| Score | Overall |
| 90.2 | 15 |
| Position | Day |
| 1 | 1 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 90.2 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| Height: | 6' 3 1/2" | Weight: | 246 lbs |
| Hands: | 10.25 | Arms: | 32.63 |
| 40 YD Dash: | -- | 10 YD Split: | -- |
| Vertical: | -- | Broad: | -- |
| Shuttle: | -- | Cone: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 3 1/2" | Hands: | 10.25 | 40 YD Dash: | -- |
| Weight: | 246 lbs | Arms: | 32.63 | 10 YD Split: | -- |
| Broad: | -- | Cone: | -- | ||
| Vertical: | -- | Shuttle: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 3 1/2" | Hands: | 10.25 | 40 YD Dash: | -- | Broad: | -- | Cone: | -- |
| Weight: | 246 lbs | Arms: | 32.63 | 10 YD Split: | -- | Vertical: | -- | Shuttle: | -- |
Kincaid grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and played only one season of high school football at Faith Lutheran. He played mostly basketball growing up and won an AAU Championship in his senior year. After his senior year in high school, he chose to become a walk-on and play college football at the University of San Diego. After a solid start to his college career, Kincaid was named an AP FCS All-American following his sophomore season, in which he led all FCS tight ends in yards per catch. He transferred to the University of Utah following that season, where he finished his college career. Kincaid led all FBS tight ends in receiving yards with an 890 in 2022, and his performance earned him recognition as a Pac-12 All-Conference First Team player and a semifinalist for the prestigious John Mackey Award. This was a remarkable improvement from his Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition the year before.
Outrageously good ball skills, hands, and catch radius. You would be hard-pressed to find targets in Kincaid's film he isn’t able to get to. Furthermore, if he can get his hands on it, he is going to catch it. Kincaid has big, strong hands to attack the football. On off-target throws, or throws up and away from his frame, Kincaid perfectly times his jumps to maximize his length and aggressively attack the ball in the air. This also highlights his competitiveness and mentality as an alpha receiver. He doesn’t let defenders play through his body at the catch point and takes pride in winning contested balls.
Best-in-class route runner. Kincaid is smooth as silk in and out of his breaks. The term "easy mover" applies to Kincaid in the truest sense of the phrase. Kincaid runs a diversified and dynamic route tree from in-line, slot, and out wide. He generates easy separation against linebackers and bigger safeties and is also a master of exploiting zone looks. He looks like a polished receiver.
Exceptional body control. Body control tends to be a catch-all phrase for some analysts, and when it comes to Kincaid, it's worthy of being used that way. Kincaid is never out of control of his body mechanics, whether running full speed, hitting explosive cuts, or leaping through the air. He is also adept at quickly getting his feet under him after a catch in order to immediately turn upfield and start working after the RAC game.
Undersized for the position. As his measurements stand right now, Kincaid would be one of the smallest tight ends in the NFL. Is this a deal-breaker? No. Teams do not tend to love outliers, though.
When in-line, not ideal as a playside blocker in run game. Play strength and ability to generate movement in the run game aren’t Kincaid’s strong suit. Until he develops here, I would avoid using him this way. Kincaid does have the quickness and tenacity to dig out second-level defenders from the slot, though, and he could be used very effectively in this regard. I also like him on split blocks working to the backside of formations.
Not an upper-echelon athlete. Listen, Kincaid is definitely a good athlete, but he doesn’t have elite-level explosiveness. A lot of his game is predicated on timing and skill versus winning with pure athleticism. Kincaid is more of a "box-checker" in this regard.
Kincaid is as good a tight end prospect as you will find in most drafts. The level of polish he comes into the NFL with is unparalleled in recent memory. Finding deficiencies in his game is, honestly, hard. He scores as a 1st-round pick for me and is my #1 tight end in this class.
| Score | Overall |
| 87 | 27 |
| Position | Day |
| 2 | 2 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 87 | 2 | 2 | 27 |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Weight: | 253 lbs |
| Hands: | 10.38 | Arms: | 32.63 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.61 | 10 YD Split: | 1.54 |
| Vertical: | 36 | Broad: | 125 |
| Shuttle: | -- | Cone: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Hands: | 10.38 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.61 |
| Weight: | 253 lbs | Arms: | 32.63 | 10 YD Split: | 1.54 |
| Broad: | 125 | Cone: | -- | ||
| Vertical: | 36 | Shuttle: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Hands: | 10.38 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.61 | Broad: | 125 | Cone: | -- |
| Weight: | 253 lbs | Arms: | 32.63 | 10 YD Split: | 1.54 | Vertical: | 36 | Shuttle: | -- |
Musgrave is from Bend, Oregon. He was a four-sport athlete at Bend Senior High School, where he played football, lacrosse, track, and was a part of the ski racing team. He is the nephew of former NFL and college football coach Bill Musgrave. He was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school and received offers from Pac-12 schools such as Oregon, California, and Oregon State. He ultimately committed to Oregon State. Musgrave played in only two games in his final college season due to a knee injury.
Mouth-watering blend of size and athleticism. Musgrave is the "bet on the traits" guy of this year’s tight end class. What he brings to the table from a physical tools perspective is truly rare. He hit 20 MPH running during Senior Bowl practices (with pads on) and has shown he can jump out of the gym.
Physical tools to beat man coverage. While the samples are small, when you see Musgrave running vertical routes against man coverage, there just aren’t linebackers fast enough to carry him and DBs big enough to body him. He is a problem and will be a mismatch for whoever has to check him in the NFL.
Ability to be a mauler in the run game. We saw it mostly during Senior Bowl week, but he plays with a level of physicality and strength you just don’t often see at tight end. While he has a long way to go in terms of consistency and technique — mostly learning how to roll his hips forward and keep his lower half engaged — there is no doubt minimal coaching will get a ton out of him.
Injury concerns. Unfortunately, Musgrave played just over 1200 snaps during four years of college football due to injury. In total, he started 13 games and missed parts of every season.
Evaluation contains more projection than most. Because he missed so much time in college, it's hard to draw definitive lines between where Musgrave is at right now and where he is going to need to be. He is indeed raw as a player, but his tools have the ability to carry him very far, which is where the projection comes in.
Undeveloped route running. One of the areas Musgrave is raw is in his route running. If the route doesn’t contain a timing element or include hard breaks at specific depths, he is fine; he can rely on that acceleration, speed, and strength. It gets wonky for everything else, though. You can clearly see he just doesn’t have the reps to be consistent in this regard. He has a lot of work ahead of him to earn the trust and build rapport with his soon-to-be new quarterback.
