Scouting the 2023 NFL Draft tight ends: What makes this class so impressive? (2024)

“Tight ends are a blast if you have them.” — Mike Leach

INDIANAPOLIS — When offensive and defensive staffs scout opponents, they hope to uncover tendencies that can them help narrow down what might be coming. The holy grail on offense — what really keeps defenses guessing — is having two tight ends that are both viable as blockers and big enough pass-catching threats to prevent defenses from teeing off on any particular component.

The problem, as Leach’s quote suggests, is that it’s really, really hard to find one tight end — let alone two — that’s big and strong enough to block edge defenders but also athletic enough to win in one-on-one passing situations. Tight ends have always been a want for NFL teams. That will never change because of how the position can open up a play-calling menu.

So the 2023 tight end draft class seems to be landing at a perfect time, right as NFL offenses are becoming better at using tight ends of all skill sets and body types.

At last check, The Athletic’s draft wizard, Dane Brugler, had seven tight ends in his top 100. There were six tight ends on our latest Consensus Top 100 Big Board. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had four first-round tight ends in his pre-combine mock draft, and the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said this recently on a conference call with the media:

.@MoveTheSticks notes on an NFL call today that he has 11 TEs graded in the first three rounds this draft. 👀

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) February 24, 2023

All of it paints a picture of how good this class is, not just in terms of top-end talent, but depth too. To put Kiper and Jeremiah’s numbers in perspective, the post-merger record for tight ends selected in Round 1 is three (shared by the 1973, 1978, 2002 and 2017 drafts). The post-merger record for tight ends in the first three rounds of a draft is eight (2006 and 2019).

It’s tough to be confident, however. Drafting a tight end can feel like betting on only the “hard ways” at the craps table — sometimes, you score big; usually, you walk away muttering, “Of course that didn’t work.”

Most college offenses don’t highlight their tight ends, instead using them in an “off” alignment that can limit the types of routes and run concepts available. NFL evaluators have to figure out how to extrapolate a TE’s future, then, from a handful of plays. But that’s why size, athleticism and traits are so important, and this year’s class has an exciting mix of all three.

Here, let’s focus on the consensus top six tight ends in the 2023 draft class, as that position group preps for its combine workout on Saturday. But I’ll add that there are plentyof intriguing talents beyond the names mentioned below, like Michigan’s Luke Schoonmaker or Cincinnati’s Josh Whyle, that could be Day 2 picks

What makes the top prospects stand out, though?

Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

Brugler’s Top 100: TE1, No. 24 overall
Consensus Big Board: TE1, No. 10 overall

Strengths

As mentioned,most college offenses don’t highlight their tight ends. Notre Dame, however, used Mayer all over its formations and asked him to handle a wide variety of assignments. Mayer aligned in-line, as a wing, in the backfield and split out — sometimes, all on the same drive.

Michael Mayer lined up all over the formation for Notre Dame. Including spots that got him the ball in space. pic.twitter.com/nCqX93d0k8

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) February 22, 2023

Mayer is a willing blocker with good functional play strength, and I think he has been underrated as an athlete and route runner. He has explosiveness out of breaks, polish on his routes and strong hands at the catch point. He will be a quarterback’s best friend on underneath and intermediate routes:

TOUCHDOWN IRISH.

MICHAEL. MAYER.#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/Ik9eCc50TQ

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 27, 2022

Mayer is a do-everything type that already has proof of concept for however an NFL offensive coordinator might want to use him. He is a true three-down player. And because he has such a positive impact on so many facets of the game, he can be moved around to wherever he’s needed to help his teammates.

Being on the field (and being a plus player) for a high percentage of snaps is an extremely valuable trait. Every offense would love to add Mayer.

Question Marks

While Mayer has been underrated as an overall athlete, he’s a bit overrated as a blocker. It’s not because of a lack of strength or want-to, but more due to inconsistent technique with his hands and playing too high at the point of contact. Luckily, those things are fixable with time and coaching. Mayer is entering the draft after only three years in college — it’s notable that he played as a true freshman at a tight end factory like Notre Dame — and his game can be cleaned up with more reps and an increased focus on his role.

I’m also curious to see how long Mayer’s arms are. It’s not something that hindered his play too much in college, but it’s part of the picture. There are concerns about Mayer’s ability to separate from defenders, too. There’s not enough to ding him a ton, because he maximizes his catch radius and has such strong hands, but a solid performance at the combine would help alleviate some worries.

Dalton Kincaid, Utah

Brugler’s Top 100: TE4, No. 30 overall
Consensus Big Board: TE2, No. 31 overall

Strengths

Utah liked to split out Kincaid to take advantage of his excellent hands and ball skills. Kincaid is a very good athlete who can get north in a hurry, and he has loose hips that let him create yards after the catch, even in tight spaces.

