2018 NFL Draft: Position Previews – Tight End

Published: Apr 16, 2018

Games Watched: Western Illinois (2017), North Dakota State (2017), TCU (2016), Villanova (2016), North Dakota State (2016), Southern Illinois (2016)

Projected Draft Range: 1st/2nd Round

Pro Comparison: Hunter Henry

– Pros –

Smart, tough, and effective blocker; uses body well, creates angles, and gets to second level like a pro; understands combo concepts and knows when to pass off or hold his ground.
Big but fluid athlete; shows speed and power combination; looks every bit of a prototype NFL tight end.
As a receiver, releases off the line of scrimmage quickly with a good use of variation on both inside and outside releases; shows above-average speed down the seam and tracks the ball without fear of contact.
Converts contested receptions more often than not; uses body to box out defenders; shows good hand-eye coordination; Displays good sense of where the soft spot in zones are.

– Cons –

A few concentration drops on tape; can think ahead sometimes, trying to make a move before the ball is secure.
Not a fully developed receiver; needs particular work on route running so as to not round off the top of his routes and give away his breaks.
Didn’t miss any regular season games over the last four years, but racked up a series of nagging injuries that affected his availability throughout games and his most recent tests at the scouting combine and pro day.
Faced weaker competition at the FCS level.

– Summary –

While he played against inferior competition in the FCS, Goedert is the top tight end in this class. He has been the most productive tight end in college football over the last two seasons, while his incredibly well rounded skill-set leaves him without many holes as a prospect. He’ll need some seasoning and some overall refinement early on, but what prospect doesn’t? In the right offense, he will make an immediate impact as a fantasy producer, while at the worst case scenario he will be ready to block and run routes down the seam at the NFL level from day one. He shows some shades of Jason Witten, but to avoid comparing him to a future Hall of Famer, think more of Hunter Henry type early on in his career.

Games Watched: Nebraska (2017), Maryland (2017), USC (2016), Indiana (2016)

Projected Draft Range: 1st/2nd Round

Pro Comparison: Jordan Cameron

– Pros –

Polished and confident receiver; uses frame and athleticism to advantage; reliable hands catcher; flair for the spectacular.
Long strider with long speed; beats linebackers and safeties with ease, while he wins jump balls like a power forward grabbing a rebound.
Sells blocks well to give himself free releases as a receiver; varies speeds in and out of his breaks to create space.
Above-average route runner for the position.
While an underwhelming blocker in many facets, Gesicki does show willingness and IQ in the area.

– Cons –

Weak play strength for position; frequently overwhelmed by defenders at line of scrimmage; struggles in both pass protection and run blocking; shys away at the point of attack; doesn’t deliver the blow; overall timid blocker.
Lean frame for position; may struggle to build more muscle and bulk; Durability may be a concern.
Long term future as a true tight end may be in jeopardy; reminiscent of Evan Engram entering last season, Gesicki is most likely to line up as a big slot/wing more often than an inline TE.

– Summary –

Very much the modern tight end, Gesicki is long, lean, ultra-athletic, and a matchup nightmare. While he is likely to struggle as a blocker for the majority of his career, his size and prowess as a receiver will give him a long and successful career. After blowing up the NFL Combine and careful analysis of his tape, it is clear that Gesicki’s upside is in the Jimmy Graham stratosphere, which to me is enough to keep him in the upper echelon of this very talented position group, despite his unbalanced skillset.

Games Watched: Georgia (2017), TCU (2017), Kansas State (2017), Texas (2017), UTEP (2017), Houston (2016), Baylor (2016)

Projected Draft Range: 2nd/3rd Round

Pro Comparison: Chris Cooley

– Pros –

Smooth; a very, very smooth athlete with deceiving, yet ample wiggle to make any over-aggressive defender miss in the open field; also deceivingly explosive for his size (posted a sub 4.60 40-time at the combine).
Reliable hands catcher with the knack for snatching the ball out of the air.
Powerful after the catch; known for dragging defenders and holding his ground after initial contact.
Deft in his route running with an excellent use of different speeds both in and out of his breaks and with his release off the line of scrimmage; can at times sell the block first before going out, while other times explodes off the line; often open in the red zone by selling blocks; skilled at sneaking behind defenses; uses body position and angles to sell route fakes; always finds soft spot in zone coverage.

– Cons –

More of a “get in your way” type of blocker and lacks nastiness in the craft; doesn’t seem too interested in getting to the second level as a blocker; general inexperience as an inline “true” tight end; more of a big bodied slot guy.
Doesn’t show ball skills or contested coverage strength to win majority of 50-50 balls; athleticism is there, but he wasn’t utilized in that way at Oklahoma (from the games I studied).
Showed ball security issues on tape.
Suffers from type 1 diabetes and needs close attention paid to the condition.