When watching Musgrave, it's hard to quickly not fall in love with the tools. When I watch how easily he can run away from coverage defenders, I can’t help but get excited. As high as I think his ceiling is, it is important to weigh a pretty substantial developmental curve into the mix. Officially he scores as an early-2nd-round player for me, and admittedly, he is one of the most boom-or-bust prospects in the class.
| Score | Overall |
| 86.8 | 29 |
| Position | Day |
| 3 | 2 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 86.8 | 3 | 2 | 29 |
| Height: | 6' 4 1/2" | Weight: | 249 lbs |
| Hands: | 9.5 | Arms: | 31.63 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.7 | 10 YD Split: | 1.66 |
| Vertical: | 32.5 | Broad: | 118 |
| Shuttle: | -- | Cone: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 4 1/2" | Hands: | 9.5 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.7 |
| Weight: | 249 lbs | Arms: | 31.63 | 10 YD Split: | 1.66 |
| Broad: | 118 | Cone: | -- | ||
| Vertical: | 32.5 | Shuttle: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 4 1/2" | Hands: | 9.5 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.7 | Broad: | 118 | Cone: | -- |
| Weight: | 249 lbs | Arms: | 31.63 | 10 YD Split: | 1.66 | Vertical: | 32.5 | Shuttle: | -- |
Mayer grew up in Alexandria, Kentucky, where he was a standout player at Covington Catholic High School. In his senior year, he was the Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year after recording just under 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was heavily recruited as a 5-star recruit by over 15 FBS schools, including top programs across the country, such as Alabama, Ohio State, and LSU. Ultimately, he chose to attend Notre Dame, where he has made a significant impact on the field. Mayer earned numerous accolades, including being named a Consensus All-American in 2022 and a third-team All-American in 2021. He was also a finalist for the John Mackey Award in 2022.
Physical in all facets of the game. Mayer is a true alpha dog who wants to impose his will physically on the defense, whether with his blocking, angry run-after-catch style, or at the catch point.
Tremendous blocker as an inline tight end. He is equally nasty as he is technically sound in the run game as a blocker. He wants to brawl every chance he can get, and he thrives as a playside blocker with the ability to take 1-on-1 assignments or dominate on combo blocks. He generates easy displacement on smaller defenders and also has the wiggle to chase them down at the second level. He will make a team's run game better instantly.
Quarterbacks best friend at the catch point. What he lacks in his ability to separate from coverage defenders, he makes up with ridiculous ball skills and contested-catch ability. Mayer is an absolute monster at the catch point and uses his big frame to box defenders out and absorb contact. He is also capable of coming up with circus-like catches. His hands are among the best in the Draft across all skill positions.
Great feel for finding space and beating zone coverages. Mayer’s best trait in the pass game is his natural ability to find and maintain space against zone coverages or big cushions. He sits his routes down, works away from leverage, and understands how to exploit coverage defenders' blind spots when they have eyes on the quarterback.
Insane production with good efficiency. You could make the argument his raw production numbers were propped up by a general lack of skill player talent at Notre Dame during Mayer’s tenure there. My counter to that would be the efficiency in which he operated, averaging a big time yards per route run number and also converting an insanely high rate of catches into first downs or touchdowns.
Not a great athlete. Unfortunately, for as polished of a player Mayer is, he just isn’t that good of an athlete. He lacks explosive linear movements and isn’t exactly light on his feet moving horizontally, either. This could definitely cap his upside as a receiver at the next level.
Not a great separator. Mayer’s lack of juice definitely nerfs his ability to generate separation against man coverage at a high level. Things will only get tighter in the NFL.
Not a true RAC threat. Without much ability in the lateral agility department, Maher has no real way to make defenders miss in the open field outside of the occasional stiff arm. Statistically speaking, almost every other tight end in this class had better numbers than Mayer did after the catch.
Mayer profiles as a powerful inline tight end with pass-game upside in the red zone. What he lacks in athleticism, he gains in a refined skill set, physicality, and attention to detail. Mayer’s transition to the NFL should be relatively smooth, given his experience and developed skills. He should be one of the first tight ends taken on Draft Day. Officially, he scores as an early 2nd-round pick for me, but I could get on board with him at the end of the 1st round.
| Score | Overall |
| 86.2 | 32 |
| Position | Day |
| 4 | 2 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 86.2 | 4 | 2 | 32 |
| Height: | 6' 6 1/2" | Weight: | 264 lbs |
| Hands: | 11 | Arms: | 34.38 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.64 | 10 YD Split: | 1.57 |
| Vertical: | 31 | Broad: | 122 |
| Shuttle: | 4.08 | Cone: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 6 1/2" | Hands: | 11 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.64 |
| Weight: | 264 lbs | Arms: | 34.38 | 10 YD Split: | 1.57 |
| Broad: | 122 | Cone: | -- | ||
| Vertical: | 31 | Shuttle: | 4.08 |
| Height: | 6' 6 1/2" | Hands: | 11 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.64 | Broad: | 122 | Cone: | -- |
| Weight: | 264 lbs | Arms: | 34.38 | 10 YD Split: | 1.57 | Vertical: | 31 | Shuttle: | 4.08 |
Washington grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada and played high school football at Desert Pines. Washington was a highly sought-after 4-star recruit coming out of high school, with top programs from across the country, such as Alabama, Clemson, and Michigan vying for his commitment. Ultimately, he chose to attend the University of Georgia, where he has enjoyed a successful career. Washington's imposing size and athletic ability made him a formidable opponent for any defense, and a key part of Georgia’s offense that earned him recognition as a 2nd team All-SEC player in 2022.
Devastating blocker in the run game. No player in this draft class has the highlight reel of pancake blocks that Washington does (and I do mean any player, not just tight end). His giant size, length, and strength really show up in this regard. Once he gets his hands on a defender, they aren’t getting off that block. He has quick enough feet to routinely dig out second-level defenders, as well. He will be a major asset on split blocks, traps, backside folds, and as a puller on counter. He upgrades a team's run game the moment he is drafted.
Sixth OL as a pass protector. Washington is a natural pass-setter with the foot speed to mirror defensive ends and the size to combat power rushers. His length is hard to beat.
