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- Cameron Latu – Alabama
Latu is a smart, well-rounded football player. He is a good blocker and a good receiver. Latu does well at finding open pockets of space and settling in those. In the NFL he will translate to more of an in-line tight end or even play some fullback/H-back. He does well as a lead blocker on run plays and his team will utilize that ability. Latu lacks open field speed but when he is playing around teammates that can vertically stretch the field, he finds more open space and greater success. Latu is not an out of this world prospect but he manages to do everything well.
Player Comparison: Connor Heyward
Projection: 4th – 7th Round
Best Fits: New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, Washington (Wild Card – New England)
- Luke Musgrave – Oregon State
Musgrave has a lot of buzz surrounding him thanks to his excellent size, strength and athleticism. He is widely considered a top three to five tight end in this class yet I cannot seem to get there. Don’t get me wrong, I like all of the things I mentioned earlier about him. It is also great that he can line up in a variety of spots. Musgrave is a threat up the seam, a good blocker and can even sell blocks prior to leaking out on routes. There is plenty of upside. My major concern comes back to the fact that he not only lacks the ability to separate but he also has extremely limited production. It is hard to imagine that he did not produce much in college and is all of the sudden going to do it in the NFL. If someone could make it happen, it very well could be Musgrave. The skepticism remains for me.
Player Comparison: Charlie Kolar
Projection: 1st – 2nd Round
Best Fits: Cincinnati, Tennessee, New England (Wild Card – New Orleans)
- Luke Schoonmaker – Michigan
Schoonmaker showed off some solid hands in his time at Michigan. He can line up in multiple alignments due to his strong blocking ability plus receiving ability. Michigan’s heavy power run scheme limited Schoomaker’s utilization in the passing game so he did not have the same production he may have had if he played at a different program. Even though the utilization was not there, the skill is evident. Schoonmaker will be a great TE2 or TE3 early on a depth chart.
Player Comparison: Jake Ferguson
Projection: 3rd – 5th Round
Best Fits: Jacksonville, Green Bay, Miami (Wild Card – Detroit)
- Darnell Washington – Georgia
Washington is a beloved tight end in this class thanks to his massive 6’7” and 270 pound frame. His size is absurd for a tight end yet he is a genetic freak that is pretty mobile. On the field he looks like a power forward just posting up against guards all game long. He is a top notch red zone target and a reliable blocker. He will be drafted high but there are several questions that need to be answered. He was not a high level production player in college so can he actually become that in the NFL… he has not had to be “the guy’ at tight end so I still do not believe he has the skill set to be a feature TE1 on a team. Washington is also not crazy explosive which results in struggling to create space. There is a lot to work with as a coach, so it might be worth the shot. It will take a ton of work in order to get him up to the desired level.
Player Comparison: Donald Parham (height/length) / Jalen Wydermyer (weight and play style)
Projection: Late 1st – 2nd Round
Best Fits: Houston, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans (Wild Card – Las Vegas)
- Payne Durham – Purdue
Durham is a sleeper pick in this draft that has the ability to play a long time in the NFL. He has strong yet soft hands as a receiver. Durham was a major threat for Purdue and happened to be a touchdown machine for a tight end. He is difficult to tackle and a very tough blocker. Durham might not be the most athletic tight end, but he is simply a nasty football player. He might need a bit of time to get his footing but the future is bright.
Player Comparison: Jimmy Graham (less dominant and less athletic version)
Projection: 4th – 6th Round
Best Fits: Indianapolis, Detroit, Carolina (Wild Card – Tennessee)
- Tucker Kraft – South Dakota State
Kraft is a physical tight end with excellent size and a sturdy frame. He can line up anywhere because he is a solid athlete for his size. Kraft picks up lots of yardage after the catch which is just a part of him being a rather productive receiver. Kraft is a strong blocker with good instincts as well. He is just coming off an ankle injury but it is hard to find many glaring flaws in his game. Kraft should be starting day one.
Player Comparison: Greg Dulcich / Hunter Henry
Projection: 2nd – 4th Round
Best Fits: Buffalo, Cincinnati, New Orleans (Wild Card – Washington)
Watch as Cole unveils the top 3 – highlights included!
