NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS - tight end
Click on the names of the prospects below to see their draft profiles:
Height: 6’4”. Weight: 235lbs
PRO’S: Ideal frame for a modern day tight end in the NFL - thick trunk with good height and length. Smooth off the line of scrimmage and into his routes. Smart footballer - aware of zone concepts and adjusts his route to take advantage of soft spots in coverage. Good footwork on routes; crisp and clean in and out of his breaks. Able to garner separation on short and intermediate routes. Strong body with good catch radius allows him to win contested catches more often than not. Soft hands and able to snag awkward passes. Secure with the football and can ride low tackles well. Strong stiff arm. Fights for every yard. Has lined up inline or flexed out, and frequently performed h-back duties for Notre Dame.
CON’S: Raw. Barely played any football before 2019 - it was a surprise he declared for the draft this year. Technique and fundamentals still require work - footwork in run blocking in particular. Poor set and hand placement when engaging defenders means he loses play strength - he knows where he needs to be but is inconsistent in application. Can attack the deep middle of the field but long speed isn’t elite.
SIMON CARROLL: “Cole Kmet has so much untapped potential it’s hard not to get excited about what he could turn into at the pro level. He’s already a developed weapon in the passing game with the versatility to line up all over the field. A high floor, high ceiling prospect that with some focused coaching on his blocking has the potential to be a Pro Bowl Tight End”.
NFL COMPARISON: GREG OLSEN
PREDICTION: 2ND ROUND PICK
Height: 6’4”. Weight: 241lbs
PRO’S: Big, lean and fast ‘move tight end’ who is smooth off the line of scrimmage and quick into his routes. Consistently gets separation in the middle of the field with his quickness. Nimble footwork allows him to deceive and break clean at the top of his routes. A playmaker with the ball in his hands, one of the few tight ends who can run away from defensive backs as well as linebackers. Excellent hands and gets his head round early on quick throws. Catches balls he has no right to be contesting for. Brings the heat when it’s time to be physical and isn’t shy about taking a hit for a catch. Lined up everywhere at Purdue, as well as in the backfield as a h-back.
CON’S: Very much a modern day pass-catching tight end, in that his blocking abilities don’t match his receiving ones. Needs to exhibit more determination and better stoutness and hand placement at the point of attack. Better at blocking downfield but sometimes gets lost with the direction of the play. Questionable balance, often overreaching for his man when establishing blocks. Slender frame and might find it difficult to gain more muscle mass if desired.
SIMON CARROLL: “The flashes of brilliance in the passing game are hard not to be impressed with, and when he has the ball in his hands Hopkins looks every inch a starting NFL tight end. Plenty of work to be done in run blocking, but in today’s pass heavy league he could instantly become a key weapon in any offense”.
NFL COMPARISON: JORDAN REED
PREDICTION: 2ND ROUND PICK
Height: 6’2”. Weight: 239lbs
PRO’S: Pass-catching chess piece that can be lined up across the formation. Feasts on short to intermediate routes but also has the acceleration to beat coverage and enough speed to maintain separation deep. Smooth runner off the line of scrimmage, and quick enough in and out of his breaks to gain an advantage over his opponent. Good football smarts allow him to find and sit in the soft zones on his routes. Feisty with contested catches and knows how to use his body to keep defenders away from the football. Almost like a receiver with the ball in his hands, showing elusiveness and the ability to gain extra unexpected yards.
CON’S: Blocking a major point of concern. Will struggle with inline blocking duties due to his lack of lower body strength and power at the point of attack. On the back front from the first moment of engagement. Similar issues in pass protection too - can chip before running a route but that is all. Fails to gain separation from physical press corners. Dropped too many passes at Washington.
SIMON CARROLL: “Hunter Bryant is going to polarise opinion in this draft process. Anyone looking for a traditional tight end will not be able to remove the lack of strength from their minds. But for teams that consider tight ends just slightly heavier receivers, Bryant provides them with a dynamic movable weapon that can provide game-breaking ability at any moment”.