Insane catch radius and ball skills. Washington’s height, length, and leaping ability are the main contributors here. Washington is an easy target for quarterbacks and is very hard to overthrow. Quarterbacks don’t have to worry about dropping passes into a bucket with Washington but can focus on throwing to a spot and letting Washington go get it.
More vertical juice than expected. Washington accelerates really well for a tight end of his size and actually has good top-end speed. He should be a seam threat in the NFL as well as a candidate to get targets on wheel routes. Washington does appear to have very good start-stop skills as well, which should open the door to some deeper sits/hitches if he can become a salesman on the vertical route tree.
Big time RAC threat. Washington is a little Gronk-esque when he catches the ball. Washington can rumble his way for massive gains after the catch and has the athleticism to consistently hurdle defenders who go low. His contact balance also pops as defenders ping-pong off of him frequently.
Horizontal movement skills cap his potential as a route runner. As you would expect, Washington’s size has to cause limitations somewhere, and you see that most with his lateral quickness, or lack thereof. Routes containing harsher breaks like outs and digs won’t be his forte in the NFL.
Not a producer at the college level. His role in the offense as basically an extra tackle, plus having to play with arguably the best non-QB prospect in the 2024 Draft in Brock Bowers, limited his opportunity to produce in the pass game. The tools are there, though.
Y-exclusive player with limited alignment versatility. We have almost no reps of Washington lining up anywhere other than as a traditional Y tight end. His movement skills dictate this is probably a trend that will continue. I do think, down in the red area, he could be utilized flexed out wide as a big, athletic target for fades and slants.
Washington is a mesmerizing tight-end prospect as sort of a relic from a former era of football. Even still, his present skills offer teams an immediate upgrade in the run game as well as their pass-protection plan. He also brings untapped receiving upside to the table, especially in the red zone. He scores as an early 2nd-round pick for me and is one of my personal favorite prospects in this class.
| Score | Overall |
| 83.3 | 49 |
| Position | Day |
| 5 | 2 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 83.3 | 5 | 2 | 49 |
| Height: | 6' 3" | Weight: | 245 lbs |
| Hands: | 10.25 | Arms: | 32.13 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.59 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 |
| Vertical: | 35 | Broad: | 123 |
| Shuttle: | 4.25 | Cone: | 6.91 |
| Height: | 6' 3" | Hands: | 10.25 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.59 |
| Weight: | 245 lbs | Arms: | 32.13 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 |
| Broad: | 123 | Cone: | 6.91 | ||
| Vertical: | 35 | Shuttle: | 4.25 |
| Height: | 6' 3" | Hands: | 10.25 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.59 | Broad: | 123 | Cone: | 6.91 |
| Weight: | 245 lbs | Arms: | 32.13 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 | Vertical: | 35 | Shuttle: | 4.25 |
LaPorta grew up in Highland, Illinois. He was a three-sport athlete at Highland High School, participating in football, basketball, and track. LaPorta was a 3-star recruit following high school and received an offer from Iowa after a standout career as a wide receiver and defensive back. He played tight end for Iowa and broke out in his junior season, when he was named Third Team All-Big Ten in 2021. He then followed that up with a standout 2022 season, where he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and was a finalist for the John Mackey Award.
Elite athlete with incredible quickness and change of direction ability. Simply put, LaPorta checks all the boxes athletically. He is a quick accelerator, he is explosive, he has lateral agility, and he has good top-end speed for the position. All of these physical traits show up as a receiver.
Best in-class RAC ability. My favorite skill of LaPorta’s is his ability to create havoc after the catch. He forces missed tackles at a higher rate than almost any offensive skill player in this draft, following in the footsteps of other Iowa studs George Kittle, Noah Fant, and TJ Hockenson. LaPorta has great contact balance with a plethora of make-you-miss moves and is incredibly light on his feet for a guy who is 245-plus pounds.
Excellent route runner with a diverse route tree. First and foremost, LaPorta has the juice to legitimately threaten vertically and attack the seam, as well as win foot races on deep crossers. He sets up vertical stems well and has the explosiveness to crush two-way goes when iso’d on a safety, leaving them in the dust. His short-area quickness and ability to stop on a dime serve him well in the short and intermediate parts of the field.
Alignment versatility. LaPorta is capable of being a true "F-type" or move tight end who can play in the slot or split out wide. You can be creative with the way he used to play with matchups and space. The nice thing is that he’s not limited to this role. like a Mike Gesicki is.
Woes at the catch point and in congested areas. For a guy with seemingly great hands, everything seems to fall apart for LaPorta when in tight spaces or when he knows he is going to take a hit. His 11 drops over the last two seasons are concerning, and almost all of them occur when he has defenders closing on him. He is also not strong at the catch point and allows defenders to easily play through his body and separate him from the ball.
Not a good blocker yet. LaPorta plays with the requisite tenacity and physicality to be a good blocker, but he really struggles to sustain blocks at this point, especially when in line. While I don’t think he is necessarily a liability as a playside blocker, he certainly needs to get better and work on syncing up his hands and feet to stay latched on and drive. I also think he struggles more than he should on blocks in space, whether as a split blocker or working to the second level. It’s very odd, considering his lateral movement skills. (Hockenson had the same struggles coming out, by the way.)
A tad undersized for an inline player. Skill players seem to be getting smaller and faster, so this isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, but it is worth pointing out he is on the small side in both weight and length for a tight end. Ideally, he joins a team that plays a good bit of 12 personnel and can share some traditional inline duties with another player.
LaPorta scores as a Day-2 player for me, and it's crazy to think a guy with his ability might be the fifth or sixth tight end off the board, which speaks to the strength of this class. There are a lot of classes he would rank right at the top of the group. In fact, he would have just outscored Trey McBride for the #1 spot in last year's class for me. In LaPorta, teams will be getting an athletic, alignment-versatile tight end with a refined receiving skill set who needs development as a blocker. He should be able to step in and contribute on passing downs right away.
| Score | Overall |
| 82.5 | 54 |
| Position | Day |
| 6 | 2 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 82.5 | 6 | 2 | 54 |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Weight: | 254 lbs |
| Hands: | 10 | Arms: | 32.75 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.69 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 |
| Vertical: | 34 | Broad: | 122 |
| Shuttle: | 4.29 | Cone: | 7.08 |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Hands: | 10 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.69 |
| Weight: | 254 lbs | Arms: | 32.75 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 |
| Broad: | 122 | Cone: | 7.08 | ||
| Vertical: | 34 | Shuttle: | 4.29 |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Hands: | 10 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.69 | Broad: | 122 | Cone: | 7.08 |
| Weight: | 254 lbs | Arms: | 32.75 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 | Vertical: | 34 | Shuttle: | 4.29 |
Kraft grew up in Timber Lake, South Dakota, and began his football journey at Timber Lake High School where he played running back, linebacker, and punter. He was not a highly recruited prospect due to coming from a very small town, but did earn a scholarship offer from the University of Wyoming. Ultimately, he decided to stay home to play college football at South Dakota State University, where he enjoyed a highly successful career. Kraft’s impressive performances on the field earned him numerous accolades, including being named a Third-Team AP All-American and a Third-Team Stats Perform FCS All-American in 2022. He was also recognized as a First-Team All-MVFC player that same year. In 2021, Kraft earned Second-Team AP FCS All-American honors and was a First-Team All-MVFC selection.
