Tight End Rankings for 2023 NFL Draft
With the 2023 NFL Draft coming up, it’s time to release my second positional profiles! Feel free to comment any disagreements or questions!
This is the second part of my pre-Draft Guide positional profile series. As I finish the profiles for each position I’ll be posted them here. The overall rankings are TBD and will come out with the final Draft Guide.
This year’s tight end is a phenomenal class, with all these players in my top 100 with at least day two grades. It’s a very diverse class with each prospect bringing a different skill set to the NFL
Previous Series:
Darnell Washington (TBD)
Georgia – (6’6” 264 lbs)
Unique draft prospects rise high in the draft, which is exactly the case with Darnell Washington. Washington is a physical freak, measuring in at an astonishing 6’6 264 lbs. He is easily the best blocking tight end in the class and can play the rare role of a 6th offensive lineman. That alone gives him high value for a heavy running team. He was mostly used as a blocker at Georgia, with TE phenom Brock Bowers receiving the heavy share of targets. Washington was only targeted 43 times this year, but it’s reasonable to suggest he would have recorded higher counting stats on any other team. He is a clunky runner without high end speed on tape, with stiff movements when making cuts. Washington had some highlight plays, but looked slow off his release. His frame allowed him to body corners on contested catches and shrug off tacklers.
Washington’s obvious concerns was his juice as a receiver and had a big combine week ahead of him. He silenced all doubts and put on a record breaking show at Indianapolis. Washington ran a crazy 4.64 40 (90%), 4.08 shuttle (98%) and jumped 10’2 in the broad (91%). He did all as one of the biggest tight ends in NFL history while also measuring with 34 ⅖ arms (long enough to play OT) and historic 11” hands. If all goes wrong, Washington has the athleticism, skill and size to attempt a conversion to offensive tackle. Washington was put on an island against premium edge rushers and held his own against Will Anderson. His absurd strength and frame profile give him elite blocking potential, that he can develop if he lowers his pad level. Washington is a good contested catch, security blanket tight end who can break tackles. He is too clunky to be a true vertical threat, but has the functional athleticism to produce as a receiver. Washington is an immediate starter from his blocking alone and will grow as a receiver.
Strengths:
Massive Frame+
Elite Blocking Potential
Contested Catch/Redzone
Hands
Combine Performance
Weaknesses:
Receiving Production
Stiff Movements
High Pad Level
Grade: Late First/Early Second
2. Michael Mayer (TBD)
Notre Dame – (6’4” 249 lbs)
Michael Mayer is the most pro ready tight end in the class. He’s been uber productive for Notre Dame the last two seasons, placing in the top three in catches, yards and touchdowns while breaking Notre Dame’s all time receptions record. In terms of college performance there’s no tight end I'd select over Mayer. He has consistent hands and uses his big frame to box out corners. Mayer was the best red zone threat amongst tight ends this year and is a safe target for a young quarterback. His blocking technique needs some improvement, but Mayer has the ferocity and power that indicates he’ll produce as a blocker.
Mayer doesn’t have many holes in his game, but also doesn’t have the explosiveness or dynamic skillset like some other tight ends in the class. He can be a solid contributor in a passing game, but don’t expect him to be a teams #1 option that can carry an offense. Mayer lacks elite speed and juice, recording an expected 4.7 40 (80%) and 32.5” vert (55%). He doesn’t have the elite receiving upside to be a first rounder. Mayer’s evaluation is pretty straightforward. He’ll contribute as a rookie and will be a solid well rounded tight end for many years. He’s not the athlete of a Kyle Pitts or Darren Waller, and doesn’t have the blocking appeal of Darnell Washington. Mayer is a good second round pick for a team looking for that final piece at tight end.
Strengths:
Hands
Frame
Red Zone Threat
College Production
Weaknesses:
Sloppy Blocking
Sloppy Route Running
Lacks Elite Juice
Grade: Early Second
3. Sam LaPorta (TBD)
Iowa – (6’3” 245 lbs)
Iowa’s offense was horrendous, and Laporta was the lone bright spot. He was Iowa’s star weapon with 58 catches for 648 yards, both fourth in college football amongst tight ends. LaPorta has a thick frame with good size as a blocker. His footwork needs improvement, but he is a fluid route runner with plenty of juice. He is fast with sudden movements for a tight end. LaPorta has versatility to line up anywhere and get separation in man coverage. He can run rounded routes and needs to refine his cuts and digs. Laporta utilizes his big frame in the catch point and has good hands.
As a blocker, LaPorta’s technique is still sloppy, but he has strong arms and the base to be a blocking threat. He recorded 20 broken tackles which led all tight ends, and is a YAC monster. LaPorta wasn’t known as a freaky athlete at Iowa, but performed extremely well at the combine, including a 4.59 40 (94%) and 10’3 broad jump (93%). He placed himself amongst the elite tier of tight end athletes with a 9.26 RAS. LaPorta isn’t the flashiest tight end prospect, but is well rounded with attractive traits. He has the speed and fluidity to be a quality receiving option, with the size and power to improve into a premium blocker. LaPorta has a high floor as a versatile TE2 in a passing scheme, with the potential of quality TE1.