NFL COMPARISON: EVAN ENGRAM
PREDICTION: 2ND ROUND PICK
Height: 6’4”. Weight: 254lbs
PRO’S: Big strong frame, ideal measurements for an NFL tight end. Nice balance of physicality and athleticism. Good burst off the line of scrimmage and quickness throughout his routes. Plus long speed for his size on deep routes - a mismatch against linebackers who try to cover him. Picks up the hard yards across the middle with a blend of enough separation and toughness in contested catches. Able to line up in the slot or flexed out. Excellent inline blocker, able to land his hands on his man and use his play strength to drive them away from the play. Similar levels of physicality in pass protection - surprisingly stout against edge rushers. Game tape obsessive who puts the hours in to perfect his game.
CON’S: Good in almost every facet of the position, but not elite in any. Won’t scare safeties or nickel corners with his speed. Fails to get consistent yards after the catch. First contact usually brings him down. Too many steps in and out of his breaks & rounds out his routes rather than shows crisp cuts. Blocking on the outside not as consistent as when he has his hand in the dirt. Relies on his power too often at the point of attack rather than good pad level and leverage. 2019 was a disappointment compared to the previous year.
SIMON CARROLL: “ It’s tough to poke holes in Pinkney’s game tape; he frequently showcases all the attributes of a complete player at the position. Coaching can help him continue to clean up his play, and his all-round game should see him come off the board day two and get significant snaps as a rookie”.
NFL COMPARISON: JARED COOK
PREDICTION: 3RD ROUND PICK
Height: 6’5”. Weight: 255lbs
PRO’S: Physically gifted tight end whose traits jump off the screen. Versatile pass catcher - can line up anywhere in the formation and be a receiving threat. Good acceleration off the line and impressive speed down the seam or across the middle for his size. Huge frame allows him to box out defenders and win the majority of contested catches. Good height, strong frame and impressive wingspan mean he can and will go up for the football. Strength in these situations may be unparalleled in this draft class. Excellent at chipping then breaking out as an option over the middle for the quarterback.
CON’S: Linear body and poor footwork makes it difficult for him to be dominant in run blocking. Struggles to get set, get his hands engaged and dominate his opponent. Much better charging downfield and blocking at the second level. Doesn’t garner enough separation at the top of his routes and relies on his physicality too much to bring the ball in. Route tree simplified for him at Missouri - not much in the way of breaks or cuts to avoid him losing speed. Injury prone with a recurring shoulder problem that will need to be investigated thoroughly.
SIMON CARROLL: “At the beginning of the season Albert ‘O’ was considered THE tight end to watch in 2019. A down year coupled with an underwhelming season from Missouri has seen him slip down the pecking order. But the traits are still there. Okwuegbunam will need coaching up on some fundamentals in his blocking game but he should provide potential starter value late on day two”.
NFL COMPARISON: MARK ANDREWS
PREDICTION: 3RD ROUND PICK
Height: 6’5”. Weight: 242lbs
PRO’S: Athletically gifted receiving tight end who predominantly worked out of the slot for FAU. Loves to attack the seams and terrifies linebackers with his speed. Ghosts into the deep field effortlessly and routinely gets beyond his man on sideline and corner routes. No dropoff in speed when hit in stride. Takes advantage of soft cushion provided to him to make hay on comeback and shallow routes. Big catch radius allows him to snag balls away from his body. Excellent tracker of the ball in the air - catches the ball over his shoulder with ease. Productive in the red zone. Plays situational football and consistently fights for the line to gain. Very quick to get to the second level and engage DB’s on running plays.
CON’S: Comparatively big but frame looks slight & might need to add more muscle mass. Offers effort in run blocking but without frequent success. - knows where he should be but struggles with hand placement and footwork at the point of attack. Non-factor in pass protection; just not stout enough to combat sustained edge pressure. Lack of physical edge as a receiver - plays like a true wide-out rather than a tight end. Route running needs more refinement and diversity.