Great size and athleticism combo. Kraft boasts a big, strong body with good length. He also has good initial explosive movements and exceptionally quick feet. He does not have great long speed, however.
Excellent balance and body control. You can see these traits pop at both the catch point and after the catch. At the catch point, he can handle contact and stay focused on attacking the football, even when airborne. After the catch, he really shows off his ability to survive initial contact and immediately work to get upfield and maximize the result of the play. He is elite after the catch and forces missed tackles at a high level.
Fantastic blocker in space. Kraft has the foot quickness and vision to locate defenders in space and lock onto them. He has enough juice as a blocker to drive and sustain as well, oftentimes creating movement. Kraft will be an asset if drafted to a team that uses cross-lead and counter-run schemes.
Undeveloped as a route runner. Doesn’t have a great feel for setting up routes and attacking leverage. Can also be a little lackluster in and out of his breaks, which throws timing with the QB off. Currently, he is best used on deep crossers, schemed throws, and/or checkdowns.
Too many drops in college. Kraft seemed to have lapses on passes not perfectly on his frame, especially throws below the belly button. There are also examples of him bobbling or double-clutching passes he wound up catching.
Offensive scheme and level of competition inflates production profile. A huge swath of Kraft’s production came off of heavy play-action looks where Tucker successfully slips behind the defense. These plays don’t demonstrate translatable skills to the NFL. Furthermore, the level of competition in the FCS is poor — you would expect an NFL-caliber player to produce at a high level, as Kraft did.
Helmet scouting alert! Kraft reminds me of former South Dakota State tight end Dallas Goedert in many ways. Of course, this is low-hanging fruit, but perhaps the Jackrabbits have a type. While I don’t think Kraft is quite on Goedert’s level as a prospect, he does score as a late Day-2 player for me and has a ton of attractive tools. I do think Kraft is likely going to have a significant developmental curve in the NFL, but he should turn into a starter by his third year.
| Score | Overall |
| 75.6 | 89 |
| Position | Day |
| 7 | 2 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 75.6 | 7 | 2 | 89 |
| Height: | 6' 6 1/2" | Weight: | 255 lbs |
| Hands: | 10.25 | Arms: | 34 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.55 | 10 YD Split: | 1.57 |
| Vertical: | 40 | Broad: | 128 |
| Shuttle: | 4.12 | Cone: | 6.87 |
| Height: | 6' 6 1/2" | Hands: | 10.25 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.55 |
| Weight: | 255 lbs | Arms: | 34 | 10 YD Split: | 1.57 |
| Broad: | 128 | Cone: | 6.87 | ||
| Vertical: | 40 | Shuttle: | 4.12 |
| Height: | 6' 6 1/2" | Hands: | 10.25 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.55 | Broad: | 128 | Cone: | 6.87 |
| Weight: | 255 lbs | Arms: | 34 | 10 YD Split: | 1.57 | Vertical: | 40 | Shuttle: | 4.12 |
Kuntz was raised in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, where he attended Camp Hill High School and played football, basketball, and track. He won the Pennsylvania AA Championship in the 110-meter hurdles in his junior year. Kuntz was a 4-star prospect in high school, receiving offers from multiple Power Five programs, such as Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan, before ultimately committing to Penn State. After limited playing time with the Nittany Lions, Kuntz transferred to Old Dominion, where he had an outstanding college football career. Kuntz earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors in 2021 in his first season with Old Dominion, capping off a standout season as a dominant pass catcher and a key contributor to the Monarchs' offense. His college career was cut short by a season-ending injury after only playing five games in 2022.
Athleticism and size profile makes him an easy mismatch. Kuntz is big enough to bully defensive backs and athletic enough to run past linebackers. Kuntz has a very desirable blend of athleticism, length, and overall size that puts him in rare territory physically. Among all the positions in the NFL, athleticism matters most to tight ends. The sample size of successful unathletic tight ends in the league is very small. His physical traits also give him a good deal of positional versatility where he can operate in the slot or out wide as well as in a traditional inline role.
Very polished route runner. Kuntz is a natural route runner who is smooth in and out of his breaks and can also ramp up the "suddenness" when necessary. He alters his tempo frequently to keep defenders off balance before exploding into his break. Kuntz is at his best on vertical routes and thrives running the seam or getting a two-way. He had insane production on corner routes. His movements are so fluid he looks more like a receiver than a tight end when running routes.
Fantastic ball skills round out a dynamic vertical receiving skill set. We already mentioned the route running, but to cap things off, Kuntz has excellent ball skills where he consistently high-points the ball and is capable of making adjustments mid-flight. On vertical lead passes, he has natural tracking ability as well.
Hasn’t quite developed as a run blocker. All the physical tools are there for Kuntz to be a plus player as a run blocker, but he hasn’t put the consistency together yet. There are good reps on tape where he latches and drives, generating solid movement, but they are too few. His length and quick feet pave a great foundation for him to add value in pass protection as well if he can develop those skills.
Inconsistent on contested catches. Kuntz is rather frustrating to watch on contested catches, as the result is such a mixed bag. Given his ball skills and athleticism, you would like to see him come down with way more of these, but the results just weren't there. On the other hand, there are several examples of him hauling in passes while being blatantly interfered with.
Looks lean, even at 255 pounds. With his tall and long frame, he carries his weight very well and could clearly stand to fill it out a little bit more. Adding some good weight and play strength would go a long way in tidying up those inconsistent parts of his game.
No RAC game to speak of. Kuntz is a catch-and-fall-down type of receiver. While a lot of this can be explained by the vertical nature of his production, it shows up on short-area targets as well.
