking for a similar draft stock-boosting year that Brayden Willis got in 2022. With Willis gone, the top tight end spot on the depth chart is up for grabs.

With experience in Norman, Stogner was able to come in and hit the ground running. That should provide the right environment for everything to come together for Stogner in 2023.

“Obviously had previous relationships with some guys,” Venables shared about the move. “A lot of guys are gone, but he’s just very comfortable. Easy, seamless transition for him thus far.”

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Ben on Twitter @bendackiw.