SIMON CARROLL: “Ultra-productive at college, Bryant often put the offense on his back and came up with the goods. He’s raw but effective in the passing game and in this regard has a high ceiling, but carrying out traditional tight end duties will never be his forte. Where he gets drafted is anyone’s guess - it only takes one team to fall in love with his playmaking ability and he breaks into day two”.
NFL COMPARISON: JONNU SMITH
PREDICTION: 3RD ROUND PICK
Height: 6’3”. Weight: 245lbs
PRO’S: All-rounder of a tight end who was an accomplished performer of multiple duties at Cincinnati. Deceptive speed and can attack the deep field from inline, slot or outside the numbers. Savvy runner who knows when to sink his routes & find soft spots in coverage. Lines up defenders opposite from him and is able to lure them into wrong moves. Elite hands - frequently reeling in catches away from his body. Turns and finds the football quickly. Impressive effort in run blocking and quick to engage his man. Fights on every rep.
CON’S: Physically and athletically average. The step up in competition at the NFL level will mitigate his football smarts and natural feel for the position. Effort in blocking isn’t matched by strength - is no more than a neutraliser at the point of attack. Doesn’t often drive defenders away from the football. Not as impressive with contested catches as he is in the open field.
SIMON CARROLL: “One of my favourite players in this draft, Deguara is a competitor who applies himself relentlessly to every aspect of his position. His underwhelming core strength and size will be a concern to NFL scouts but he outplayed it at college and I expect the same in the pro’s. Made a freshman quarterback’s life a lot easier in his final season as a Bearcat”.
NFL COMPARISON: BEN WATSON
PREDICTION: 4TH ROUND PICK
Height: 6’3”. Weight: 225lbs
PRO’S: Strong, physical tight end who loves to hit the opposition. Packs a fierce initial punch that knocks the wind out of the defenders sails. Inline, he’s adept at locking on and guiding his opponent to somewhere he doesn’t want to be. Frames off his man and creates big running lanes. Shows good timing on taking the legs from a speed rusher. Competitive against some of the best defensive lines in college football, crashing it down rather than letting his man through. Quick to the second level and find another guy to block Lined up frequently outside the numbers. Strong in the short passing game, framing out linebackers with his big body. Good catch radius and soft hands away from his body. A true competitor on every snap.
CON’S: Not a polished receiver by any stretch of the imagination. Ungainly off the line and cumbersome throughout his routes. Sluggish out of his breaks. Not much in the way of playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. Where he catches it is usually where the play ends. Fundamentals such as footwork and ball security need attention. Looks lost on broken plays and isn’t a quarterback’s traditional security blanket as tight ends often are.
SIMON CARROLL: “In today’s pass happy league the desire for a receiver in a tight end’s body means that Moss’ traditional style of play could see his draft stock slip. Having said that, his superior blocking could also be the reason why he sees the field a lot more as a rookie than some others in this draft class. Watching Moss block is every bit as exciting as watching Hunter Bryant catch”.
NFL COMPARISON: MARCEDES LEWIS
PREDICTION: 4TH ROUND
Height: 6’6”. Weight: 254lbs
PRO’S: Remarkable determination to get where he is today. Sullivan lived in poverty as a child, was at one point homeless and ended up living with coaches for food and shelter. Phenomenal size and length for the position. Impressive wingspan gives him a ridiculous catch radius of more than seven feet. A complete mismatch for linebackers from the slot. Versatile - rotated between tight end and receiver as and when the team needed him. Excellent athleticism - will outrun cornerbacks with ease and can seriously jump. A redzone nightmare for defenses.
CON’S: As raw as they come. Behind the curve in terms of football education due to early years turmoil. Little to no production at LSU - just 12 receptions for 130 yards as a senior and only 36 receptions his entire college career. Buried behind Thaddeus Moss on the depth chart and couldn’t eat into his game time. Little to no blocking responsibilities as a Tiger - literally only got snaps when it was time to throw. Still learning how to diagnose what a defense shows him. Relies on his size and needs to improve his fundamentals. Route running needs a lot of polish.