Lack of experience. Between hardly playing early in his career at Penn State and then missing most of his senior year at ODU, Kuntz is one of the least experienced tight ends in the class, starting just 13 games.
Kuntz looks the part of an elite tight end in the making but has some major inconsistencies to overcome. He profiles as a developmental player with massive upside, given his athletic prowess. He scores as a late Day-2-to-early-Day-3 pick.
| Score | Overall |
| 75.6 | 97 |
| Position | Day |
| 7 | 2 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 75.6 | 7 | 2 | 97 |
| Height: | 6' 4 1/2" | Weight: | 239 lbs |
| Hands: | 9.38 | Arms: | 32.25 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.54 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 |
| Vertical: | 36.5 | Broad: | 121 |
| Shuttle: | -- | Cone: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 4 1/2" | Hands: | 9.38 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.54 |
| Weight: | 239 lbs | Arms: | 32.25 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 |
| Broad: | 121 | Cone: | -- | ||
| Vertical: | 36.5 | Shuttle: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 4 1/2" | Hands: | 9.38 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.54 | Broad: | 121 | Cone: | -- |
| Weight: | 239 lbs | Arms: | 32.25 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 | Vertical: | 36.5 | Shuttle: | -- |
Mallory grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and played football at Providence High School. He was a highly-touted 4-star high school recruit and received offers from over 25 FCS schools, including Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, and Ohio State. He chose to play for the University of Miami and finished with 42 catches, 538 yards, and three touchdowns in his senior season. Mallory’s father, Mike Mallory, has coached for many college football programs and, most recently, was the assistant special teams coach for the Denver Broncos.
Explosive athletic profile with juice to challenge vertically. Mallory is capable of being a field-stretching tight end, whether lined up inline or taking advantage of mismatches in the slot or out wide. He has good acceleration off the line and legit top-end speed for the position. He has abnormally long legs given his height, which makes him a long strider and, thus, deceptively fast. He gets on top of safeties very quickly and catches them by surprise. Mallory also has good leaping ability.
Excellent ball skills and contested catch ability. Mallory pairs his ability to get downfield in a hurry with great ball skills and ability to track the football. He can make adjustments to the ball in a pinch, even when airborne, giving him a very nice catch radius. He thrives when attacking the football in the air and, at times, looks like a volleyball player going for a kill off a perfect set. His hands and ability to survive contact could stand to be a little more consistent, though all the traits necessary are there.
Good, detail-oriented route runner. He has the wiggle and short-area quickness to be effective in getting out of his breaks. He also utilizes a bunch of little tricks like feints and altering his tempo to set up defenders or attack their leverage.
Modern-day move tight end. Mallory isn’t at all limited to playing inline and can line up wide, in the slot, or even in the backfield. Good coordinators should be able to get mismatch opportunities with him.
Despite his size, plays with good physicality and competitiveness. He is feisty in the way he plays. His movement skills and receiving capabilities remind me a lot of Mike Gesicki, with the main difference being Mallory is a physical player and plays with fervor.
Undersized for the position with limited play strength. Even if he secures a role as a move-type tight end, Mallory is still a little undersized. The lack of consistent play strength really stands out at times — most notably as a blocker, at the catch point, and getting out of his stance to run routes. When he gets into his release, early contact can really disrupt his base and the timing of the route. Will it be possible to add to his frame without compromising the movement skills that get him into the conversation in the first place?
Not going to be a plus inline blocker, at least not yet. Mallory is not a guy who will hold up in 1-on-1 blocking situations against defensive ends or bigger linebackers. On top of potentially adding size and strength, he needs to work on his footwork and sync up his feet with his hands. As it stands now, he is most likely a role-specific player, as he can be a liability in the run game. There are few "moments" on tape that suggest there is more ability to uncover in this regard.
Mallory profiles as a pass-game specialist best suited in a positional time-share with room to develop. While there are a lot of traits to build on, there are an equal amount of deficiencies or limitations. With that said, the athleticism, hands, and route-running ability are fantastic and teams in need of a cost-effective way to add receiving to their tight end room will be most inclined to draft him. Officially, he scores as a late day-2 to early day-3 pick for me.
| Score | Overall |
| 73.5 | 113 |
| Position | Day |
| 8 | 3 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 73.5 | 8 | 3 | 113 |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Weight: | 245 lbs |
| Hands: | 10 | Arms: | 32.25 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.84 | 10 YD Split: | 1.6 |
| Vertical: | 38.5 | Broad: | 125 |
| Shuttle: | -- | Cone: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Hands: | 10 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.84 |
| Weight: | 245 lbs | Arms: | 32.25 | 10 YD Split: | 1.6 |
| Broad: | 125 | Cone: | -- | ||
| Vertical: | 38.5 | Shuttle: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Hands: | 10 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.84 | Broad: | 125 | Cone: | -- |
| Weight: | 245 lbs | Arms: | 32.25 | 10 YD Split: | 1.6 | Vertical: | 38.5 | Shuttle: | -- |
Allen is from Calhoun, Georgia, where he attended Calhoun High School. Allen was recruited as a 3-star prospect and ultimately committed to play football at Clemson University. In his college career, Allen emerged as a reliable target for the Tigers' offense, recording 39 receptions for 443 yards and five touchdowns in his final season.
Excellent ball skills, catch radius, and contested ability. Allen makes 50/50 balls look more like 80/20 balls. He is a legit red zone threat with excellent hands and ability to play through contact at the catch point. His ability to track the ball through congested areas is remarkable. Davis has a great natural feel for how to use his body and frame to keep defenders at bay when the ball is in the air.
Generates late separation at the top of his route. Davis knows how to use his size and frame to properly disengage with defenders at the breakpoints in his routes.
Good enough in the run game as a blocker. Allen is not someone who is going to have a lot of MAs (missed assignments). He is diligent and plays with good enthusiasm when it comes to blocking. He has a strong base with synchronized hands and feet, so he won't often lose ground when anchoring.
Special teams ability makes him rosterable. Davis was a core special teamer the past two seasons at Clemson and was pretty darn good at it as well.
Not a great athlete with limited movement skills. Allen is simply not a very explosive player. He can sometimes look sluggish, and is slow to get to top speed. His lateral movement caps his upside as a RAC threat. Overall, his lack of athleticism puts a relatively low ceiling on him.
