#01 - Brock Bowers (Move) TE Georgia
Positives
+Hands catcher
+Able to accelerate and get off the ball well
+Athletic ability is a mismatch for linebackers and most safeties
+Elite after the catch; his ability to break tackles is one of his best traits
Areas of Improvement
-Routes can be ran with a touch more purpose, lots of underneath and screen opportunities because of how good after the catch he is
-Undersized for the position
-Solid blocker but his leverage endurance leaves some room for improvement
-Struggled to haul in throws in contested situations this past year
Quick Hit
I don't walk away as enamored by the total package of Brock Bowers like everyone else, but my grades for tight ends also end up lower because the value tends to be found in the later rounds. By no means am I saying Bowers is a bad player. Far from it; he is the next-generation tight end whose traits allowed him to play a little less cleanly than I think we admit, and I feel like there are growing pains to come at the next level, but I'm sure he'll get there.Grade: (90) - 1st Round Grade
#02 - Ben Sinnott (Seam Threat) TE Kansas State
Positives
+Soft hands, makes catching with hands look simple and easy+Good after the catch; the same acceleration that gets him off the line quickly is put to use after the catch and he routinely gets to be the low man by dropping his hips allowing him to stay balanced and break tackles
+Protects the ball
+Smooth route runner
Areas of Improvement
-Struggles with higher end physicality-While statistics tell tale of solid blocker tape displays something else. Struggles to play with good technique and leverage. Takes inconsistent angles in space
Quick Hit
What makes a productive tight end in this league right now is their athletic ability and their skills as a receiver. Sinnott brings both of these to the table as he is explosive, fantastic after the catch, and has great hands. If your looking for this years Sam LaPorta you may not need to look further.Grade: (84.175) - 2nd Round Grade
#03 - Cade Stover (Move) TE Ohio State
Positives
+Fantastic hands+Good body control
+Effective top speed
+Strength that plays well after the catch
+Once in the route footwork and speed improves mightily
+Flipped from the other side of the ball, showed improvement year of year
+Think he will continue to improve as a blocker
Areas of Improvement
-A bit below average sized-Limited explosiveness
-Can struggle to get out of his stance
-Effort and finish on blocks needs to improve, the strength and fire is there though
Quick Hit
This past season Stover showed really good refinement of his talent. His hands are great, and his route footwork plays well with his strength and speed to get him separation. He has all the makings of someone who could become a good blocker in the NFL.Grade: (83.025) - 3rd Round Grade
#04 - Ja'Tavion Sanders (Vertical) TE Texas
Positives
+Solid body control+Great area awareness and ball carrier vision
+Fantastic hands
+Can find extra gear out his break or when ball is in the air
Areas of Improvement
-Seems a little top heavy; lacks contact balance as a runner as he is easier to bring down then you'd expect-Top heaviness comes out as a blocker too. Feel as though he is ineffective and struggles to establish leverage
-Needs to do better to drop his hips as a blocker and as a route runner
-Lacks aggression; he is a passive blocker who avoids first contact
-Some limits to his lateral mobility
-Speed can plateau mid route
Quick Hit
I know he had a lot of inline snaps in college and he is likely to see a healthy dose in the NFL but I'd like to see him used more in the slot at the next level. He is at his best as a pass catcher where he can use his ability to accelerate off the line to gain ground and then wall defenders off with his body. Getting him out in the slot or out wide where he also played a lot in college would give him favorable mismatches as a vertical threat.Grade: (81.475) - 3rd Round Grade
#05 - Jaheim Bell (Seam/Vertical) TE Florida State
Positives
+Explosive and great athlete for the position+Good sized hands and length for the position
+Offensive weapon. He may be classified as tight end but he can and should be lined up all over the field; he could be very effective situationally from slot, and out of the backfield
+Plays with and edge others don't have
+Elite ball carrier; his vision and tackle breaking abilities are high level
Areas of Improvement
-Unrefined route runner; heavy screen production-He is a liability as a blocker, takes poor angles, lacks commitment, and has unrefined mentally and physicality as a blocker
-Under average height and weight for position
Quick Hit
Given Jaheim Bell the position of tight end is a disservice to him but also tight ends. He can be schemed up as an offensive weapon. I liken him to a faster Isaiah Likely who has found success in the league when Andrews has been unable to go.Grade: (79.325) - 3rd Round Grade
#06 - Theo Johnson (Vertical Threat) TE Penn State
Positives
+Great size and near perfect athlete for position+Shows promise as a fade target
+Best running routes that are built with sense of urgency, seems to run out breaking ones the best
+Testing numbers and tape make him feel very underutilized at Penn State
Areas of Improvement
-Choppy footwork as a route runner causing issues with deceleration and getting into break-Hands aren't anything remarkable, needs to be better
-Issues with dropping hips
-Poor blocker while build could suggest inline future he may struggle to stick there
-Limited success after the catch
Quick Hit
Johnson's traits are what will get him to the league with the comparisons to Jimmy Graham already flooding in. I see the potential and how he could thrive in that type of role, but the tape just doesn't show it yet. He is pure projection at this point, luckily he hits every point you could ask for to project well at the next level.Grade: (79.1) - 3rd Round Grade
#07 - Tanner McLachlan (Inline) TE Arizona
Positives
+Plus athlete+Former wide receiver who transitioned to the position
+Plus blocker who brings the effort
+Solid hands
+Easy mover out of the inline position
Areas of Improvement
-Undersized for the inline role with short arms-Poor route runner who struggles into his breaks and looses steam
Quick Hit
McLachlan brings the desired effort of an inline tight end but that size especially in the arms is going to scare teams away. As a receiver he can be a solid seam threat but the reasons he had to transition to tight end are littered throughout the tape.Grade: (78.95) - 4th Round Grade
#08 - Jared Wiley (Inline) TE TCU
Positives
+Plus athlete, especially for his size as he is a massive individual+Has the speed to separate at the top of the route and gain sufficient yards after the catch in open field opportunities
+Truly elite hands, attacks the ball away from his frame
Areas of Improvement
-His size tends to go unused. He had limited usage as a contested catch guy, he can be bullied off his route, and rarely breaks a tackle-Lack of physicality leaks out into blocking
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