The theme of this year’s tight end class is depth. Unlike the last couple of classes, this one includes a wide array of players who have the potential to be NFL starters for years to come. The race for TE1 is wide open, and it will be exciting to see how each of these players perform over the coming season.
1. Jahleel Billingsley – Alabama (6-4, 230, Junior)
With Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle gone, Billingsley looks set for a substantial increase in target share this season. His experience to this point is limited, but he has already shown plenty of potential. Billingsley is a true modern tight end, capable of lining up inline, in the slot, and even out wide. He is a genuine mismatch weapon, with the speed to beat linebackers and safeties and the physicality to dominate cornerbacks at the catch point. His hands are reliable and he is comfortable working outside his frame and through contact. Whilst there are some questions about his blocking ability, the main thing we need to see is more experience. If he can impress with an increased target share he could easily find his way into the first round.
2. Greg Dulcich – UCLA (6-4, 242, rs-Junior)
We are still very early in the draft cycle, but Dulcich seems to be going under the radar. A former walk-on wide receiver, Dulcich switched to tight end in 2020 and became a starter for the Bruins. He wasted no time and finished his seven game season with 517 yards and five touchdowns. Given his positional background, his excellent athleticism comes as no surprise and he has the speed to challenge defenses at all three levels of the field. He averaged 19.9 yards per reception in 2020, ranked second amongst tight ends. He pairs this with soft hands (no drops on 26 catchable targets) and good blocking technique. If he can add some more dynamism and play strength after the catch he could end up as TE1 in this class.
3. Jalen Wydermyer – Texas A&M (6-5, 265, Junior)
Unlike some of the names on this list, Wydermyer is already built like an NFL tight end. He has started since his true freshman season, garnering Second Team All-SEC honours both years. He led the Aggies with 46 receptions in 2020, finishing with 506 yards and six touchdowns. Wydermyer offers reliable hands and is comfortable getting physical in contested catch situations. He also shows some nice technique as a route runner, with Texas A&M giving him a fairly diverse route tree. As a blocker he is still a little rough around the edges, but shows plenty of promise and has the strength to translate to an inline role at the next level. The main concern with Wydermyer is lack of quickness. This is already apparent at the college level and will be even more pronounced in the NFL.
4. Isaiah Likely – Coastal Carolina (6-4, 245, Senior)
As the only Group of Five prospect on this list, Likely may not have the highest profile, but there is no doubting his talent. He is coming off a dominant 2020 campaign that saw him reel in 30 catches for 601 yards. His 20 yards per reception was the most by any tight end in college football last season. Likely’s background as a wide receiver shows on tape and he creates consistent separation downfield. He has great long speed and is one of the most dynamic open field runners at the position, with 10 forced missed tackles on his 30 receptions. He is also one of the best contested catch weapons in the country, with his 70.6 per cent win rate ranking second at the position in 2020. If he can add more muscle mass and show more consistent hands, he could jump much higher up this list.
5. Charlie Kolar – Iowa State (6-6, 257, rs-Senior)
Kolar has been the picture of consistency throughout his time with the Cyclones. He became as a starter as a sophomore in 2019 and has since racked up 95 catches for 1,288 yards and 14 touchdowns. Whilst he might not match the athleticism of other prospects on this list, he offers his own strengths. His hands are amongst the most reliable in college football, with just three drops on 109 catchable targets. He has no problem working outside his frame and he has the physicality to win in contested catch situations too. The big question mark with Kolar is his run blocking. At his size and with a limited athletic profile, he needs to be a more reliable inline blocker. If he can improve on this in 2021 then he definitely has a place on an NFL roster in the future.
