Day 2 of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine kicked off with tight ends. In a deep class of players at the position, there were many teams looking down from the stands and press boxes in hopes of finding one they can snag, whether that be in the first round or with a Day 3 steal.
Here are the players that helped or hurt their draft stock on Saturday.
WINNERS
Iowa Tight Ends
Iowa tight ends Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson were one of the most buzzed-about athletes heading into the NFL Scouting Combine. Fant, who has seemed to not get as much love after Hockenson dethroned him for the top dog, was undoubtably the more superior player on Saturday.
Fant ran a 4.5 second 40-yard dash, vertical leap of 39.5 inches, broad jump of 10 feet, 7 inches and 3-cone drill of 6.81 seconds, which all marked as the best among the group. And he even repped 225 pounds 20 times, showcasing his strength.
At 6-foot-4, 249 pounds, Fant was terrific during the on-field drills, illustrating speed, body control and soft hands to track nearly every ball thrown his way.
Meanwhile, Hockenson finished second behind his former teammate in the short shuttle (4.23), 3-cone (7.02), vertical (37.5″), and broad jump (10’3″). His hands during drills were good as advertised on film, and his best trait as a blocker stood out, as he showed sound form and aggressiveness in the blocking drill.
Jace Sternberger | Texas A&M
Sternberger had a great performance in the pass-catching drills after running a 4.75 40-yard dash. The former Texas A&M product displayed his large catch radius on one high pass that seemed to give some of his other position mates trouble.
Sternberger is at his best when catching balls vertically with the athleticism and to be a mismatch weapon. Any NFL team that passes on one of the top tight ends in the first round to address other needs should be giving him a strong look on Day 2.
Foster Moreau | LSU
After being limited in LSU’s passing game, Moreau proved that he was more than a blocking tight end in the Senior Bowl. The former Tiger carried that success into Indy, where he posted a solid morning to help his draft stock.
On the bench press, he had 22 reps and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.66 seconds. Meanwhile, he was securing passes away from his body in the on-field drills, showcasing soft hands and sound movement skills.
LOSERS
Isaac Nauta | Georgia
Starting to generate some buzz, Nauta failed to live up to those expectations today. Nauta’s measurements (6-foot-3 and 244 pounds) and bench press were fine (19), but his times indicate he’s a bit slower than many thought.
He was never going to outrun defenses, but a 4.92 40-yard dash and 7.45 3-cone split were disappointing for the former Georgia product.
On film, he showed average athleticism, but the lack of speed begs the question of if he’s only a short yardage option in the NFL, which could hinder his draft stock.
