*Click on the Player Names to See Their Full NFL Draft Profiles

1.Dalton Kincaid

6”4, 246

Round: 1

Grade: 74% (Pro Bowl Potential)

Comp: Greg Olsen

Summary:

Kincaid is on the older side for a prospect at 23, but he is still an elite talent at the tight end positon. He is a very good athlete that has the speed to win vertically, and the hands to be reliable underneath. His strength is surprisingly good compared to his average size at the position and he is a very willing blocker. His route running needs work both in nuance and diversification but this should not be an issue. He high points very well and can impact the game at all levels.

2. Sam LaPorta

6″3, 249

Round: 1

Comp: Mark Andrews

Summary:

He needs a ton of development in his blocking to be a more complete player at the next level. It is not for a lack of willingness to try; he just needs refinement. However, he can be elite at the next level as a receiving threat due his insane route running. He looks like a receiver when he cuts, use double moves, or stutter steps. I expect him to be used a ton as a big slot with the size and enough speed to beat up on corners.

3. Darnell Washington

6”7, 270

Round: 1

Grade: 69%

Comp:Rob Gronkowski ish

Summary:

Let us start by saying that Darnell Washington would be on the list of most potential in this class. The sky’s the limit for him. His size and speed and athleticism could easily make him the biggest mismatch in all of football. Unfortunately because Georgia has Brock Bowers, Washington was not featured as much in the passing game so he is missing some key development that he needs from reps and experience. His route running and hands both need improvement, but his work ethic suggests this should not be an issue. However wile he works on route running, good luck to anyone trying to cover him in the red zone. His lack of refinement in these areas as well as some blocking aspects causes some risk factor as well as the lower body injuries. That being said, his strength and blocking are elite as it stands and if the technical skills can get honed in to match the physical gifts he could be the second coming of Gronkowski. For now we comp him to Jelani Woods, another freak athlete at tight end who needed technical refinement to match physical gifts whom we also had a high grade on. However, Washington is maybe the best blocking tight end prospect ever seen and a more fluid athlete. The sky is truly the limit.

4.Michael Mayer

6″4, 265

Round: 1

Grade: 73% (Pro Bowl Potential)

Comp: Jason Witten

Summary:

Mayer is a rare day one ready tight end it would appear. He can step in and be a dependable safety blanket with hands that seem to have glue on them. He is a sneaky good route runner with suddenness and physicality that will allow him to beat matchups on linebackers. When on defensive backs he uses his strength to beat them and muscle them out of the way. His blocking is good, not great, as is his speed and athleticism. He is very reminiscent of Jason Wiiten. Maybe a little more physical to Witten’s finesse but they play a similar game.

5. Cameron Latu

6”5, 244

Round: 3

Grade: 66%

Comp: Hayden Hurst

Summary

Heavily underutilized at Alabama and just not targeted by Bryce Young, Latu has a lot of upside compared to his production. He is a plus athlete and very good blocker with a potential to be an elite one with added strength. He may take a year or two to grow into the role but offers a lot as a do it all tight end.

6. Brenton Strange

6’4 , 253

Round: 3/4

Comp: Daniel Bellinger

Summary:

Strange is a ferocious blocker. When he gets his hands on players he drives them back with authority. He is very strong as evidenced by his bench reps. However, he is not just a blocker. He shows good athleticism and good routes especially underneath. He could easily be  a starting tight end at the next level.

7. Blake Whiteheart  

6’4, 247

Round: 5

Comp: Harrison Bryant

Summary:

He is our favorite sleeper at tight end. He was criminally underutilized at Wake Forest for a player with his explosiveness. He has decent speed (though not elite), but pairs it with great jumping ability. He is a high effort blocker as well as pretty good route runner who can stretch the seam. He is likely a day 3 pick but has a lot of upside. The comp to Bryant is not perfect as Whiteheart had much better jumps, but we see similar starts to their careers (as Bryant looks to eventually become a TE1 on Cleveland)

8. Zack Kuntz

6’7”, 255

Round: 4

Comp: More Athletic Colby Parkinson

Summary:

Kuntz missed most of last season with a dislocated knee cap and subsequent surgery. He showed up to the combine and had a legendary workout from an athletic standpoint. His blocking needs a lot of work and he does not get a ton of strength behind it and his form is rough but it is not an unwillingness to try. He runs decent routes but that is paired with average hands at best. He has a ton of physical upside but also a ton of development needed.

9. Luke Schoonmaker

6”6, 250

Round: 4/5

Grade: 55%

Comp: Tyler Conklin

Summary:

Average tight end athletically, that can be a decent blocking and receiving threat, while also not excelling at either. Has the potential to be a solid TE2. Look for him to be taken around the 4th round.

10. Luke Musgrave

6’6”, 250

Round: 4/5

Grade: 54%

Comp: Juwan Johnson

Summary:

This is a seriously difficult scout as there is so little film on him. His first two games this season pointed to big things but then he missed the rest of the season with an undisclosed injury that no one seems to know anything about besides that it is possibly with his knee. He has some upside athletically where he can use his speed to beat linebackers or size to beat defensive backs. His blocking is not good but he can develop. His durability is a serious concern as he has only appeared in 20 games in 4 seasons.

11. Josh Whyle

6’6 ½ , 248

Round: 6

Comp: Nick Vannett

Summary:

A decently fluid athlete with a ton of blocking experience, Whyle has a lot of work to do with his pass catching ability. He should be a day 3 pick who could outperform his draft slot given time to work on his craft.

12. Will Mallory

6’4 ½ , 239

Round: 6

Comp: Kyle Granson

Summary:

Mallory is a very good athlete at the tight end position. He weighed in at the combine very light though, so NFL teams may ask him to put on some weight for the next level. He had a great Senior Bowl and has the speed to be a seam stretcher at the next level. His blocking is not the worst, but we expect him to play more of a big slot roll at the next level. His age is against him as well as he is already 24, but he still holds some potential upside for a likely day 3 pick.

13. Tucker Kraft

6’5”, 254

Round: 6

Comp: Hunter Long

Summary:

Kraft has pretty dependable hands, and could be a check down option for a team. His blocking is very spotty and he is a stiff athlete when running routes. He does make it difficult for teams to bring him down, but Kraft never dominated like you would expect. We do not see enough for him to be a true TE1 at the next level.

14. Davis Allen

6’6, 245

Round: 6

Comp: Mo Allie Cox

Summary:

Allen is much more of a big slot than a true tight end. His blocking is a massive work in progress as he gets overmatched far too often. He is a decent athlete with route running that matches and could find a roster spot as a TE3 that is flexible in position. 

15. Payne Durham

6’6  , 253

Round: 7

Comp: Kaden Smith

Summary:

Durham has the size to be a tight end in the NFL. He has reliable hands but that is somewhat where his upside stops. His athleticism is not great and he is more of a rumbler and tumbler than good athlete. He will struggle to separate at the NFL level and his blocking is average.