Route running is not where it needs to be. Minus the athleticism concerns, there are still some technical deficiencies when running routes. Allen tends to roll through his routes at the top of the stem. He has some wasted movement getting off the line of scrimmage and out of his breaks. He also is a one-speed route runner, making his movements very telegraphed.
Needs to add some mass and play strength to be more effective as a blocker. If Davis can find a way to generate more movement or vertical displacement consistently, he could establish himself as an asset in the run game and a guy who goes from "good enough" to “we need him on the field.” The “want-to” and the technique is there, though.
Allen is what the old heads call a "football player." He is a high-character, high-effort, and high-energy guy whom coaches will probably like more than most evaluators. His biggest weakness as a player is just an overall lack of juice in his body. For me, he profiles as an eventual #2 tight end for a team and is a guy who checks a decent amount of boxes from a skillset perspective. His ability in the red zone and potential as a blocker are bright spots that give him value as a backup tight end. Additional value is found in his ability on special teams, which should help him secure a roster spot as a rookie. In the end, he scores as a Day-3 player for me.
| Score | Overall |
| 73.9 | 121 |
| Position | Day |
| 9 | 3 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 73.9 | 9 | 3 | 121 |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Weight: | 251 lbs |
| Hands: | 9 | Arms: | 32.88 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.63 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 |
| Vertical: | 33.5 | Broad: | 127 |
| Shuttle: | 4.27 | Cone: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Hands: | 9 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.63 |
| Weight: | 251 lbs | Arms: | 32.88 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 |
| Broad: | 127 | Cone: | -- | ||
| Vertical: | 33.5 | Shuttle: | 4.27 |
| Height: | 6' 5" | Hands: | 9 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.63 | Broad: | 127 | Cone: | -- |
| Weight: | 251 lbs | Arms: | 32.88 | 10 YD Split: | 1.59 | Vertical: | 33.5 | Shuttle: | 4.27 |
Schoonmaker is from Hamden, Connecticut and attended Hamden Hall Country Day School. He was a do-it-all player in high school, where he played quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, and cornerback. Schoonmaker was a 3-star recruit coming out of college and receiving multiple FBS offers, before committing to the Michigan Wolverines. During his college career, he has emerged as a standout player, earning the Michigan Most Improved Player Award in 2021. In addition, he was named to the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention list in 2021 and the Third Team All-Big Ten team in his final season in 2022.
Has some quickness to his game. Schoonmaker accelerates quickly and gets off the line of scrimmage in a hurry. He is capable of attacking the seam and gets on top of safeties in a blink. He has a good amount of suddenness in his route running as well. Schoonmaker generates good separation on short routes, making him an easy target for quarterbacks.
Great feel for defeating zone coverages. Schoonmaker is a high-IQ route runner with great spatial awareness and understanding of zone defenses. Working against zone, he consistently sets his route down away from coverage and properly works into blindspots.
Plus blocker in the run game. While he’s not going to be a guy who consistently generates vertical displacement, he utilizes really good technique incorporating a solid wide base with synchronized hands and feet. Schoonmaker is really good at staying latched onto defenders and resetting his hands when necessary. He can adequately block at the point of attack on the playside, while also being capable of using his quickness in space to work to the second level or on split blocks.
Limited ball skills and contested-catch ability. Schoonmaker doesn’t really play the ball in the air at all. He gets caught waiting around a lot and seemingly doesn’t have a lot of range to get his hands on balls thrown far outside of his frame, with the lone exception of an occasional low throw he digs out. He also loses focus in crowded spaces and allows smaller linebackers and safeties to consistently play through his body. He doesn’t survive contact at the catch point. This is concerning transitioning to the next level as coverage, whether zone or man, only gets tighter from here.
No RAC element to his game. This surprised me when I watched his tape, considering he possesses what I would call above-average quickness and burst for the position. He gets tackled easily and doesn’t do much in the way of trying to make guys miss.
Physicality and play strength could stand to improve. I would say most of the deficiencies in Schoomaker’s game center around a general lack of play strength and alpha mentality. From his woes at the catch point, the ease with which he is tackled, and his inability to generate movement in the run game, the central theme is pretty much the same. It almost seems like a confidence issue at times. From a projection standpoint, I would hope a good strength coach could minimize all of these issues.
Schoonmaker profiles as a well-rounded tight end who can have positive impacts in both the pass game as a receiver and run game as a blocker. He has some limitations to his game, most of which seem to be fixable with coaching. He projects for me as a #2 tight-end for most teams, with potentially some upside for more. Officially, he scores as an early Day-3 prospect.
| Score | Overall |
| 73.2 | 118 |
| Position | Day |
| 10 | 3 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 73.2 | 10 | 3 | 118 |
| Height: | 6' 4" | Weight: | 242 lbs |
| Hands: | 9.5 | Arms: | 32.38 |
| 40 YD Dash: | -- | 10 YD Split: | -- |
| Vertical: | -- | Broad: | -- |
| Shuttle: | -- | Cone: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 4" | Hands: | 9.5 | 40 YD Dash: | -- |
| Weight: | 242 lbs | Arms: | 32.38 | 10 YD Split: | -- |
| Broad: | -- | Cone: | -- | ||
| Vertical: | -- | Shuttle: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 4" | Hands: | 9.5 | 40 YD Dash: | -- | Broad: | -- | Cone: | -- |
| Weight: | 242 lbs | Arms: | 32.38 | 10 YD Split: | -- | Vertical: | -- | Shuttle: | -- |
Latu is a talented tight end from Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended Olympus High School, where he was a 4-star recruit as a defensive end and received offers from multiple Power Five schools including Alabama, USC, and Oregon. He initially committed to BYU to play with his twin brother, but he reopened his commitment. He ultimately committed to Alabama, where he spent one season playing on defense before transitioning to tight end in 2019. As a senior in 2022, Latu had 30 receptions for 377 yards and four touchdowns.
Excellent run blocker in space. Latu easily locates his targets and latches on with strong hands and synchronized feet — very surprising power for his build. Has more reps "finishing" defenders than most of the tight ends in this class. I also really enjoyed how he works to soften the edge as a blocker from the slot. The power shows when inline as well, albeit less consistently. He is also great on double teams and engages in blocks with an ample amount of intensity, almost like he is a linebacker coming up to make a tackle. He brings the heat.
Good route runner for the position. Latu mixes easy acceleration, start-stop ability, and surprising suddenness in his breaks as a route runner. These skills are enough to beat safeties 1-on-1. He also does a good job altering tempo to keep defenders off balance. When combining this with his acceleration, he can absolutely chew up zone. Shows good football IQ when working against zone also and usually will find space and give his quarterback an easy target.
