With the NFL Draft less than three weeks away, we begin highlighting the positions the Patriots need to address in the draft.
First up, the Patriots most pressing need. Tight end. We will rank our top ten tight ends and break them down by their strengths and weaknesses.
Here are the areas we focus on when evaluating receivers and tight ends.
Hands
Routes
Long & Short Target
Run After Catch
Blocker
Release
Reaction in a Crowd
Initial Quickness
Here are our top ten tight end options for the Patriots.
1. Cole Kmet, Notre Dane, 6-6 252
Strengths: Kmet is a big target who has good length and athleticism for his size. He has strong hands and can high point the ball when it is away from his body. Kmet is most effective on seam route and crossing routes and is a reliable target in the middle of the field. He can separate from linebackers and safeties in the red zone. Kmet is a good blocker who uses his size to his advantage. He gets inside hand placement and has the upper body strength to reset a defender at the line of scrimmage. Kmet is well schooled on getting a clean release at the line of scrimmage and getting on a second level defender. He attacks the ball when engaged with a defender. He is willing to operate in traffic and absorbs contact after the catch.
Weaknesses: Kmet is finally focused on football after also playing on the Irish baseball team for three years. He had 10 careers saves as a pitcher. Kmet needs to get stronger and improve fundamentally as a blocker. He doesn’t bend naturally and struggles to maintain his feet on contact. Kmet needs to stay on time as a route runner. He gets re-routed easily and doesn’t get back on track. Kmet is raw. He has upside but is far from a finished product.
Final Thoughts: Kmet is a starting caliber tight end in the NFL but he is raw and will need to develop more physically. His size, route running and ability to create match up problems in the red zone make him a solid day two prospect.
2. Adam Trautman, Dayton, 6-5 255
Positives: Trautman is the most athletic tight end in this draft and offers the most upside. He has strong hands and can high point the ball when he is one on one with a defender at the top of a route. Trautman is an effective vertical and intermediate route runner. He displays good body control and an ability to get in and out breaks with ease. Trautman can separate on vertical routes and finish. He is a long strider who has good acceleration for his size. Trautman is more effective if he is detached from a formation. He does a good job of using his feet and his hands in concert to get a clean release. Trautman has a second gear when he gets into the second phase of a route and he can stack a defender quickly in the third phase of a route.
Negatives: Trautman is an average blocker at best. He is willing but he doesn’t bend well and lacks the overall strength to control a defender one on one. He needs to do a better job of getting cleaner releases as an in-line right end.
Final Thoughts: Trautman has the most upside of any tight end in this draft. He reminds me of the Ravens Mark Andrews. The biggest difference between the two, Andrews is much better blocker. Trautman will have to improve as a blocker to reach his potential.
3. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri, 6-5, 258
Positives: O as we will call him is a match up nightmare. He is a true off line spread tight end. O has strong hands and has shown an ability to get position on a defender and high point the ball. He runs a varied route tree and does a good job of setting up defenders on option routes. O has the size and the athleticism to be effective as a three level route runner. He is most effective on out routes and corner routes because he has the burst to separate on a break. O does a nice of creating separation on his release because he uses his entire body.
Negatives: O is a willing blocker in space but he struggles when engaged one on one with linebackers. Lacks the upper body strength to control defenders as a one on one blocker. O has inconsistent hands at times and needs to play to his athleticism.
Final Thoughts: O has a high ceiling but he is an average blocker who doesn’t always play up to his ability. That being said. O would be a terrific value in the fourth or fifth round. He has starter potential.
4. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic, 6-5, 243
Positives: Bryant is a former offensive lineman who still has the mentality of one, especially when he blocks defenders on single blocks. One of the most underrated prospects in this draft, Bryant has good hands and has shown an ability to catch the ball anywhere around his body. He is most effective on out cuts, seam routes and corner routes. He does a good job of throttling down and breaking the route off. Bryant is more of a possession target who has a good feel for recognizing coverage and sight adjusting his routes. Quicker than fast, Bryant has the open field speed to separate after the catch and finish.
Negatives: Bryant is a willing blocker but he can get overpowered at times. Despite his offensive line background, he is better detached than as an in line tight line. Has solid hands but gets re-routed at times in traffic.
Final Thoughts: Bryant has starter potential but he needs to add about ten pounds to his frame to really be effective as a three down player. Bryant’s overall game is good and he be a solid day three value.
5. Hunter Bryant, Washington, 6-2, 248
Positives: The other Bryant in this draft is a move tight end who is more effective as a detached tight end who can create match ups vertically. Bryant has good hands and he can sight adjust his routes and operate in traffic. Smooth and fluid, Bryant transitions in and out of his cuts relatively easily and creates separation. Bryant is a better blocker in space than he is in line. He is willing and plays with good fundamentals when blocking second level defenders.
