2022 NFL DRAFT PROSPECT REPORT
- Name: Derrick Deese
- Position: Tight End
- School: San Jose State
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 235lbs
Film Watched: San Diego State 2020, Wyoming 2021
Pro's:
- Long tight end with wide receiver history at junior college
- Impressive blocking ability, utilising his long arms to manhandle defenders
- Gritty competitor; will fight all the way through the block to maintain control
- Impressive upper body strength and powerful hands to manipulate opponents
- Natural hands as a pass catcher, and brings the assumed intuition from his previous position
- Long strider who can build up to a healthy long speed and break off chunk yardage
- Good concentration on contested catches, and doesn’t flinch when contact is immediate
- Positionally aware and does well to restrict defenders access to the catch point with his body
Con's:
- Lack of burst off the line of scrimmage – gradual buildup speed
- Tight-hipped with limited short-area agility
- Relies on length over separation
- Lower half doesn’t possess the power his torso does, and can be displaced by elusive rushers
- High pad level as a run blocker sees him unnecessarily lose the leverage battle
The Verdict:
Derrick Deese is a late round prospect full of potential, but not enough on tape to truly guarantee he reaches it. That being said, his final season at San Jose State saw rapid growth in key areas - notably a huge upturn in production and yards per reception as well as more aggressiveness as a blocker. A natural pass catcher, Deese has no problem corralling the football, and has enough long speed to project as a flex tight end where he can stretch the seam. With more refinement on his route running he should find greater separation, and a little more composure as a blocker should help him find consistency and offer inline production to an NFL team too. A low-floor, high ceiling prospect, Deese has intriguing traits that with the correct development could allow him to be a significant contributor to an offense at the next level.”
Simon Carroll
Head Of NFL Draft Content
NFL COMPARISON: ADAM TRAUTMAN
PREDICTION: 5TH ROUND PICK
Rated 5 out of 5