Positional versatility. I believe Latu can get to a point where he can line up anywhere in an offense. After being mostly an inline guy early in his career at Alabama, he played in the slot a ton in 2022.
Sneaky upside as a RAC threat. Latu plays with intensity, and it shows up after the catch. He will finish runs with physicality, seeking to punish smaller defenders and drag them, and he also has a nice stiff arm. I was surprised by his ability to juke linebackers with a little shuffle cut in the open field.
Athletic profile is a question mark. It's very hard to get a good read on Latu’s overall athleticism. He accelerates well and has some lateral quickness to him, but seems to lack a top gear. He is also a little stiff in the ankles and hips, which can be limiting. I really wish we got Combine testing from him.
Strange build and physical makeup. Latu weighed in at 242 pounds at the Combine but clearly carries most of that weight above the waist. He has a very underdeveloped lower half. If he builds that out, it will only enhance his blocking ability and make him more consistent.
My first real exposure to Latu (outside of a couple of games) was during Senior Bowl week, but he didn’t really stand out to me much. With that said, I was pleasantly surprised by his tape. I think there is a very functional football player here that has a lot of developmental upside. He scores as an early Day-3 prospect for me and projects early as a reserve tight end who will offer versatility in multi-tight-end sets.
| Score | Overall |
| 72.5 | 123 |
| Position | Day |
| 11 | 3 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 72.5 | 11 | 3 | 123 |
| Height: | 6' 3" | Weight: | 253 lbs |
| Hands: | 9.63 | Arms: | 31.13 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.7 | 10 YD Split: | 1.57 |
| Vertical: | 36 | Broad: | 124 |
| Shuttle: | 4.46 | Cone: | 7.25 |
| Height: | 6' 3" | Hands: | 9.63 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.7 |
| Weight: | 253 lbs | Arms: | 31.13 | 10 YD Split: | 1.57 |
| Broad: | 124 | Cone: | 7.25 | ||
| Vertical: | 36 | Shuttle: | 4.46 |
| Height: | 6' 3" | Hands: | 9.63 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.7 | Broad: | 124 | Cone: | 7.25 |
| Weight: | 253 lbs | Arms: | 31.13 | 10 YD Split: | 1.57 | Vertical: | 36 | Shuttle: | 4.46 |
Strange was raised in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where he attended Parkersburg High School. He was a four-time All-Mountain State Athletic Conference player in high school, and also was named third-team all-state in basketball as a junior. He was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school and received FBS offers from over 20 schools, including Penn State, Ohio State, and Notre Dame. He ultimately chose to attend Penn State, where he became the Nittany Lions’ primary tight end in his redshirt junior season. As a key contributor to Penn State's offense, Strange made a name for himself in the Big Ten Conference, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2021 and All-Big Ten third team in 2022.
Alignment versatility. Strange can thrive as a move-type tight end/H-back combo who lines up inline, in the slot, or backfield.
Good blocker as a lead or in space. Strange adequately identifies and locates targets on the move.
Big time RAC threat. He features the contact balance to bounce off defenders, forcing misses. Strange finishes touches with pop and physicality.
Untapped potential as a route runner. You see explosive get off and breaks, with harsh cutting ability on tape, but he needs to add some nuance. Strange has the juice to quickly get past the second level when working the seam or in the middle of the field.
Not a powerful blocker from inline. He won’t be a guy who creates a lot of movements or thrives with doubles teams. Strange sometimes loses angles as a playside blocker.
Lacks ball skills and has inconsistent hands. Generally speaking, Strange just seems to currently lack the skills and physical traits to be strong at the catch point. He’s not great at making adjustments to the ball in the air and loses catch focus in congested areas. He has very limited length for the position and a small catch radius.
Lack of production. Strange profiles as a fairly talented guy, so producing just over 600 yards combined the past two seasons needs explaining. It's not like Penn State has had a bad pass offense the last couple of years, either.
Strange profiles as a utility-type tight end who can serve multiple purposes in an offense. To start his career, I see him as a developmental TE3 that will have to play special teams to keep his roster spot secure. He does have some untapped pass-game upside, though, and good coordinators will find ways to get him involved. He scores as an early to mid-day 3 pick for me.
| Score | Overall |
| 70.1 | 138 |
| Position | Day |
| 13 | 3 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 70.1 | 13 | 3 | 138 |
| Height: | 6' 5 1/2" | Weight: | 253 lbs |
| Hands: | 9.75 | Arms: | 33.38 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.87 | 10 YD Split: | 1.61 |
| Vertical: | 34.5 | Broad: | 117 |
| Shuttle: | -- | Cone: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 5 1/2" | Hands: | 9.75 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.87 |
| Weight: | 253 lbs | Arms: | 33.38 | 10 YD Split: | 1.61 |
| Broad: | 117 | Cone: | -- | ||
| Vertical: | 34.5 | Shuttle: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 5 1/2" | Hands: | 9.75 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.87 | Broad: | 117 | Cone: | -- |
| Weight: | 253 lbs | Arms: | 33.38 | 10 YD Split: | 1.61 | Vertical: | 34.5 | Shuttle: | -- |
Durham grew up in Suwanee, Georgia and attended Peachtree Ridge High School, where he played lacrosse before joining the football team in his senior season. He was a 3-star recruit coming out of high school, and received offers from two FBS teams. He ended up committing to Purdue over Missouri. He was named Second Team All-Big Ten in his final season in 2022, cementing his status as one of the top tight ends in the conference. Durham has also been recognized for his academic achievements, earning three consecutive years of being named Academic All-Big Ten from 2019 to 2021.
Prototype inline height and weight profile. Durham is tall and thick with good enough length for the position. Looks physically imposing.
Big time red-zone threat. The best thing Durham offers in the pass game is his prowess in the red zone. He has exceptional ball skill and body control for his size and has a "go up and get it" mentality. Durham plays above the rim and turns 50/50 balls into 80/20 balls, and really showed out this way at the Senior Bowl.
Good run blocker from inline or on the move. Durham is an assignment-sound blocker, both on the playside from inline or working more in space at the second level or from the slot. He has the frame to generate movement and be effective in 1-on-1s against bigger defenders, but I would like to see more consistency here. This is another area where he did well at the Senior Bowl.
