Position: TE
Honorable Mentions
1. Michael Mayer
Description: If any player is perhaps getting overlooked during this process, its Michael Mayer. He is not the dynamic receiver that Dalton Kincaid is, nor does he have the insane athletic upside or Darnell Washington. However, what Mayer is, is a solid TE prospect with a chance to be a high-quality starter in the league. He’s just about 6’5” and 250lbs, so he has the size to be a mismatch all over the field. Notre Dame used him on the outside, in-line, and as the single opposite of bunch formations to put that defensive back on an island against him. He is a really solid hands catcher, snatching the ball away from his frame, and has quick enough feet in route running to keep defenders on their toes. He sells his routes well, which can cause defenders to take wasteful steps and guess wrong at what he’s doing. He has a solid base in the running game, chops his feet, and combines effective punching and hand usage with good functional strength to at least solid in blocking. The only problem with Mayer is that he does have the greatest athletic traits (7.65 RAS), and he may be suffering from name fatigue and a high floor, which does not make him the most popular name amongst NFL fans. But NFL teams will recognize his value and he should be the first TE off the board.
2. Darnell Washington
Description: When discussing Darnell Washington, the first thing to discuss is his size and raw athleticism. He is 6’7”, 264lbs, and ran a 4.64 40 yard dash at the NFL combine. All told, his RAS score was 9.88. He is a mammoth of a man at TE, and it shows up in his blocking. He erases defenders in the running game and holds his own as a pass blocker, although his height can create problems at times with his pad level. While he is a rare combination of size and speed at the TE position, he is not the most fluid athlete in and out of his breaks when running routes, and thus this limits his ability to get open on certain routes. At this point, his best contribution to the passing game is winning up the seam, finding holes in zone defense, and short routes such as curls. His size suggests he can be a good contested catch player as well. He is best suited as an in-line TE and one that can hopefully turn into a good enough passing option to be a TE1 in an offense.
3. Dalton Kincaid
Description: Dalton Kincaid has a high ceiling in a heavy passing volume offense. He is a fluid route runner, and an experienced one at that, so he knows how to use his athleticism to get open versus different coverages. He combines body leverage and strong hands to be reliable in a contested catch situation. At 6’4” and 246lbs, he does not have the physically imposing size of Washington, and it does show in his blocking. While he is a willing blocker, he struggles due to his functional strength, which is related to his lack of size. He cannot be relied on as a point of attack run blocker, and ultimately his blocking leaves a lot to be desired. He is a true threat to opposing defenses as a receiving option at the next level, and could be the next elite receiving option at the TE position. This is particularly valuable in a league where elite receiving options at TE are few and far between.
4. Sam LaPorta
Description: At the University of Iowa, Sam LaPorta was the number one target of their passing game, although that passing volume is low, with barely 2,000 passing yards total. His size (6’3” and 245lbs) does not make him the most physically imposing TE, but there are numerous positives to him in the passing game. He ran a 4.59 40 yard dash, so he does have a speed element to his game that can make him dangerous after the catch. He has experience with route running at all levels of the field, and runs sharp routes without displaying stiffness in his hips. He has been used in-line and in the slot at times, and his ability combined with attending Iowa will draw comparisons to George Kittle. Where he does not match up well with Kittle is his blocking. He is a willing and competitive blocker, but due to his size, he is often run through by larger defenders. He also needs to work on being a better receiver at the catch point. It appears that he can serve the role of a TE2 early on, with room to grow as both a blocker and receiver. Should he receive a larger passing volume in the NFL, perhaps he would have the opportunity to demonstrate more of his receiving traits.
5. Luke Musgrave
Description: Luke Musgrave presents the size, speed, and athleticism elements that make him an intriguing prospect at the next level. He is 6’6”, 253lbs, ran a 4.61 40 yard dash, and had a 9.77 RAS. The problem? Musgrave played in two games before suffering an undisclosed, but season-ending, knee injury. In those first two games, he appeared to be on his way to a breakout, with 11 catches for 169 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately the sample size is too small to draw conclusions from. Outisde of what he is physically, there is a lot to work on. He really isn’t the best route runner, and is best attacking the seam. He struggles with physicality, and often cannot make use of his speed if he has to maneuver through contact or traffic. He also is not the best blocker, as he has poor pad level, playing too high. These factors, combined with the injury risk, mean that he is the definition of a project. If he can develop better play strength, so he can take advantage of his speed and improve his blocking, he has potential to move up at the next level.