The 2019 NFL draft class features one of the most talented groups of tight ends we’ve seen in awhile. Not since 2006 have more than seven tight ends come off the board within the top 100 picks, but we could eclipse that number this year.
While going through my top 10 tight end prospects in this draft class, I’m going to focus on each player’s positive traits. Bill Belichick is known for telling his scouts to highlight what a player can do, rather than what he can’t. And I’ll take a similar approach with my list.
Obviously each of these prospects has flaws, and I’ll briefly touch on some of them when necessary, but every prospect on this list has a role in which he can be successful at the next level.
Now on to the rankings…
T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
What he can do: possession receiver, blocking
Hockenson is a traditional in-line tight end, who was often used as the blocking tight end at Iowa. However, he’s also a reliable route-runner with the hands necessary to be used as a possession receiver in the passing game. He also excels at using his body to shield defenders.
Hockenson is the most well-balanced tight end in this class and compares favorably to a smaller version of Rob Gronkowski. Like Gronk, Hockenson excels as a weapon in the middle of the field, where he averaged 12.2 yards per target in 2018, according to Sports Info Solutions.
Noah Fant, Iowa
What he can do: stretch the field, red zone weapon
Fant is close to the prototype for tight ends in today’s NFL, due to his combination of size and speed. He’s not a blocking tight end and has minimal experience in that area, but he’s a dangerous weapon from the slot.
Due to his athleticism and size, he should have an immediate role as a weapon in the red zone, where he caught eight of nine catchable targets (including six touchdowns) for Iowa in 2018, according to Sports Info Solutions.
Irv Smith Jr., Alabama
What he can do: short/intermediate route possession receiver
The son of former Saints first-round pick Irv Smith, is a well balanced tight end who will excel as a possession receiver on short and intermediate routes.
He lacks the ideal skill set for today’s game due to below average acceleration and a lack of overall size, but he’s a polished route runner who can become a safety net for his quarterback in the middle of the field. He won’t transform an offense, but Smith’s balanced skill set should make him a reliable starter.
Josh Oliver, San Jose State
What he can do: stretch the field
Oliver is a high ceiling/low floor prospect who still has a lot of development needed in his game. His combination of speed and height will allow him to be a weapon in the slot, stretching the field from the seam—an area where he can impact the game immediately. His skill set also gives him elite potential in the red zone.
To reach his full potential, Oliver will need to become more comfortable adjusting to the ball and putting himself in the best position to make the catch. According to Sports Info Solutions, he caught just 76.4 percent of his catchable targets in 2018, the second worst rate among tight ends in this draft class. Learning how to better use his body to shield defenders and developing more consistent timing when leaping for the ball will improve that rate.
Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
What he can do: possession receiver on short/intermediate routes
According to Sports Info Solutions, Sternberger caught 94.1 percent of on-target passes, the second highest rate among tight ends in this draft class. That skill set is due to his reliable hands, but also a knack for adjusting his body to the poorly placed ball—something with which he has plenty of practice due to Kellen Mond’s erratic passing.
Sternberger lacks the acceleration and long speed to be a consistent deep threat, so he’ll mostly impact the game on short and intermediate routes. Although, his routes are polished, so he’ll be able to set up an occasional unsuspecting linebacker and break free down the seam.
Caleb Wilson, UCLA
What he can do: oversized slot receiver, stretch the field, yards after catch
Wilson is still developing a large portion of his game, but he has the size and athleticism to play valuable role in the slot. At this stage of his career, he should be viewed more as a receiver than a tight end, because he won’t contribute as a blocker early in his career.
Wilson was extremely dangerous working the seam in 2017 with Josh Rosen at quarterback, before a broken foot shortened his season. A similar role likely awaits him in the NFL. According to Sports Info Solutions, he averaged 10.1 yards per target on throws to the middle of the field from Rosen.
Kaden Smith, Stanford
What he can do: possession receiver with jump ball skills
Smith fit perfectly at Stanford, as their offense loves to feed jump balls to their tight ends and oversized receivers. This skill set showed up in his stats, as Smith was one of just three tight ends in this draft class to see an average target depth of more than 10 yards (10.3 yards), but finished with the second lowest yards after catch per reception (3.5 yards), according to Sports Info Solutions.
He probably lacks the dynamic athleticism to expand his role, but as a possession receiver he’ll provide some value on short and intermediate routes, especially in the red zone.
Dawson Knox, Ole Miss
What he can do: quick slot receiver with good hands
Knox is a former walk-on quarterback who switched to tight end at Ole Miss. Understandably, he’s still learning the position. Tight end is a position that often has a steep learning curve for young players in the NFL, and it will be even more steep for Knox.
Early in his career, Knox will likely be used almost exclusively as a receiver, probably often lining up in the slot. While he’s still developing the route technique to beat man coverage, he is adept at finding space versus zone. According to Sports Info Solutions, Knox averaged 18.1 yards per target versus zone coverage, compared to 5.6 versus man.
Dax Raymond, Utah State
What he can do: in-line run blocker, possession receiver on short/intermediate routes
Every team needs a quality No. 2 tight end who has the ability to contribute as a blocker and also pose a threat as an occasional weapon in the passing game—and Raymond is tailor made for that role. Although he lacks experience in pass protection, Raymond excels as a run blocker and has physical tools necessary to expand on that role. He also has decent speed, massive hands and large catch radius which allows him to contribute as a receiver.
Raymond did the majority of his damage in the middle of field at Utah State, where he averaged 8.4 yards per target. That’s where he’ll likely contribute as a possession receiver at the next level.
Isaac Nauta, Georgia
What he can do: dominant blocker, possession receiver on short routes
Nauta offers minimal upside and probably will never be the featured tight end in an offense. However, as the game shifts towards using more tight ends strictly as receivers, it’s important to have blockers like Nauta on the roster.
He’s arguably the best blocking tight end in this class, but has added value due to his skill set as a receiver. You won’t see Nauta stretch the field, but he knows how to get open in the short passing game and catches everything thrown at him. According to Sports Info Solutions, Nauta caught 96.8 percent of his catchable targets in 2018, the highest rate among tight ends in this draft class.
