Rankings and quick lookaheads of all the tight end prospects invited to the 2019 NFL Combine.
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2019 NFL Tight End Combine Workout: Saturday, March 2
Here we go with the 2019 NFL Combine, with all the breakdowns and analysis of every positive and negative for all of the top prospects. This isn’t that hard. Just simplify it – who can play football well enough to make an impact at the next level?
The bigger breakdowns will come before the NFL Draft, but for now – again, from the college perspective – here are the pre-combine rankings for all of the tight ends invited to the big workout.
Before getting into the top five breakdown, here’s a ranking of the best of the rest.
2019 Pre-NFL Combine Tight End Best of the Rest Rankings
Number in parentheses is the projected round drafted pre-NFL Combine.
21. Trevon Wesco, West Virginia 6-3, 267 (7 FA)
After doing nothing in his first two years, he rose up with 26 catches for 366 yards and a score. He’s undersized for a true NFL tight end, but he can hit, and he is still improving as a receiver.
20. C.J. Conrad, Kentucky 6-4, 249 (7 FA)
For an offense that had issues throwing the ball, he caught 80 passes with 12 touchdowns in his four-year career. He’s missing the big bulk, but he’s a willing part of the running game and can catch just well enough to be a nice all-around prospect.
19. Keenen Brown, Texas State 6-2, 250 (7 FA)
Built more like a fullback than a true tight end, he’s a strong receiver who came up with 51 catches for 577 yards and five scores for a team that struggled to throw the forward pass last year. Just an okay blocker, he’ll have to make it as a developmental tight end who doesn’t fit a type, but can really catch.
18. Drew Sample, Washington 6-5, 255 (7 FA)
He didn’t turn into much of a receiver until last season, making 25 grabs as a senior. He’s got good enough speed to grow into a role in a camp, and he has the right look and size, but he has to show something impressive right away in a camp to stick.
17. Kendall Blanton, Missouri 6-6, 262 (7 FA)
With his bulk and his pass catching ability, he has the upside to be a second tight end who can be used in a variety of roles. He’s not a top receiver, but the tools are there to improve.
16. Daniel Helm, Duke 6-4, 249 (7 FA)
The former Tennessee Vol was a steady three year producer for the Blue Devils, making 69 catches with six scores. He’s not all that big, but he’ll block, and he’s a good enough receiver to develop.
15. Dax Raymond, Utah State 6-4, 255 (7 FA)
A bit overaged after serving a church mission – he’ll be 24 this season – he’s what he’s going to be, which it solid. The hands are great, and the blocking is good enough, but his overall tools are just okay.
14. Kahale Warring, San Diego State 6-5, 252 (7 FA)
For an offense that did nothing at times, he caught 51 passes with eight scores in just 19 games. There’s a whole lot to like, with his good size, nice downfield speed, and all-around upside. He’s worth developing.
13. Isaac Nauta, Georgia 6-3, 244 (5)
Why wasn’t he better? A superstar prospect and get for the Bulldogs, he was fine, catching 68 career passes with eight scores. He’s a fantastic athlete with a whole world up upside to do even more, but he’s not all that big and he’s just an okay blocker.
12. Caleb Wilson, UCLA 6-4, 240 (3)
A wide receiver-like player at tight end, he made 114 grabs over the last three seasons for 1,675 yards and five scores. He needs to get stronger, and he has to become something of a blocker and a more consistent receiver. Someone will take him around the middle of the third round to the early fourth, but there’s work to do.
11. Tommy Sweeney, Boston College 6-4, 251 (6)
There’s just enough overall talent to make a team as a strong No. 2 tight end option. No one’s going to gush over his quickness or speed, but he’s an excellent blocker who knows his role, and he’s a reliable target with 99 career catches for 1,281 yards and ten scores.
10. Foster Moreau, LSU 6-4, 253 (5)
Just an okay receiver over the four years, with 46 of his 52 catches coming over the last two seasons, and with just 629 yards. It’s not really his fault; he wasn’t used enough. As a run blocker, he’s among the best in the draft to go along with his upside as target who could get a whole lot better.
9. Zach Gentry, Michigan 6-8, 265 (5)
A field stretcher who averaged close to 17 yards per catch on his 49 grabs over two years, he’s a nightmare of a matchup with his amazing size and range. He’s still working on being a tight end, and he needs the tweaking. The rare size and upside are too good to ignore.
8. Alize Mack, Notre Dame 6-4, 249 (6)
A rising receiver who should do even more in the pros, he caught 68 passes in his three years with four scores – three last season – he’s a dangerous target who can move really, really well. It’ll take a little while and a little work, but he’s a late-round get who’ll stick.
7. Dawson Knox, Ole Miss 6-5, 254 (5)
The tools are all there with great size and the right look to go along with the speed or a big receiver. He didn’t make all that many catches – 39 in two years – and he didn’t score, but he can stretch the field. Don’t worry about the lack of production – the Rebels had three NFL wide receivers.
6. Josh Oliver, San Jose State 6-5, 249 (5)
A volume catcher who rose up and rocked over the last two seasons – catching 91 passes – and now he’ll be seen as a pure-receiving option who runs well and can stretch the middle of the field. He’ll slide because of his blocking, but he’ll be taken in your fantasy draft.
NEXT: Top 5 Tight End Prospects at the NFL Combine
5. Kaden Smith, Stanford 6-5, 255 (3)
Career Statistics: 70 catches, 1,049 yards (15 ypc), 7 TD
Why Kaden Smith Is Here On The List: Just good enough in all phases to be among the easiest locks of the tight end class, at least in terms of not having any bust potential.
