It’s no secret the Detroit Lions are in dire need of tight end help, and they’ve come to the right place here at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. This is a very deep and diversely skilled tight end class. Two of the top talents happen to come from the same school, and the Lions have shown real interest in both Iowa Hawkeye TEs represented in Indianapolis.
T.J. Hockenson earned the spot at the No. 1 podium, status typically granted to the player in the group of eight to 15 players expected to draw the biggest crowd in the given groups of prospects. Nearly the entire Lions media contingency (myself included) huddled to the front of the media scrum to interview Hockenson, who is a common projection for the team at the No. 8 overall pick.
In the very next wave of prospects, Hawkeyes teammate Noah Fant stated he’s meeting with the Lions on Friday night. He also drew a considerable throng of Detroit-based media.
Fant is not typically projected to go as high as Hockenson, but he could also be a first-round talent.
The Hawkeye duo isn’t the only pair of tight ends here in Indy who have earned some attention from GM Bob Quinn and his staff.
The Lions aren’t the only NFC North team linked with the Iowa pair, either. The Green Bay Packers are also in need of tight end help, and their media also showed a strong interest in both Hockenson and Fant.
