Rankings and what to watch for out of all the tight end prospects invited to the 2020 NFL Combine.
2020 NFL Combine: Tight Ends
Date: Thursday, February 27: Tight Ends
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Network: NFL Network
From the college perspective. here are rankings and quick looks at all of the tight ends invited to the 2020 NFL Combine.
Before getting into the top five breakdown, here’s a ranking of the best of the rest and what to look for.
2020 Pre-NFL Combine Tight End Best of the Rest Rankings
Number in parentheses is the projected round drafted before the NFL Combine.
20. Charlie Taumoepeau, Portland State 6-2, 245 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: Just good enough as a blocker to earn a look, he doesn’t have the size to be a full-time tight end as a pass catcher. Something about him has to stand out to get past his lack of height and FCS background.
19. Dominick Wood-Anderson, Tennessee 6-4, 257 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: A tools guy, he looks like an NFL tight end, and he’s going to workout like an NFL tight end. Now he has to show something to make scouts think there’s something there to work with.
18. Charlie Woerner, Georgia 6-5, 245 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: There’s not a lot there as an NFL talent, but he could stick on a roster as a blocker and mid-range receiver. He was a four-year player with 34 career catches and one touchdown – what does he have to be a whole lot better at the next level?
17. Cheyenne (CJ) O’Grady, Arkansas 6-4, 256 (7)
NFL Combine What Matters: The interview process will mean everything. He has the NFL talent and receiving skills, but the problems at Arkansas – suspended before leaving the team – will be the question mark.
16. Stephen Sullivan, LSU 6-5, 242 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: With tweener skills and a great motor, he could make a team as a special teamer who fits in two tight end sets. However, he has to show off the NFL speed to get there.
15. Sean McKeon, Michigan 6-5, 238 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: He’ll be draftable if he looks the part of a possible receiver. He might not have the bulk, but he can hit. Can he look like a reliable NFL target?
14. Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech 6-4, 251 (6)
NFL Combine What Matters: Does he have a set spot? He can block, he can catch, and he can do it all, but he doesn’t do any one thing at an NFL level. Some team will love his blocking, but everyone will look to see what he can do in workouts as a receiver.
13. Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati 6-3, 245 (6)
NFL Combine What Matters: Yeah, he might be able to make a team as a blocker, but can he come up with anything for an NFL passing game? He has to look like more than a potential No. 2 tight end.
12. Mitchell Wilcox, USF 6-5, 245 (6)
NFL Combine What Matters: A nice mix of all-around talent – including as a blocker – to be a good mid-to-late flier, but he needs to come up with something that stands out from the pack. The times and numbers need to open eyes.
11. Jacob Breeland, Oregon 6-5, 250 (5)
NFL Combine What Matters: He has to look like there’s a set tight end position for him. He’s more like a big wide receiver, but without the athleticism. Don’t expect a whole lot as a blocker.
10. Thadeus Moss, LSU 6-3, 249 (3)
NFL Combine What Matters: Try to get away from the idea that he’s the son of Randy Moss – he’s not Randy Moss. He’ll make plays and he’ll be a part of an NFL passing game, but his money will be made early on as a blocker. The raw numbers and times will matter.
9. Hunter Bryant, Washington 6-2, 239 (4)
NFL Combine What Matters: Just how much will the scouts care about his lack of bulk? He’s built more like a running back, and there’s a big concern with past knee injuries, but he can really, really catch.
8. Adam Trautman, Dayton 6-5, 253 (4)
NFL Combine What Matters: This is what an NFL tight end looks like, at least as a mid-range receiver. Everything is in place to workout like a superstar, but the questions will be there about the tape against FCS talent. The 40 might be overrated, but it’ll matter here.
7. Colby Parkinson, Stanford 6-7, 251 (4)
NFL Combine What Matters: There’s too much size to ignore. He’s a deep threat who averaged close to 17 yards per catch with seven scores as a sophomore, and last year he was decent despite the quarterback issues. Can he be physical enough?
6. Devin Asiasi, UCLA 6-3, 260 (4)
NFL Combine What Matters: How quick can he be at 260? He’s a good, physical receiver who can stretch the field a bit. Can he look more natural as a pass catcher?
