1. David Njoku - #86 Miami, 6'4'' 246 4.64, 90 - David is the kind of prospect that jumps out at you when you are watching film. The type of talent that shows up when you are watching film on someone else. That's what happened for me when I was scouting QB Brad Kaaya. Njoku is a beast out there. He's extremely hard to bring down. He is raw and has a long way to develop as a blocker and route runner but he looks like the real deal. Njoku is my favorite player in the draft.
2. O.J. Howard - #88 Alabama, 6'6'' 251 4.51, 86 - Howard looks the part. Physically he is a prototypical TE prospect. He looks great on tape. He is a very fluid athlete, moving like a WR or RB. Howard has a lot of experince blocking and is adequate in that area. He is not a dominator and his will to block will be tested at the next level. His production in college left something to be desired. The scheme he played in was a big factor but I would like an elite TE prospect to find a way to get in the end zone more than Howard did.
3. Evan Engram - #17 Ole Miss, 6'3'' 234 4.42, 80 - Gimmicky type player who is a TE/WR tweener. Would be better suited to play WR as an every down player. Doesn't have much experience as a blocker and figures to struggle in the NFL. Smooth route runner with excellent speed. Doesn't have the size to be a top flight TE prospect but could be a special player if he finds a team that can utilize him correctly.
4. Gerald Everett - #12 South Alabama, 6'3'' 239 4.62, 78 - The most intruiging prospect in the deepest TE class I can remember. Everett is the latest former basketball player to find himself as an NFL TE prospect. Raw player with big upside. Shows all the tools. Willing blocker and strong handed reciever. Sloppy route runner but has the ability to improve greatly in that area. When he does run a good route and really sticks his foot in the groud, he comes out of his break better than any TE in the class. Better than most WR's as well.
5. George Kittle - #46 Iowa, 6'4'' 247 4.52, 75 - Kittle is unlike most TE prospects in this class. He doesn't have the crazy upside that some possess but is more polished than most. He may be the most impressive blocker on tape. He may lack the strength to do it consistently in the NFL. He is an above average receiver who has steady hands. Needs work running routes but is deceptively fast. Kittle isn't getting as much hype as other TE prospects and could slip in the draft because of it. He could end up being a late round sleeper.
6. Adam Shaheen - #44 Ashland, 6'6'' 278 4.79, 75 - Huge raw TE prospect who was is another former basketball player. He moves well for his size and was a man among boys at a small college. He's not a dominant blocker but you would hope he can improve in that area with his size. Inexperience shows in route running at times. He has a long way to go and is more of a finesse receiving prospect than a road grading blocker. His true athleticism and strength will be tested at the next level. The size gives him a chance to be a special player.
7. Jeremy Sprinkle - #83 Arkansas, 6'5'' 252 4.69, 73.5 - Blocking TE who has upside in the passing game. Huge hands and long arms. Doesn't look great as a reciever but was productive enough in college. More solid than spectular. Doesn't have the athleticism of other top TE prospects in this class. He may be the most polished blocker and that should get him on the field sooner than later. Figures to have a long productive yet unspectacular career.
8. Bucky Hodges - #7 Virginia Tech, 6'6'' 257 4.57, 72.5 - It's hard for me to rate him as a TE
because he played WR in most of the film I saw. As a WR he's a raw route runner who has inconsistent hands. He does have the ability to get open deep and make big plays with his size. He is amongst the most athletic TE prospects in the draft and looks fluid on tape. He's a former QB in the mold of former 1st Round pick from Arkansas WR Matt Jones. Here's hoping he has better success. He certainly has the size to develop as a blocker and the upside is there.
9Jonnu Smith - #87 Florida International, 6'3'' 248 4.62, 70 - High upside TE prospect who is a better blocker than you might think. Highly productive career in the passing game. Does have a history of drops and has smaller hands than you'd like. Better route runner and more explosive after the catch than most TE's in this class. Struggles with inconsistency and has had injury and off the field issues cost him games in the past.
10. Jake Butt - #88 Michigan, 6'5'' 246, 69 - Butt has one of the better draft names to come along in recent years. He will be the butt of a lot of jokes for sure. He is no joke out on the field. He isn't dominant either and is coming off a torn ACL in his bowl game. Butt has average athleticism. Add all that up and he's not a great prospect. That said he should be a solid player if he recovers from his injury. He can block and move the chains. He would be rated around 75 if healthy.
11. Michael Roberts - #80 Toledo, 6'4'' 270 4.86, 64 - Roberts really came on his Senior year scoring 16 TD's. He shows promise as a blocker and even the ability to dominate. Has the size and strength to be a doimanant blocker. Huge 11 1/2'' hands, possibly the biggest of the TE prospects. Shows adequate speed and route running ability on tape but must improve in that area. Consistency is a question. Could be overdrafted because of his breakout year but this is a raw prospect who lacks elite upside.
12. Cole Hikutini - #18 Louisville, 6'4'' 247, 63 - Decent late round prospect with some holes in his game. Solid route runner with decent speed. Lacking at the point of attack as a blocker. Not likely to be able to contribute right away as a blocker but has a lot of upside as a pass catcher.
13. Jordan Leggett - #16 Clemson, 6'5'' 258, 63 - Long-strider who plays high. Lacks coordiation. Technique and effort are questionable. Looks better as a reciever than a blocker. Has the size and pedigree you look for in a starting TE. It remains to be seen if he has the heart. It is fair to say he played his best in big games. That is a positive.
14. Darrell Daniels - #15 Washington, 6'3'' 247 4.55, 60 - Should be rated much higher. Has prototype physical attributes. Looks like Tarzan plays like Jane type of player. Plays too upright and has tight hips. However a player with his physical tools could always have the light come on. He's worth taking a flyer on in the late rounds.
15. Eric Saubert - #85 Drake, 6'5'' 253, 58.5 - Small school standout with drop issues. Runs very good routes and looks athletic on film. Not a good blocker. It's possible a team will draft him high because he is a good looking player on tape. The issues he's had at a small school are much harder to correct at the NFL level.
16. Hayden Plinke - #85 Texas El-Paso, 6'4'' 264 4.97, 51.5 - Disasterous 40 time kept him from being rated higher. He'll have to make it as a blocker at the next level and has the tools to do it. Plinke does have something to give in the passing game despite his slow time.
17. Cethan Carter - #11 Nebraska, 6'3'' 241 4.68, 50.5 - Undersized prospect who is a good enough blocker and makes enough plays to get a look in the later rounds. Drops seriously hurt his production.
18. Anthony Auclair - Laval(Canada), 6'6'' 254, 50 - Auclair burst onto the scene at the East/West Shrine game. He didn't stand out in the game but held his own in practices by all accounts. He has the size and enough ability to get a look at the next level.
19. Phazahn Odom - #15 Fordum, 6'8'' 245, 49.5 - Has the size and enough skill to play in the NFL. Made a few plays vs Navy but also dropped a sure TD.
