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NFL Combine: Tight Ends – What Do They Need To Prove?
Who are the best tight ends going into the NFL Combine, and what do they need to prove in Indianapolis?
February 19, 2016
2016 NFL Combine: Ranking The Tight Ends
Who are the best tight ends going into the NFL Combine, and what do they need to prove in Indianapolis?
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1. Hunter Henry, Arkansas
Pre-Combine Draft Projection: First Round
What He Needs To Prove
– Can he look like a big wide receiver? The tape is great to show off his blocking skills, and now he has to look smooth and natural as a pass catcher.
– There’s no real threat that any other tight end will be the first one off the board – don’t screw it up. Even a disastrous workout might not matter, but … don’t have a disastrous workout.
2. Austin Hooper, Stanford
Pre-Combine Draft Projection: Second Round
What He Needs To Prove
– Does he appear to be the part? He’s got a good body and frame, but is he going to be seen more as a tweener or a true tight end? He might not have elite skills in any one area to stand out as a potential star for an offense.
– Can he be a decisive route-runner? He should have good enough straight-line speed, but he’s a bit clunky. There have to be a few explosive moments.
– Catch everything. He fights the ball a bit too much and has to effortlessly make every grab on the move.
3. Bryce Williams, East Carolina
Pre-Combine Draft Projection: Third Round
What He Needs To Prove
– Can he cut for his size? He has the bulk and he has the catching radius, but will he be able to get open against an NFL defense that cares a lick about keeping him from making a play?
– He’ll have to eventually be more of a big hitter, but that won’t be shown off in Indy. If he can do anything with power and pop, he needs to do it.
– He might be a receiver stuck in a big tight end’s body. He isn’t going to be the right fit for anyone looking for a physical all-around option, but he can be very good – especially if the numbers look great.
4. Nick Vannett, Ohio State
Pre-Combine Draft Projection: Third Round
What He Needs To Prove
– While he looks right and he should move great, does he have the right skills? He might need a little more work than some might think – he can’t give anyone reason to think like that.
– Is he a natural pass catcher? He has okay hands, but not great ones. The more he can effortlessly catch, the closer he can potentially get to the No. 2 tight end spot.
– Can he become a stronger blocker? He’s good enough, but he’s not a blaster. Can he hit the pads with authority compared to the other tight ends?
5. Temarrick Hemingway, South Carolina State
Pre-Combine Draft Projection: Third Round
What He Needs To Prove
– If you’re looking for the guy who might have everyone buzzing out of the tight end class, here he is. There’s a chance he could become a gamechanger if runs like he’s expected to. He could potentially put up some of the best numbers of any tight end in Indy.
– Is there any way he can add a lot more to his frame? He’s a big wide receiver who could become an unstoppable 240-pound force if he can get bigger and keep his athleticism.
– Can he be a good, strong pass catcher? He didn’t put up big numbers at the lower level and he’s more project and polish. Indy will show just how far he has to go.
6. Tyler Higbee, WKU
Pre-Combine Draft Projection: Third Round
What He Needs To Prove
– All the wide receiver skills are there in a tight end’s body. Show them off. He might be one of the most natural pass catchers among the tight ends, and he could stand out in a big way in the gauntlet drill.
– Is he 100% healthy? He had a balky knee last season, but it wasn’t any big deal. The medical examiners have make sure it’s really not anything to worry about.
– He can catch, but can he move? He’ll look great, and he should be relatively fluid for his size, but can he do it all with NFL speed? The numbers have to match the look.
7. Thomas Duarte, UCLA
Pre-Combine Draft Projection: Fourth Round
What He Needs To Prove
– The times and stats will mean everything – his times have to be terrific. He’s an athlete who should stand out among the pack considering he’s really a wide receiver. He can’t be slow in any way among the tight ends.
– Can he bulk up, and will the scouts want him to? He’ll check in at about 230 pounds, but he might need to rock up to about 240 to be at his most effective as an interior target.
– Since he doesn’t really block at a high level and was known mostly as a key target for Josh Rosen, he has to catch everything. He has to dominate every passing drill.
8. Ben Braunecker, Harvard
Pre-Combine Draft Projection: Fourth Round
What He Needs To Prove
– He’s got the right body, the right smarts, and the right upside. He has to look like everyone else, if possible – he has to look like he belongs with the FBS guys.
– Just how well can he run? He’s a strong, talented blocker, but he wasn’t much of a receiver until late in his career. He could be stuck in a No. 2 tight end role as mostly a blocker.
– Is he smooth at all? He looked just fine against Ivy League talent, but he has to have an NFL feel to his style in the short and cone drills.
9. Jerell Adams, South Carolina
Pre-Combine Draft Projection: Third Round
What He Needs To Prove
– An interesting prospect who’ll be tough for scouts to figure out, he’s not built to hit, but he’s a great blocker. He’s a good receiver, but didn’t produce at a high level. He was just okay as a target for the Gamecocks.
– He’s not small and has a great frame for a pass catching tight end, now he has to run like one. He’s a good athlete, but he has to run like a great one.
– It’s going to take some work and lots and lots of passes in practice, but he has upside. How much work on his hands does he really need?
10. David Morgan, UTSA
Pre-Combine Draft Projection: Fifth Round
What He Needs To Prove
– Really big, can he harness his size into a strong all-around tight end? He’s no one’s No. 1 option in an offense, but can he become a niche No. 3 who can blast away as a blocker?
– While he can catch, he’s not a pure receiver. There’s not enough smoothness to his game or his style. Most top tight ends in this draft are like big wide receivers – not Morgan.
– His 40 can’t be brutal. Considering he’s a physical-blocking prospect, he can’t run like an offensive lineman.
Other Tight Ends Invited To The Combine (alphabetically)
Stephen Anderson, California
David Grinnage, NC State
Ryan Malleck, Virginia Tech
Jake McGee, Florida
Beau Sandland, Montana State