He’s a good enough blocker to stay on the field for all three downs, and he’s a good receiver who emerged as his career went on as a good weapon to rely on. There isn’t enough deep speed to do anything dangerous at the next level on a regular basis, but he’ll move the chains and he’ll be a quarterback’s best friend on third downs.
What The NFL Scouts Want To See: Are there any tools that make him a must have after the second round? He’s more than just a guy, but there’s nothing about his game that makes him a desperate must-have. He needs to change that with a big workout and at least one great physical trait.
Bottom Line: He’ll make a team as a No. 2 tight end who’ll do just about everything okay, not amazing. There’s little concern about him being a disaster, but there isn’t enough upside to get too fired up about. Even so, he’ll make a roster and should hang around the league for a long time.
NEXT: No. 4 NFL Combine Tight End
4. Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M 6-4, 251 (3)
Career Statistics: 49 catches, 832 yards (17.1 ypc), 10 TDs
Why Jace Sternberger Is Here On The List: The arrival of Jimbo Fisher turned Sternberger into a star, utilizing a tight end after years of the position being off the radar under Kevin Sumlin. Sternberger caught one pass in 2016 for Kansas, redshirted in 2017, and made 48 grabs with ten touchdowns last season for the Aggies.
It’s going to take some work as a blocker, but he has the upside to get better. His hands and his ability to run routes like a wide receiver are what will get him a starting spot, with the potential to be a No. 1 tight end – like, when Jason Witten really does retire at Dallas – who’s almost always open.
What The NFL Scouts Want To See: How does he time in the various drills? Everyone is going to like him as a true receiver no matter what, but it he comes up with anything other than a painfully lumbering 40, he might just make his way up into the top 50.
Bottom Line: He’s hardly a perfect prospect, and many are going to have issues with his lack of bulk and his just okay all-around tools. But he’s going to be a starting receiving tight end who’ll get open, stay open, and be a must-get in your fantasy draft in a few years.
NEXT: No. 3 NFL Combine Tight End
3. Irv Smith, Alabama 6-2, 242 (2)
Career Statistics: 58 catches, 838 yards (14.4 ypc), 10 TDs
Why Irv Smith Is Here On The List: Can you get over his lack of height and without the perfect measurables?
Only 6-2 – after being listed throughout his career at around 6-4 – he’s built like a fullback and can hit like one. Will he be an H-Back, and could he end up working as a fullback? It’s possible, but someone isn’t going to care about him not having the right frame.
He’s going to run well, and he’s going to turn into a middle of the field target who comes up with a whole lot of big plays and grows into a deadly playmaker around the goal line.
What The NFL Scouts Want To See: The speed and athleticism have to be terrific. The height and weight aren’t good enough, but again, that’s not going to make a difference as long as he’s moving well and shows off his potential to be an explosive playmaker. Anything that’s even a little lumbering or slow could be a killer.
Bottom Line: He might be the No. 1 tight end on the board … if he was 6-5, 255. The lack of perfect size and frame is going to be just enough of an issue to knock him deep into the second round, but he does enough of everything right to be a good value pick.
NEXT: No. 2 NFL Combine Tight End
2. Noah Fant, Iowa 6-4, 249 (2)
Career Statistics: 78 catches, 1,083 yards (13.9 ypc), 19 TDs
Why Noah Fant Is Here On The List: A wonderful pass catcher who has serious athleticism for his size and the potential to be the most productive tight end in this draft.
There might be a few who have better tools and a bigger ceiling, but for a sheer wide receiver playing tight end – he could be a 75-catch guy right out of the gate – it’s hardly a stretch to expect another Zach Ertz or former Hawkeye George Kittle as clones when it comes to measurables.
No, he’s not going to be all that physical, but no one’s going to care if he’s able to live up to expectations as a volume receiver.
What The NFL Scouts Want To See: Is there anything he can do to show off strength and power? He’s a terrific athlete, and he’ll move well and catch everything in space, but he needs to show he can be nastier and tougher when he gets popped. That’s not going to be easy to show in workouts, but that’s going to be the big question mark.
Bottom Line: You know what you’re getting. He’s going to be a star receiver who’ll fit one role. Best of all, he can only get better with a bit more strength and time with an NFL strength and conditioning coach. Consider him a fantastic value get after the top 50 picks.
NEXT: No. 1 NFL Combine Tight End
1. T.J. Hockenson, Iowa 6-5, 251 (1)
Career Statistics: 73 catches, 1,080 yards (14.8 ypc), 9 TDs
Why T.J. Hockenson Is Here On The List: He’s as special a tight end prospect as they come. He’s got the perfect size, the soft hands, and the athleticism to be a superstar ten minutes after he gets drafted.
There’s a great chance he could get up to at least 260 pounds without it making a difference, but he’s just fine as is. He’s a phenomenal runner who moves as smooth as silk, and he’s a tough enough blocker to not need a whole lot of work. And he’s just getting started.
He only played for two years and showed off just how good he was by winning the Mackey Award as the top tight end in college last year, and now he’s it. He’s what everyone wants.
What The NFL Scouts Want To See: Will he settle in at around 265ish once he gets everything together in the weight room and once he builds up his frame? Will that make a difference as a receiver and take away any of his athleticism? That’s a total projection, obviously, but watch out for how a team is going to want to use him on Day One.
Bottom Line: One of the best tight end prospects to come out in a long, long time, it’s nitpicking to find any noticeable flaws. He might not be the instant pass catcher his former teammate Noah Fant will be, but he’s going to be a far better blocker.