Negatives: Bryant needs to be more consistent catching the football. He doesn’t compete enough at times in one on one situations, especially in the red zone. Bryant needs to get stronger. He is a willing blocker but he struggles to sustain blocks because he lacks the strength to finish consistently.
Final Thoughts: Bryant is the ideal 11 personnel tight end in today’s game. He can generate match ups and he can extend plays after the catch. He does need to refine his game in some areas but he has enough upside to develop into a starter down the road.
6. Brycen Hopkins,, Purdue, 6-4, 245
Positives: Hopkins is another classic 11 personnel tight end. He has arguably the best hands in this class. He catches the ball well both in and away from his body. Hopkins does a good job of using his hands and his body to create separation on his release. He is a good route runner who can separate vertically and laterally. He is smooth as a route runner and gets is in and out of his routes quickly. Hopkins is an average blocker. He shows an understanding of the blocking schemes, takes good angles and gets proper head position but lacks the strength to consistently finish.
Negatives: As good as his hands are, Hopkins drops passes more than he should. He needs to play with better bend and get stronger if he wants to be a starting right end on Sundays.
Final Thoughts: Hopkins has tremendous upside but consistency has been an issue. If he can put it together, he has the potential to start in the NFL and be effective. Reminds me of Owen Daniels.
7. Colby Parkinson, Stanford, 6-7, 252
Positives: Parkinson has tremendous size and athleticism. Classic Stanford tight end in the mold of Levine Toilolo and Coby Fleener. Parkinson has a wide catch radius and has strong hands. Makes difficult catches look routine. Effective as a detached tight end who can win versus single coverage in the red zone. An excellent target on drag routes, seam routes and corner routes. Parkinson has a good for coverage and how to adjust his routes. Parkinson is a better blocker in space versus second and third level defenders than he is in–line.
Negatives: Parkinson is not overly athletic. Runs too tall in his routes and struggles to separate. For a player his size, he is not effective as in-line blocker. He is not a natural bender and because of his length, he struggles to establish body position.
Final Thoughts: Parkinson could be a steal if the right team drafts him and allows him to develop. He has intriguing physical attributes. Right now, he projects more as a second tight end.
8. Devin Asiasi, UCLA, 6-3, 257
Positives: The Michigan transfer blossomed in Chip Kelly’s offense last season at UCLA. Asiasi caught 44 passes last season and became a reliable target. Asiasi does a good job of creating creating separation on the snap. He gets into his routes quickly and can create separation on his breaks. Asiasi has the athleticism and quickness necessary to extend plays in space. He is a willing blocker who gets into position and works hard to finish.
Negatives: The one season of production is a draw back but Asiasi didn’t get the same opportunity at Michigan that he did at UCLA. Average size. He makes the most of his size but doesn’t create match ups, especially now the red zone. Lacks functional strength at times as a blocker. Doesn’t sustain single blocks consistently.
Final Thoughts: Asiasi has the potential to develop into a starting right end but he will need time. He needs to improve as an in line blocker for that to happen.
9. Thaddeus Moss, LSU, 6-2, 250: Moss is your classic move tight end. LSU moved him around a lot in their formations and they used him as a lead blocker and to seal the back side. Pound for pound, Moss is the best blocker in the class. He fits into his blocks, sustains position and gets movement. As a route runner, Moss is most effective on slam release route, out routes and seam routes. He has a good feel for zone coverage and find dead spot in the coverage. Moss does a good job of bodying up defenders and making the catch. He’s reliable in traffic.
Negatives: Moss is undersized and he is an unfinished product. He really developed last season but he has a long way to go. A lingering foot injury could be a problem.
Final Thoughts: Moss would be best suited as a number two, move tight end. It is where he can be used most effectively. Moss could be a nice red zone piece in the right offense.
10. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt, 6-4, 257
Positives: Pinkney is a big target who gets a clean release at line of scrimmage and gets on second level defenders quickly. Pinkney routes good routes and has a feel for how to navigate through zone coverage. He does a good job of adjusting to balls and he has shown he has the burst to separate against man coverage. Pinkney is a good blocker who engages with the appropriate pad level. He takes good angles and works hard to maintain position.
Negatives: 2019 was a disappointing year for Pinkney. Not only that, but he had a horrible combine. As a blocker, he doesn’t always play to his size and needs to get stronger. Failed to generate match ups last season, especially in the red zone. Went from a reliable target to phased out of the offense.