– Summary –

Right now, Andrews is more or less a one dimensional tight end prospect, as he struggles in the run and pass protection game, while he’s contrarily an excellent receiving threat. This is pretty clear on tape, but reading between the lines, I see a guy who can be more… On the surface, my Chris Cooley comparison will likely be mocked because Cooley was a far better blocker than Andrews currently is. He also proved to be one of the most versatile tight ends of his generation, while at the moment Andrews doesn’t look too comfortable operating anywhere else but the slot. Having said all of this though, in Andrews, I see a guy with more than enough athleticism and football IQ to move all over the formation in the same vein that Cooley did as an H-back throughout his career. Also like Cooley, I think that Andrews will project into the NFL as a possession receiver and run-after-the-catch guy more than the modern power forward/jump ball guy that you see at the position today. Once he can develop further as a blocker – even if he can just learn to get in the way and hold his block for a few seconds – Andrews is likely to be a three down tight end option. Potentially moving all around the formation, I see Andrews as a guy who will frequently cause mismatches and subsequently serve as a high-volume target. Remember his name in PPR formats.

Games Watched: Michigan (2017), Arkansas (2017), Missouri (2017), South Florida (2016)

Projected Draft Range: 2nd Round

Pro Comparison: Delanie Walker

– Pros –

Big bodied athlete with a good range of motion for the position.
Shows ferocity and consistency as a blocker both in the run game and in pass pro.
Effective in the seam as a receiver with reliable hands; only one career drop on resume.
Great after the catch; shows power to plow through and carry defenders, while he displays the vision of a running back.

– Cons –

Underwhelming production; saw little work in the red zone (only five career catches) and never scored in that crucial area; never eclipsed 100 yards in a game; only posted three career touchdowns.
Looks to be mainly a possession receiver rather than a mismatch option (see limited red zone production)
Has dealt with anxiety and depression issues (developed from baseball “yips”).
Will be 25 year old rookie.

– Summary –

A former star baseball prospect, Hurst is a multi-talented tight end prospect who displays a well-rounded athletic skill-set. Unfortunately for his sake, the once a budding minor league star developed a psychological disorder that derailed his baseball career. He went from throwing 97 mph to not being able to have a catch. Also known as the “yips” Hurst was forced to give up the sport that he loves due to the mental block, which proved to be a massive drain on his psychological well-being. Eventually he turned his still-existent athletic gifts towards football – a sport that would allow him physical and emotional release through aggression and the lack of time to overthink things. Despite being far older than usual, Hurst quickly became a star on the South Carolina offense. With a committed attitude in the run game and a surprisingly reliable set of hands as a receiver, Hurst has emerged as one of this class’ most talented tight end prospects.

As for the Delanie Walker comparison, while bigger than Walker, Hurst is similarly an excellent athlete and is also uniquely more of a possession receiver rather than a red zone option. In the right offense, I could see Hurst having the same type of high-volume target style of career that has seen Walker to three Pro Bowl trips. One last note about Hurst is that his age is likely to be a concern for some teams, but keep in mind that Brandon Weeden was drafted in the first round once upon a time, and he was almost 30-years-old. My point is that if a team likes a player, it doesn’t matter how old he is, they will likely pull the trigger.

Games Watched: Penn State (2017), Ohio State (2017)

Projected Draft Range: 3rd/4th Round

Pro Comparison: Marcedes Lewis

– Pros –

Well-built athlete; natural looking tight end; comfortable when lined up all over the formation – inline TE, slot, H-back, fullback, wing, etc.
Hard-nosed and willing blocker, who shows potential pass protecting, sealing off ends, getting to the second level, and mauling at the point of contact as a wham blocker.
Shows reliable hands that will only improve from more reps and looks; underutilized at Indiana despite almost always being open on tape.
Uses body well to position himself in front of coverage; can beat man and can find soft spots in zone.
Shows potential in his release both off the line as a tight end and in the slot; varied inside and outside releases to keep defenders guessing.

– Cons –

Doesn’t show too many different gears in his routes or as a ball carrier; needs to develop nuance in that area.
Shows willingness as a blocker, but needs refinement and polish.
Very raw prospect overall; only two years of D1 experience (JUCO for first two years); served as backup as a junior; underwhelming career production.

– Summary –

In terms of experience, Thomas is almost as raw as they come, however his tape shows a prospect with very few fatal flaws. In terms of potential, I see a complete tight end who can work both on and off the line of scrimmage, as a move blocker, and as a receiving slot option. I went with the Marcedes Lewis comp not because they measure in at the same size or tested similarly at the combine, but rather because like Thomas, Lewis was one of the more raw prospects in his class. He was knocked for his blocking ability coming out of college, however in the NFL he actually developed into one of the game’s best. I see the same type of moldable potential in Thomas. With some proper coaching and the time to develop, Thomas may end up being the best tight end in this entire draft class. He’s a guy to watch towards the end of day two.

Games Watched: Ohio (2017), Oklahoma State (2016)

Projected Draft Range: Day Three

Pro Comparison: Dallas Clark

– Pros –

Sticky hands with excellent concentration in contested coverage; reliable high-volume target in Central Michigan offense.
Seems to love contact; delivers the blow to defenders; several tacklers needed to bring him down.
Plenty of experience outside as a jump ball artist; shows versatile skill-set to line up all over formation.
Shows willingness and toughness as a run blocker.

