Winner: Teams that need an offensive tackle
If you are a team picking in the first half of the first round, and you need an offensive tackle, Friday was a very good night for you. From Andrew Thomas to Tristan Wirfs to Mekhi Becton to Matthew Peart to Jedrick Willis to Terence Steele through Ezra Cleveland, the offensive tackles displayed a combination of speed and power that turned many heads. Sure, on film some of these players are probably not first round picks, such as Peart and Cleveland, but their testing on Friday night might move them into at least the discussion.
Specifically, we need to focus on Wirfs and Becton for a moment. Wirfs, the 6’ and ⅞” offensive tackle, who weighed in at 320 pounds, posted an astonishing 40-yard dash time of 4.85. Many have theorized that Wirfs would fit best at guard in the NFL – an idea I do not align with – but if we are going to consider a position switch for him, what about tight end?
Then there is Becton, who also turned heads with a 40-time of his own. The heaviest player in Indianapolis, checking in at 364 pounds, Becton clocked in at 5.1 in the 40-yard dash. Imagine a man of that size, with that level of momentum, coming at you as he turns the corner as a puller in front of a running play? Try being the force defender taking on that freight train. Lots of defenders are going to make some business decisions when they are staring that down next season.
Loser: Teams that need immediate TE help
At the outset, it should be noted that a few different tight ends turned in solid performances out in Indianapolis. After an uninspiring 40-yard dash, Adam Trautman from the University of Dayton rebounded with solid testing in the agility drills. His three-cone time of 6.78 was not only the top mark posted by any of the tight ends, but it was the best time at the position since 2003 and would have placed him second among all tight ends and wideouts, behind only Denzel Mims and his time of 6.66. Albert Okwuegbunam’s 40-yard time of 4.49 was very impressive for a tight end. Cole Kmet from Notre Dame also turned in a solid night on Thursday, with a 4.7 40-yard dash and some great results in the jumping tests, including a 37” vertical and a broad jump of 10’3”.
The problem lies more with the jump that tight ends face when moving from the college game to the pro game. Last year was considered the “Year of the Tight End,” with two players: Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson, selected in the top 20. Both showed promise at times, and Fant had a strong finish to his season, but the transition for rookie tight ends is difficult. Many are tasked with handling more blocking responsibilities, and most are faced with trying to separate from quicker and more explosive defenders than they are used to. There is a lot for young TEs to adjust to when they turn pro. Hockenson and Fant are just the two most recent examples of this phenomenon.
Trautman, Kmet, Okwuegbunam and other tight ends such as Harrison Bryant, Hunter Bryant and Charlie Deguara show promise and potential on film, but given the recent history at the position teams might need a bit of patience when turning in a card with one of their names written down.