SIMON CARROLL: “Stephen Sullivan may be the most underdeveloped tight end I have ever scouted, but forget that. The measurables on this kid are ridiculous. He has already wowed scouts and coaches at the Senior Bowl and shown he as the ability to block as well as catch. Providing he is tutored well he is going to blow minds at the NFL Combine - the pre-draft process will only improved his draft stock. One front office is going to gamble they can hone this athletic phenom into a serious weapon on offense”.
NFL COMPARISON: JIMMY GRAHAM
PREDICTION: 5TH ROUND PICK
Height: 6’7”. Weight: 251lbs
PRO’S: Basically a wide receiver with a big body, Parkinson is a pass-catching weapon. Elite acceleration of the line of scrimmage for a tight end. Will outrun linebackers down the seam with ease. Excellent athleticism and remarkable sharpness in and out of his breaks. Able to gain separation even on shorter routes. Really tall and plucks jump balls out of the air. Huge wingspan coupled with soft hands allows him to reel in balls away from his body. A natural catcher and a redzone threat. Good football IQ and studies gametape relentlessly for small advantages.
CON’S: Naturally struggles to keep his pad level down and blocking is inconsistent. Stanford used him more as a wide receiver to avoid him being overpowered as an inline blocker. Not enough ‘sand in his pants’ to withstand even average sized defenders. Disappointing tendency to get jammed or re-routed at the line of scrimmage when outside against cornerbacks. Hands and length allow him to catch in traffic but not comfortable taking hits at the point of catch. The first tackle usually brings him down.
SIMON CARROLL: “A phenomenal pass-catcher, Parkinson has the ability to line up at any spot and be a danger in any part of the field. But with the more traditional tight end back in vogue in the NFL, his lack of core strength (despite his size) means he will either be a work in progress or one part of a versatile tight end group used in places like Baltimore or Detroit”.
NFL COMPARISON: JESSE JAMES
PREDICTION: 5TH ROUND PICK
Height: 6’5”. Weight: 245lbs
PRO’S: Dynamic receiving tight end with a large body of work over four years at South Florida. Effective pass catcher out of the slot - smooth off the line of scrimmage and accelerates nicely into his routes. Has a grasp of the subtle nuances of route running; double moves, stutter steps & quick breaks all a part of his repertoire. Loves the physical side of the position - enjoys working the middle of the field and battling for the ball in traffic. Large catch radius allows him to high point the football.
CON’S: Good effort in blocking but fundamentally awful. Unless he aligns as a h-back with his hips already square he struggles to get set before engaging. Lack of core body strength makes blocking doubly tough. Better on the outside manhandling corners away from outside runs. Far too many dropped balls and yards left on the field. Struggles to free himself from first contact. Production declined in his senior year, although he became much more of a redzone threat.
SIMON CARROLL: “Heading into 2019, Mitchell Wilcox appeared on my lookout list as a guy who could showcase his receiving talents. Despite more touchdowns he really hasn’t kicked his game on to the next level. With sloppy drops and poor blocking technique he’s a project, but one that could eventually lead to a reasonable NFL career as a pass-catching tight end”.
NFL COMPARISON: ERIC EBRON
PREDICTION: 6TH ROUND PICK
Height: 6’4”. Weight: 240lbs
PRO’S: Physically and athletically gifted and comfortable with all tight end duties. Has the length and speed to operate as an extra receiver, be that in the slot or out wide. Graceful off the line of scrimmage and glides across the turf. Not got elite accleration but has sneaky quickness to garner separation. Better speed on deep routes. Has no problem getting physical across the middle or on contested catches. Has good timing on breaks and in the air when high-pointing the football. Hungry in the blocking game and loves locking on to a target and delivering a big initial punch. Plays with good pad height and frequently wins the leverage battle.
