Cole’s Corner: 2024 Tight End Prospect Rankings

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12. Erick All – Iowa                                                                                     

All will either align as the second or third tight end on the line with the ability to run out of the slot as well. He has reliable hands, can catch over the middle and is a fairly smooth route runner. He is not afraid to get involved as a blocker and plays in a competitive manner. As a route runner, he is quicker than fast and can vary the speed in his route. All is a non-factor downfield and his separation is rather limited. He does need some growth as a player or else he may have maxed out his potential.

Player Comparison: Julian Hill

Projection: 5^th – 7^th Round

Best Fits: Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago, Indianapolis (Wild Card – Atlanta)

11. Trey Knox – South Carolina                                                           

Knox is a true inline tight end with power as an open field runner. He has decent speed and agility, while also being able to accelerate quickly. He has a good sense of timing, can track the ball in the air and his strong hands allow for contested catches. Knox has a lanky build and could afford to bulk up a little more. After the catch he transitions to being a runner quickly but his route tree is currently limited. Knox does not break tackles often and has some limitations as a blocker.

Player Comparison: Brevin Jordan

Projection: 6^th Round – UDFA

Best Fits: Atlanta, Washington, Los Angeles Rams (Wild Card – Carolina)

10. McCallan Castles – Tennessee 

Castles is a slot tight end with the ability to reduce inside. He is best at catching the ball when facing the line of scrimmage and excels as a blocker downfield. Castles has enough speed to threaten the defense down the seam. He is a natural hands catcher and can deliver blows after the catch. Castles has excellent body control and can take a hit. He is slow to gather the ball and then transition to being a runner. There are some drop issues to be concerned about and with being a below average athlete, Castles can’t create regular separation.

Player Comparison: Blake Bell

Projection: 7^th Round – UDFA

Best Fits: Denver, New England, New Orleans (Wild Card – Detroit)

9. Brevyn Spann-Ford – Minnesota                                                 

Spann-Ford is a massive 6’7”, 270-pound tight end. He is most effective when inline and using his power. Spann-Ford has natural soft hands as a receiver, allowing him to make catches outside of his frame. He is strong and can run through arm tackles or outmuscle defenders when high pointing the football. His balance and violent hands assist with blocking, in addition to his natural knee bend and good blocking technique. Spann-Ford is high hipped and slow to get rolling on the move. He is slow and the limited separation he creates makes him a non-factor downfield.

Player Comparison: C.J. Uzomah / Marcedes Lewis

Projection: 6^th Round – UDFA

Best Fits: Chicago, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams (Wild Card – Minnesota)

8. Theo Johnson – Penn State                                                           

Johnson is an inline tight end with elite length, weight and athleticism. His hands are reliable and he displays a willingness to catch the ball in traffic. Johnson runs like a big wide receiver and is an excellent possession target. His effort after the catch is admirable as well. If Johnson can develop a larger route tree in the NFL, then he could be a serious threat. He plays too high as a blocker and won’t offer much when trying to block defensive linemen. He is a work in progress with high upside.

Player Comparison: Mike Gesicki / Nick Vannett

Projection: 3^rd – 5^th Round

Best Fits: Miami, Indianapolis, Cincinnati (Wild Card – New York Giants)

7. AJ Barner – Michigan                                                                         

Barner is a traditional inline, receiving tight end. He is tall and long with decent power as a run blocker. His acceleration is okay, he tracks the football well and he could split out wide. Barner likes jump balls because his long arms help him high point the football. He could afford to carry more weight on his frame. Barner is high hipped and needs to learn to sit down against zone coverage. He’s not an elite tight end but a good one that was underutilized at Michigan.

Player Comparison: Luke Farrell

Projection: 4^th – 6^th Round

Best Fits: Carolina, Denver, Minnesota (Wild Card – Los Angeles Chargers)

6. Jaheim Bell – Florida State                                                           

Bell is a slot receiving tight end with creativity as a runner, good vision and lots of burst. He accelerates quickly up the seam and is a savvy route runner with the ability to avoid contact. Bell can work downfield as a blocker but is best when catching the football and transitioning to being a runner. He lacks the length and size of a true run blocker and is susceptible to bull rushes if blocking on pass plays. Bell’s speed is not elite but average for a tight end.

Player Comparison: Chigoziem Okonkwo

Projection: 4^th – 6^th Round

Best Fits: New York Giants, Miami, New Orleans (Wild Card – Washington)

5. Cade Stover – Ohio State 

Stover is an inline tight end with farm boy toughness and a strong frame. He has been versatile throughout his college career, playing tight end, linebacker, edge rusher and could even align at fullback. Stover has a great catch radius with soft hands. His release off the snap is solid and he can break tackles if the defender goes high rather than for his legs. Stover displays ideal body control and runs under long throws smoothly. He adds a ton of value to the run game because he competes to the whistle. Stover is a true leader which does add to his value as well. He has had some drops and tends to do too much hand fighting at the line of scrimmage versus press man coverage. Against zone, Stover keeps running when he needs to sit down in space sometimes. Stover does not have a ton of speed but he rumbles forward.

Player Comparison: Robert Tonyan / Foster Moreau

Projection: Late 2^nd – 4^th Round

Best Fits: Los Angeles Chargers, New England, Indianapolis (Wild Card – Houston)

4. Ja’Tavion Sanders – Texas                                                             

Sanders is another inline tight end who happens to add lots of value in the red zone or when needing to move the chains. He has sneaky illusiveness and can make plays as a possession receiver. Sanders is a threat in the middle of the field, due to running precise routes and being able to catch in traffic with strong hands. He is a consistent player, not known for dropping passes. Sanders has a sturdy frame yet does not happen to be an overwhelming athlete. His speed is just okay and he does need some work on his technique as a run blocker.

Player Comparison: Jonnu Smith / Dawson Knox

Projection: 2^nd – 3^rd Round

Best Fits: Los Angeles Rams, Miami, New York Giants (Wild Card – Chicago)

Watch as Cole unveils the top 3 – highlights included!

https://youtu.be/sD1Ow7d7pFs