He was was a talented basketball player in high school, and it shows. He consistently high points the football like he’s snatching a rebound.

Dalton Kincaid has top notch hand-eye coordination and is a fluid mover in space who consistently picks up yards after the catch. Just an overall very good athlete. pic.twitter.com/Zy8sKcKEgg

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) February 22, 2023

Kincaid was a tremendously productive pass-catcher during his time at Utah and, before that, San Diego. (One of my favorite stats from this draft process: Kincaid scored 11 touchdowns on only 24 catches as a freshman). He has natural hands and can comfortably snag the ball at all angles.

Although Kincaid’s size (more on that in a second) likely will limit him to being an F-only tight end that aligns in the wing position or split outside, he does put in the work to at least accomplish blocking assignments. He shows no hesitation when he sees late movement from defenses in the run game, and he fights to win on his blocks.

But his calling card is his pass-catching ability. If Kincaid can be at least a serviceable blocker at the next level — and keep defenses from countering with five-plus defensive backs when he’s on the field — he has real mismatch ability.

Question Marks

While Kincaid is tough and competitive, his lack of ability to sustain blocks does show up. As a bit of an older prospect (he’ll turn 24 during his rookie season) with a frame that seems maxed-out, there’s not a clean path toward improvement.

After injuring his back late in the 2022 season, Kincaid won’t run through drills at the combine. But it’s his weight that has me curious anyway — Kincaid was listed at 240 pounds at Utah. While it’s easy to say, “Well, he’s just going to be a pass-catcher anyway,” the hit rate for tight ends weighing under 245 pounds isn’t as high as you might think. Since 2002, there have been 101 instances (from 38 players) of an NFL tight end recording 800-plus receiving yards in a single season. Only four of those 38 tight ends had a listed playing weight of 245 pounds or less (Owen Daniels, Jordan Reed, Dalton Schultz and Kellen Winslow II).

Winslow is the only tight end since 2002 to weigh 240 pounds or less and record 800 or more receiving yards in a season. Daniels (253 pounds) and Winslow (247) did both weigh above 245 at the combine but came in lighter once they reached the professional ranks — the combine is notorious for players adding water weight to tip the scales.

Just two sub-245-pound tight ends have been drafted in the first round since 2002, and six in the first two rounds. Kincaid is a talented player, but the weight makes him a bit of an outlier. Teams will have to be realistic with what he can and cannot accomplish in-line.

Perhaps not surprisingly, my comparison for Kincaid’s play style is actually one of those sub-245-pound tight ends: Daniels.

Luke Musgrave, Oregon State

Brugler’s Top 100: TE2, No. 27 overall
Consensus Big Board: TE3, No. 46 overall

Strengths

While Mayer and Kincaid have plenty of production to point to, Musgrave is a classic home-run swing that will require plenty of projection. He played in all of two games in 2022 because of injury, and just 20 total games across a four-year college career.

But Musgrave still pops off the screen. He is a fantastic athlete who can stretch the field vertically, with the size and length to play in-line.

Top size/speed combo at @seniorbowl? It was Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave, who had 16th fastest max speed (20.05 mph) of any player…AT 255 lbs! Next heaviest who ran faster was Cincy LB Ivan Pace Jr (20.58 at 231 lbs). Trusted sources think Musgrave could run 4.4 at Combine.👀 pic.twitter.com/qa3xtXm3WA

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) February 11, 2023

Musgrave is a competitive player and natural athlete (he lettered in four sports in high school) whose arrow is pointing up. He is an easy mover that has every route available to him and is explosive with the ball in his hands. Even in his two games last season, he showed the potential to align as a lone receiver and win on routes like digs and comebacks in isolated situations.

He also has the play strength and competitiveness to be used as an in-line blocker. His explosiveness and balance show up when he pops defenders and sustains his blocks. Oregon State uses its tight ends in ways that translate nicely to the NFL, which certainly will benefit Musgrave during the draft process.

There isn’t a ton of Musgrave film to watch, but there is a whole lot to like. A big performance in Indianapolis — which is very likely — will have him shooting up draft boards.

Question Marks

The traits are tantalizing, but it is still a leap of faith to use an early pick on a player that only caught 47 passes and two touchdowns in his entire college career. While Musgrave isn’t a total project, he does require more reps and time to reach his potential, especially in the run game. He also had some issues battling through more physical defenders while running routes, which is tied to his need to add play strength.

And, of course, Musgrave’s injuries and medicals will be poured over by NFL teams.

Darnell Washington, Georgia

Brugler’s Top 100: TE3, No. 29 overall
Consensus Big Board: TE4, No. 48 overall

Strengths

Look at one picture of Washington and it’s easy to guess what he brings as a football player: He has rare size and length, which makes him a true in-line tight end that can set the edge in the run game, but he also carries 270-plus pounds like it’s nothing.