CON’S: Raw, as most athletic prospects are coming out of Memphis. Unique offensive system saw him used sparingly in the passing game despite his qualities. In terms of the full picture he is an unknown commodity. Dubious balance and body control - gets too excited sometimes and can be too eager to land a knockout blow on a defender. Handsy at the top of his routes sometimes. Out some gametime with a knee injury, & subsequent infection meant he missed the Cotton Bowl this year.
SIMON CARROLL: “Should get drafted on the name alone! Joey Magnifico is an intriguing prospect. You can tell he used to be a linebacker by the relish with which he works the trenches, but he’s more than that. Not one dropped pass as a junior and the most yards per catch of any tight end in college football alludes to his potential. A work in progress no doubt, but the ceiling is off the charts”.
NFL COMPARISON: GEORGE KITTLE
PREDICTION: 6TH ROUND PICK
Height: 6’5”. Weight: 250lbs
PRO’S: Tough, traditional tight end who is proficient in both pass catching and blocking duties. Lines up all over the field. Able to block effectively inline or out in space. Quick mover who can settle onto his next blocking target. Quickly diagnoses where the pressure is coming from. Rarely takes a misstep on a blocking assignment. Has sufficient speed to challenge linebackers down the seams. Clever route runner able to gain separation at the top of his routes. Good hands even under duress. Kick step when asked to pass protect is as natural as a lineman.
CON’S: Lack of lower body strength. Blocking is effective enough but not dominant and against stronger NFL defensive linemen will struggle to hold his ground. Average athleticism - not effective as a deep threat outside the numbers. Modest yards after the catch in college although posesses a tasty stiff-arm. Loses speed on his breaks. Didn’t appear to be a security blanket on broken plays at Oregon.
SIMON CARROLL: “Average athleticism will limit Breeland’s role within an NFL offense, and as such he’s a day three pick. Having said that, he’s effective in all aspects of the position and will be a valued member of a team’s tight end group”.
NFL COMPARISON: DEREK CARRIER
PREDICTION: 6TH ROUND PICK
Height: 6’4”. Weight: 248lbs
PRO’S: Competitive, physical tight end who loves to throw his weight around. Ultra-tough at the point of catch, manipulating his body to screen defenders. Competitors for the ball seem to bounce off him. Good hands, particularly on contested catches away from his body. Tough to bring down too - relishes making yards after the catch. Has shown he can line up inline, as a h-back or even split out. Determined run blocker who enjoys getting handsy with the opposition. Tone setter on offense.
CON’S: Off the field work ethic is concerning. O’Grady has a litany of red flags, including missing practices, classes, and team meetings at Arkansas. Was suspended multiple times, including for a DWI arrest as a freshman. Left the team in November last year. Despite competitiveness on the field, his fundamentals are lacking. Poor footwork in blocking and off the line of scrimmage. Poor concentration from rep to rep. Doesn’t have elite athleticism or burst to gain separation deep.
SIMON CARROLL: “If Grady showed as much determination to succeed Sunday to Friday as he does on Saturdays he could be a legitimate NFL tight end. As it stands, his lack of dedication to his craft and his inability to stay away from trouble will mean he likely goes through draft weekend without hearing his name called. His game tape will mean he makes a training camp, then it’s up to him to show he means business”.
PREDICTION: UDFA
Feature Image Credit: Mike Carter (USA Today Sports)
Simon Carroll
CFB/NFL DRAFT EDITOR
PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN SCOUTING DRAFT PROSPECTS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. HE FULLY MIGRATED TO THE TOUCHDOWN AS HEAD OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND NFL DRAFT CONTENT IN JULY 2019. ALL THE RANKINGS ABOVE ARE HIS OWN, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF ALL THE WRITERS AT THE TOUCHDOWN. FOR DISCUSSION OF ANY OF THE DRAFT PROSPECTS ABOVE, HIT HIM UP ON TWITTER @NFLDRAFTSI.