Athletic limitations are obvious. Durham shows sluggish/labored movements. Durham is decent at getting off the line, but everything else looks slow and difficult for him.
Doesn’t generate separation. Route running is already hard for most tight ends, but when you add below-average athleticism to the mix, things get worse. Durham is easily erased by man coverage and doesn’t have the juice to challenge the seam.
Needs to clean up run blocking technique. His hands and feet get out of sync often, which limits his ability to consistently sustain and generate movement.
Durham is an ideal TE2 with a focus on blocking and playing in the red area. Teams with a TE1 who specializes in the pass game should be very interested in Durham’s skill set. He scores as an early to mid-Day-3 pick for me.
| Score | Overall |
| 68.4 | 146 |
| Position | Day |
| 14 | 3 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 68.4 | 14 | 3 | 146 |
| Height: | 6' 6 1/2" | Weight: | 248 lbs |
| Hands: | 9.5 | Arms: | 31.5 |
| 40 YD Dash: | 4.69 | 10 YD Split: | 1.61 |
| Vertical: | 33.5 | Broad: | 115 |
| Shuttle: | -- | Cone: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 6 1/2" | Hands: | 9.5 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.69 |
| Weight: | 248 lbs | Arms: | 31.5 | 10 YD Split: | 1.61 |
| Broad: | 115 | Cone: | -- | ||
| Vertical: | 33.5 | Shuttle: | -- |
| Height: | 6' 6 1/2" | Hands: | 9.5 | 40 YD Dash: | 4.69 | Broad: | 115 | Cone: | -- |
| Weight: | 248 lbs | Arms: | 31.5 | 10 YD Split: | 1.61 | Vertical: | 33.5 | Shuttle: | -- |
Whyle was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended La Salle High School. He was a 3-star recruit in high school, with offers from various top FBS schools, such as Georgia and Michigan. Despite receiving offers from over 20 FBS schools, he ultimately chose to stay in his hometown and commit to the University of Cincinnati. Whyle had a productive college career, with his accolades including First-Team All-AAC in 2022, Honorable Mention All-AAC in 2021, and Third-Team All-AAC in 2020.
Fluid movement skills with high-level understanding of how to win vs. zone. For how leggy he is, Whyle shows loose ankles and hips and sort of glides when he runs. He should be able to parlay this into solid route-running, as he develops. He isn’t a big-time separator against man right now, but he is proficient on two-way gos against safeties. As it stands, he is most proficient in finding space and sitting routes down against zone looks.
Good ball skills and ability to make adjustments at the catch point. Whyle gives his quarterbacks a big-time catch radius and the ability to dig out underthrows or go up and play above the rim when needed.
Brings the intensity in space as a blocker. Whyle is not overly technical, but plays with good pop and understands drive angles. He can soften the edge from the slot.
Lack of explosive elements with below-average get-off. Whyle didn’t test well at the Combine, and you understand why when you watch the tape. He is a very methodical, one-speed type of mover.
Underdeveloped as a route runner. Whyle exhibits a lack of attention to detail in this department. Sometimes he breaks routes at the wrong depth or flat-out drifts on shallow crossers or routes with horizontal breaks.
Overall play strength needs an upgrade. Whyle doesn't currently have the requisite strength to generate displacement in the run game, even when his hands are nice and tight and he gets his feet in sync. He also needs to get stronger at the catch point for QBs to trust him on 50/50 balls.
Whyle is a solid F-type tight end prospect with some workable traits and upside. His big, long frame makes him a desirable pass-game weapon if he can put it all together. He scores as an early to mid-Day-3 prospect for me and projects as a rotational tight end with developmental upside early in his career. When I watch him, I get a Zach Ertz vibe stylistically.
| Score | Overall |
| 66.8 | 149 |
| Position | Day |
| 15 | 3 |
| Score | Position | Day | Overall |
| 66.8 | 15 | 3 | 149 |
| Height: | 6' 3" | Weight: | 241 lbs |
| Hands: | 9.75 | Arms: | 33.25 |
| 40 YD Dash: | -- | 10 YD Split: | -- |
| Vertical: | 32 | Broad: | 117 |
| Shuttle: | 4.36 | Cone: | 7.3 |
| Height: | 6' 3" | Hands: | 9.75 | 40 YD Dash: | -- |
| Weight: | 241 lbs | Arms: | 33.25 | 10 YD Split: | -- |
| Broad: | 117 | Cone: | 7.3 | ||
| Vertical: | 32 | Shuttle: | 4.36 |
| Height: | 6' 3" | Hands: | 9.75 | 40 YD Dash: | -- | Broad: | 117 | Cone: | 7.3 |
| Weight: | 241 lbs | Arms: | 33.25 | 10 YD Split: | -- | Vertical: | 32 | Shuttle: | 4.36 |
Willis is a tight end from Arlington, Texas, where he attended James Martin High School. He was a 3-star recruit coming out of college as a tight end/H-back and received offers from over 20 FBS schools. He ultimately committed to play football for the Oklahoma Sooners. In 2022, Willis was named a recipient of the Don Key Award, given annually to a player on the team that excels both on and off the field, along with being recognized as a Second Team All-Big 12 selection. He also earned Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2021.
Lead blocker qualities. Willis has strong, powerful hands capable of latching. He locates targets in space well, especially at the second level.
Comfortable making catches in congested areas. Against zone, Willis is willing to work in the middle of the field, and he has the body control and hands to secure the football through contact.
Good RAC threat. He runs with decisiveness, contact balance, and power after the catch. Willis is capable of forcing misses in the open field, especially against smaller defenders.
Core special teamer. Willis is one of the most experienced special teams players in this Draft class. He brings added value and staying power at the next level.
Undersized to play inline, and lacks athleticism to be a move piece. There is a serious positional predicament here. Willis might need to add some weight to be more comfortable taking on defensive linemen.
Lacks the juice to win vertically at any capacity. Willis is slow getting off the line, easily knocked off his stem, and lacks the top-end athleticism to stretch the defense or get behind the second level at any capacity.
Lacks flexibility required to develop strong route running. His breaks are slow and lack sharpness. Willis won’t be someone who separates against man/single coverage.
Willis best profiles as an H-Back in the NFL. He will likely have to fill a TE3 or fullback hybrid role for a team, at least until he gets bigger and stronger and can be relied on in an inline blocking setting. His special teams ability could single-handedly get him on a roster while he figures the rest out and develops. He scores as a late-Day-3 player for me.