NEXT: Top 5 Tight End Prospects Before the 2020 NFL Combine
5. Alberty Okwuegbunam, Missouri 6-5, 255 (3)
Why He’s Here On The List: Blow off the negatives and concerns – he’s an NFL pass catcher who looked and played the part at times throughout his three years. When Drew Lock and the Mizzou offense got going, he was fantastic with 43 catches as a sophomore. However, he’s had problems getting banged up and he’s not going to do much as a blocker.
What The NFL Types Want To See: How quick is he? He has the size, and he can catch, but he has to get past his other issues and concerns by being tremendously quick and athletic through the shorter drills. The interview process will matter, too – will he fight and play through the bumps and bruises?
Bottom Line: There are way too many good parts to his game and his skill set to not take a flier on him after the second round. He could seamlessly step-in as a good pass catcher who produces right out of the box. As long as you don’t ask him to blast away on someone, he’ll produce.
NEXT: No. 4 Pre-NFL Combine Tight End
4. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue 6-4, 245 (2)
Why He’s Here On The List: Opinions on him will be all over the place. An elite college receiver, he caught 61 passes for 831 yards and seven scores last season for the Boilermakers, and he was able to take over at times, but is he an elite receiver? Can he be consistent enough? Every drop in Indy will be magnified.
What The NFL Types Want To See: The athleticism has to make up for the other concerns. He knows how to find holes in a defense and he’s great at using his speed and skills to get separation. However, does he look like a natural pass catcher compared to the other top prospects?
Bottom Line: He might be the No. 1 tight end on the board if he can blow the doors off the rest of the field with his smoothness and athleticism. No one will draft him as a blocker, but he’ll be a good starter with a little bit of tweaking.
NEXT: No. 2 Pre-NFL Combine Tight End
3. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt 6-4, 254 (2)
Why He’s Here On The List: Blow off his 2019 season. The Vandy offense was awful, he didn’t get the ball thrown his way enough, and he wasn’t able to produce anywhere near the same level he was at in 2018. As a junior, he caught 50 passes for 774 yards and seven scores as a field-stretching playmaker who became a mismatch problem. Just feed him the ball and he’ll go get it.
What The NFL Types Want To See: If it’s possible to see him hit the bags hard and show a little bit of power, that would help. He’s as athletic as any tight end in the draft, and he’s able to come up with big plays, but he has to get nasty and be able to create his own opportunities against the more physical defensive backs.
Bottom Line: Too much will be made out of his mediocre 2019 season, but he’s an NFL pass catching tight end who should be able to produce right away. The upside is there to be an instant starter and a statistical star, but he has to prove he can pop a bit more.
NEXT: No. 2 Pre-NFL Combine Tight End
2. Cole Kmet, Notre Dame 6-4, 250 (2)
Why He’s Here On The List: He’s the safe call. With the right size, the right hands, and the right abilities, he’s a good receiver who can also hit with a little bit of pop. He’ll look the part of a long-time NFL starter who might not be another Travis Kelce or Zach Ertz, but might be a half-step below the next-level superstars.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Be the No. 1 tight end. This isn’t a great class for the position, and there are others with the type of upside to be special, too. Kmet needs to come away from Indianapolis looking and working out like he has the upside to be a fringe first rounder.
Bottom Line: There’s a lot to like. All the basics are there, and he has the upside to do a whole lot more than he came up with in South Bend – he might blow up in the right attack – but he’s got to stand out as more than just a nice, solid pass catching prospect.
NEXT: No. 1 Pre-NFL Combine Tight End
1. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic 6-5, 240 (3)
Why He’s Here On The List: FAU’s leading receiver last season, the good-sized Bryant came up with 65 grabs for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns. He might not look the part, but he’s a terrific blocker to go along with the moves and feel of a natural receiver.
What The NFL Types Want To See: How fluid is he? He might be move well and he has the football straight-line speed to be a main target, but can he be quick enough to be used in a full NFL route tree? As long as he shows the tools to hang with the rest of the top prospects, he’ll be fine.
Bottom Line: He might be the No. 1 tight end on some boards. A fantastic receiver over his last three seasons with the Owls, he’s got the talent and upside to be a steal outside of the top 50. If he rips up the offseason workouts in the short drills, he’ll be a must-have chance to take.