Strengths:
Fluid/Juice
Separation
Blocking Potential
Combine Performance
Versatility
Weaknesses:
Blocking Technique
Unpolished Route Running
Only one Touchdown in 2022
Grade: Mid/Late Second
4. Luke Musgrave (#52)
Oregon St. – (6’6” 253 lbs)
Luke Musgrave is one of the big winners of the pre-draft process. The lengthy 6’6 tight end missed most of the season with a knee injury, but was electric in his two starts. He recorded 11 catches for 169 yards and a touchdown while looking extremely explosive on film. Musgrave is a pure receiving threat, with the athleticism and ball skills to disguise as a “tall WR”. He uses his big frame well to box out corners and make plays on the ball. He has the traits to contribute on all three levels. Musgrave’s height comes with its disadvantages, as Musgrave has trouble sinking his hips to get low and make sharp cuts. His blocking is far from being perfect, but it is passable as a starter.
Musgrave dominated Senior Bowl week, looking unstoppable on 1v1’s and recording a ridiculous top speed of 20.05 MPH. He carried the hype over to the Combine, posting an insane 4.61 40 (93%), 10’5 broad (96%) and 9.89 RAS. Musgrave is amongst the most explosive tight ends in the past twenty years. He’s hurt by an outstanding tight end class, but could be a top two TE in many other classes. Musgrave floor is a day two selection, but he may be a surprise late first rounder. His lack of reps and limited playing time at Oregon State (80 targets in college career) add mystery to his profile. Musgrave has the tools to be a high ceiling contributing pass catcher. He’ll start as a TE2, especially as he refines his blocking, and can develop into a number one tight end.
Strengths:
Frame/Length
Receiving Ability
Athleticism
Senior Bowl/Combine
Weaknesses:
Play Strength
Sinking Hips
Tackle Breaking
Limited Games
Grade: Late Second
5. Dalton Kincaid (TBD)
Utah – (6’4” 246 lbs)
Draft media is significantly higher on Dalton Kincaid, with his name cracking the top twenty in some mock drafts. It’s easy to see where people fall in love with Kincaid as he’s practically a receiver. He runs crisp routes and is very fluid for a tight end. His release is quick and he has tons of juice off the line. Kincaid often lined up as a receiver and has very good ball skills. He finished an impressive season with 70 catches (1st in CFB) for 890 yards (2nd) and 8 touchdowns (2nd). With his receiver-like ability in a tight ends body, teams will easily use him to create mismatches in the passing game.
Kincaid will be one of the smallest tight ends in the league next season. While he gives full effort as a blocker, he lacks the strength to be an above average NFL blocker. His size prevents him from being a team’s all around tight end. He’ll have to play alongside a bigger, blocking TE. Kincaid is fluid, but he’s not the explosive athlete you’d want at his size. He isn’t a freaky athlete like many other smaller players at the position. He’s also a much older prospect that will be turning twenty four as a rookie. Kincaid will line up wide and contribute to a team's versatile passing attack. He will have to be extremely productive as a receiver to make up for his lack of blocking. LaPorta, Mayer and Washington all offer better blocking talent, and Kincaid lacks the elite traits of Musgrave to have his incredibly high ceiling as a playmaker. He’s not a true TE, but will be a great complementary tight end in a passing game.
Strengths:
Speed/Juice
Fluid/Can Lineup As Receiver
Gets To Second Level
Hands
Production
Weaknesses:
Size
Blocking
Age
Size/Traits Combo
Grade: EarlyThird
6. Tucker Kraft (TBD)
SDSU – (6’5” 254 lbs)
Tucker Kraft has been labeled as the “traitsy project” TE, but I’m a bigger fan of his blocking than receiving ability. He had a productive 2021 season, but was injured for most of this year. Kraft’s a muscular tight end with a strong base and a wide upper half. He was a frequent blocker with strength as a gap and second level blocker. His hand technique is sloppy, but his willingness as a blocker indicates he’ll improve.
As a receiver, is a big target with solid long speed, but is a clunky mover. He runs sloppy routes, and drifts on plenty of curls and comebacks. His competition at NDSU was well below the rest of the TE prospects. Kraft tested relativity well (9.58 RAS), but looked stiff on tape. Kraft wasn’t a great man separator and impressed more as an outlet receiver. He has the intensity and strength profile to be a day one starter purely with his blocking upside. Kraft is right below Darnell Washington as a blocker. Kraft’s a good pass catcher in short yardage situations with functional athleticism. His movement skills and route running make him an unlikely high target receiver. Kraft is a good pick to be a TE2 with average TE1 potential as a primary blocker.
Strengths:
Full Blocking Profile
Strength
Long Speed
Weaknesses:
Raw/Sloppy Route Runner
Clunky Movements
Separation
Competition
Grade: Middle Third