– Cons –

As a blocker, is often beat across his face with inside leverage; struggles with general blocking technique and discipline.
Looked best outside vs. 1v1 coverage; needs refinement when lined up inline as a true tight end.
Less than ideal height for the position; may have to be moved around a lot to keep favorable matchups.
Underwhelming route runner; doesn’t create much of his own separation.

– Summary –

Conklin is one of the smaller tight ends in this class, but he doesn’t exactly play like it, as he is seen frequently out-muscling and out-jumping defenders on tape. Despite being a team captain and the most targeted option in his offense – or in other words, the key player defenses would target – Conklin still always seemed to come down with the football through all types of contested coverage. He shows comfort lining up all over the formation, as a move player, slot receiver, fullback, inline tight end, and most impressively as an outside island flanker. While he’s not the best blocker right now, he shows willingness and toughness in that area and some developable traits. Ultimately though, in the NFL his calling card will be what he can do in the passing game. Based off of his underwhelming size but impressive receiving prowess for the position, I stumbled upon the sure handed Dallas Clark for his comparison. Someone is going to get themselves a steal on day three of the draft.

Games Watched: LSU (2017), Texas (2016), Virginia (2015)

Projected Draft Range: 3rd/4th Round

Pro Comparison: Heath Miller

– Pros –

Massive build; looks the part of the biggest player on the field at all times; ideal size for the position.
Powerful run blocker; like having an extra tackle on offense; delivers the blow with his hands, locks on, and directs the defender; understands angles, leverage, and body positioning as a blocker.
Adequate receiver who uses his body to advantage; catches the ball at its highest point; plays above coverage.

– Cons –

Underwhelming athlete; limited after the catch; struggles to create separation with speed or crafty route running.
Lacks positional versatility; unlikely to play anywhere other than inline tight end.
Can be over aggressive at times, leading to holding penalties or OPI (offensive pass interference).

– Summary –

While Smythe is largely maxed out in terms of potential, his current form is more than ready to serve as a starting tight end in the NFL. He’s an accomplished blocker and an imposing physical specimen at the point of attack, while he also offers a reliable set of hands as a possession receiver and red zone threat. He’s unlikely to make any Pro Bowls in his career, but he will play in this league for a long time as a traditional inline tight end, something that not many other TE’s in this class can say.

Games Watched: Syracuse (2017), Florida State (2017), Notre Dame (2016)

Projected Draft Range: 4th/5th Round

Pro Comparison: Fred Davis

– Pros –

Good looking athlete with lean muscle and solid definition; fluid as a runner and carries his weight well.
versatile receiver who can win against slower defenders inside and out-physical smaller defenders outside.
Shows wide catch radius to bail out quarterbacks; can catch and take a hit over the middle, while he can also run after the catch to gain yards; used frequently on screens and swing passes.

– Cons –

Coming off of knee surgery (november 2017); did not participate in pro day or combine; status of recovery is unknown.
More finesse than power in every sense of his game; while big, doesn’t use his size to his advantage as much as he should.
Blocks out of necessity rather than willingness; Will get in the way of defenders on the play side and will slack off on the back side.
More experience out of the slot than as a true tight end at the end of the line; true NFL tight end work may overwhelm him.

– Summary –

Herndon is very much built in the mold of the modern NFL tight end – a player who while well built, would rather utilize his gifts as a finesse receiver. On talent alone, he’s more than draftable, however the concerns with his knee and his lack of commitment in the run game will ding his draft stock for sure. A team who feels comfortable with his medicals and has a plan on how to maximize his athletic gifts (slot receiver/H-back/hybrid move player) will get good value on Herndon at the beginning of day three.

Games Watched: Maryland (2017), Florida Atlantic (2017), Utah State (2017), Western Michigan (2016), LSU (2016)

Projected Draft Range: Day Three

Pro Comparison: Luke Stocker

– Pros –

Reliable receiver, who seems to confidently look the ball in, regardless of the defense bearing down on him; shows ability to go up and get the ball in the red zone.
Willing blocker with good sense of surroundings; shows angle awareness to create clean run lanes.
Developed resilience through adversity – became top Wisconsin receiving option after being a walk on as a freshman; missing left index finger since birth.

– Cons –

Limited athlete and maxed out physically.
Gets overwhelmed as a blocker by faster and/or more powerful defenders.
Average-at-best route runner; doesn’t easily create separation as a receiver; lacks openfield explosiveness; doesn’t dominate 50-50 balls.
As mentioned, missing left index finger – hasn’t slowed him down so far, but has to be mentioned on the negative side of things as well.

– Summary –

While a nice player, Fumagalli is a guy who clearly has been maxed out physically. At this point, what you see is what you get. He’s rather well-rounded at most of the tight end craft, but he will never be able to excel at the NFL level due to his limited athleticism. Think of him as a Luke Stocker type, who made a career as a secondary tight end option. In that vein, Fumagalli will best maintain an NFL career through a stronger commitment to improving in the run game.

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