The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off this week, which will bring the 2023 draft class fully into focus, as this is the week of athletic testing, evaluations, and interviews for over 300 prospects.
With the combine ready to set the stage before free agency and the draft, we look at players worth monitoring for the Chargers.
Whether it be players who are options at pick No. 21 or later in the draft, we will pick out some at each position who should test well and generate buzz.
Here are a few tight ends worth keeping an eye on.
Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
The Chargers could be in the market for a tight end early in the draft, and Musgrave is a compelling option. According to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, Musgrave was an elite high school long jumper and triple jumper. He also excelled at lacrosse and alpine skiing. Last offseason, Musgrave vertical-jumped 36 1/2 inches, broad-jumped 10-1 3/4 and clocked a 4.51 40 at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds. His athleticism is evident on the field, as he has the vertical speed to jolt past linebackers and safeties. He should only further make his case to rise up their draft board after he tests.
Darnell Washington, Georgia
Washington is another intriguing tight end that the Chargers could target early on. Hulking at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, Washington boasts impressive size, which he uses to serve as a sixth offensive lineman on the field. But he still moves like a player of much smaller stature in the passing game. Washington’s 16.2 yards per catch led all Bulldogs this past season. Evaluators look forward to seeing how Washington runs routes and showcase his rare traits in the testing drills. If and when he blows it up, Washington could hear his name called in the first round.
Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan
Schoonmaker didn’t play near the end of the season and was a non-participant at the Shrine Bowl because of an AC joint injury. Schoonmaker is known more for his blocking skills, but over the last two years of his collegiate career, he caught 52 balls for 583 yards receiving and six scores. If he is available this week, this will be a good time for Schoonmaker to showcase his pass-catching and route-running skills. Given him being a straight-line athlete with good speed, Schoonmaker should post decent numbers too.
Josh Whyle, Cincinnati
Whyle had a great collegiate career for the Bearcats, leaving as the program’s leader in touchdowns with 15 for tight ends. He had 88 catches for 1,062 yards during his career. Whyle is a reliable pass-catcher with good hands and body control, evident from only six drops in five years of college. He shows good movement skills and straight-line acceleration. He displays the ability to highpoint the ball well in contested situations. Likely to light up the testing portion, Whyle clocked a 4.65 40 to go with a 35 1/2-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 10-3 1/2 last offseason, according to Feldman.