Washington has excellent catching range and good hands, with a surprising ability to generate yards after the catch. He is a load for defenders to bring down, plus has more than adequate build-up speed and balance to gain yards on underneath throws. Washington is large, but he is a good athlete:

Darnell Washington is a spectacle pic.twitter.com/0IrDEaiUvq

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) February 21, 2023

He has traits that can’t be coached. Georgia didn’t draw a lot of plays up for him, but I’m sure the coaches always felt OK when the ball went Washington’s way. It would help any team’s run game to have what’s essentially a sixth offensive lineman on first and second downs. Washington’s upside as a pass-catcher is a bonus.

Question Marks

Washington has outstanding size to plop in as a team’s Y tight end and experience blocking in-line. He is still inconsistent with his blocking technique, though. His hands can be all over the place, while his large frame actually can be a hindrance when he tries to get underneath defenders. When Washington connects as a blocker, he connects, but — as with most tight ends entering the NFL — there is still development needed for him to become more consistent.

Marcedes Lewis, a player Washington often gets compared to, was similar as a prospect, in that he was inconsistent at using his frame and length. He eventually developed into an elite blocker that could take on NFL defensive linemen, both in the run game and as a pass protector. Washington has that kind of upside, but it will take time.

Washington will be drafted to block first and ask questions later. That said, it is notable that he was asked to run a fairly basic route tree in college and had limited production as a receiver (45 career catches). While his talented teammate Brock Bowers had more plays dialed up for him, Washington was used as more of an auxiliary pass catcher.

The tools are intriguing, but Washington’s route tree might never be expansive, outside of underneath or straight-line routes (like seams and crossers) His size might limit his ability to come out of breaks.

Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State

Brugler’s Top 100: TE5, No. 49 overall
Consensus Big Board: TE6, No. 80 overall

Strengths

Kraft is another prospect with a bundle of tools that will need to be honed, but those tools are incredibly intriguing. Kraft has genuine Y tight end size, along with the athleticism to make defenders miss and create with the ball in his hands. He’s also a natural catcher of the football:

Kraft still has a ways to go but that's an easy moving 255+ pounds pic.twitter.com/n64Q2UAnVq

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) February 24, 2023

Kraft is a smooth athlete and looks effortless carrying 255 pounds. I think he has more than enough long speed to stretch defenses vertically on seam and corner routes. He also brings the prerequisite want-to as a blocker to be used in-line with his hand in the dirt, but he’ll need some technique development and added lower-body strength to play there more full-time.

What really makes Kraft interesting is that he already has enough functional athleticism to work split out or at a wing spot, but still has room for the type of growth (literally and figuratively) that would allow him to play as a Y for a chunk of snaps every game. I’m bullish on him as a prospect.

Question Marks

Kraft’s route tree for the Jackrabbits was limited. He was often used on designed shot plays that got him open vertically, not on shorter and intermediate routes that required more nuance. Kraft has more than enough athleticism to run those routes at the next level, but he will need plenty of practice reps.

He is also an inconsistent blocker right now and was used more as the F tight end in college — as a wing player, on the backside of run plays or in the backfield as a lead blocker. (South Dakota State used a different tight end as its Y on most plays.) Kraft has flashes of play strength and the toughness it takes to be a consistent blocker, but he’s still a work in progress in that regard.

Sam LaPorta, Iowa

Brugler’s Top 100: TE6, No. 61 overall
Consensus Big Board: TE5, No. 78 overall

Strengths

LaPorta is justuseful as a football player. He does a lot of things well. He’s a good route runner with enough athletic juice to be used on short, intermediate and deep concepts, and also has some wiggle to create yards with the ball in his hands:

The Tight End Drive™
Sam 🤝 Luke #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/IgXys38O1x

— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) December 31, 2022

LaPorta is built more like a move tight end than a true Y, but he does have the play strength and fight to be effective as a blocker. He will never be an overwhelming asset there, but he’ll also never be a negative. Again, he does a lot of things well, just nothing particularly great.

LaPorta is a tough, smart player with enough athletic traits to be on the field early and often. His game should translate easily to the next level, and whoever his special teams coach is will love him. He is similar in quite a few ways to 2022 Cowboys fourth-round pick Jake Ferguson, who was an early contributor.

Question Marks

Does LaPorta have the length and lower-body strength to be used as an in-line blocker on more than a handful of snaps? Is his game maxed-out or is there still room for growth? While Iowa has had notable issues on offense lately, its linemen and tight ends are well-coached. It’s hard to ding LaPorta for too much since, again, he is at least adequate in a lot of areas. How high his ceiling is will be the most preeminent question moving forward.

(Photo of Michael Mayer: Matt Cashore / USA Today)