This 2023 tight end class is a strong one. There are three names receiving first round buzz and many more players into day two who look like they can make a real impact at the NFL level. Here are my top ten tight ends in the 2023 NFL Draft.
You can also download our free 2023 NFL Draft Guide, with over 130 in-depth prospect profiles!
1. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame (6-4, 249, Junior)
Pros: Mayer possesses good size that translates well to the NFL. He pairs this with some legitimate play strength that makes him a real handful throughout the route and at the catch point. He is a natural hands catcher, with a good catch radius and the ability to work effectively through contact. There is nuance to his route running too and he has shown the ability to run a varied route tree. He also shows more wiggle than you might first expect. Mayer brings it as a blocker in the running game and has the power to match.
Cons: Mayer isn’t much of a speedster and he lacks that top gear to be a true do-it-all pass catcher that tests defenses at all three levels. Whilst there is some nice smoothness and technique to his routes, you wouldn’t exactly call him an explosive mover either. There is also a tendency for his aggression as a run blocker to work against him. This can lead to him getting over his toes and struggling to sustain and finish.
Projection: 1st round
2. Dalton Kincaid, Utah (6-4, 246, rs-Senior)
Pros: Kincaid is a very impressive athlete and the kind of tight end who can handle a high volume role in the passing game. He is a noticeably smooth mover and smart route runner, showing the ability to separate from defenders and provide his quarterback with easy throwing windows. His hands are outstanding too, with just two drops on 128 career catchable targets. Kincaid also displays outstanding body control and post-catch balance to create his own yardage, with 16 forced missed tackles in 2022.
Cons: Kincaid is a little smaller than you’d ideally like a tight end to be and this showed up when he was asked to play inline. He struggles to make an impact as a run blocker, with a lack of functional strength to displace or even force stalemates with defenders. His technique as a blocker is also poor and this all serves to limit his scheme versatility. Kincaid is one of the older tight ends in the class, turning 24 as a rookie.
Projection: 1st round
3. Darnell Washington, Georgia (6-7, 264, Junior)
Pros: Washington possesses a very rare blend of size and athletic ability. He is one of the biggest and most physically imposing tight ends to have come out in recent years and has a very strong track record as an inline blocker. His speed shows up as a receiver, with the ability to stretch teams vertically and some impressive production after the catch. Washington also possesses the contact balance necessary to break tackles in the open field. He will be the definition of a mismatch weapon in the NFL.
Cons: Washington’s burst doesn’t match his long speed and he isn’t going to create much separation out of his breaks. He looked a little clunky when asked to change direction at pace and might not be comfortable running a full route tree in the NFL. His receiving production in college was underwhelming, with 27 catches and 426 yards in 2022 representing career highs in both categories. Whilst Washington was a mauler as a blocker in college, he was reliant on strength rather than technique.
Projection: 1st round
4. Sam LaPorta, Iowa (6-3, 245, Senior)
Pros: LaPorta is a smooth and easy mover at tight end, with the fluid hips to sink at the top of his routes and the explosiveness to create separation out of his breaks. LaPorta is also one of the most dynamic tight ends after the catch, leading all draft-eligible players at the position with 20 forced missed tackles in 2022. He produced to a high level in college, leading Iowa in receptions and receiving yards in two straight seasons. He also displays impressive competitive toughness in every facet of his game.
Cons: LaPorta has struggled with drops throughout his career and there were a number of occasions on tape where he had problems adjusting to poor ball placement. Despite his solid size, he is also not particularly strong in contested situations, logging a win rate of just 40.7% throughout his career. LaPorta still needs to work on refining his route running and selling fakes better. He could also stand to develop his technique as a blocker.
Projection: 2nd round
5. Luke Musgrave, Oregon State (6-6, 253, Senior)
Pros: Musgrave is an outstanding athlete with impressive explosiveness. His 10’5″ broad jump ranks in the 96th percentile at the position, whilst his 1.54 10-yard split would be a great time for a wide receiver, let alone a tight end. This speed makes him a mismatch weapon in the passing game and there aren’t many linebackers capable of sticking with him one-on-one. Musgrave pairs this with an ideal NFL-ready frame that allows him to handle both inline and flexed out duties. His hands are active and solid.
Cons: Musgrave has the athletic tools but he lacks any sort of refinement as a route runner, with no real sense of tempo or nuance. His college production has also been modest, logging a paltry 633 yards in four seasons. Despite all of his tools, Musgrave hasn’t shown any sort of dynamism after the catch, with two forced missed tackles through his entire career. He also comes with some technical issues that limit his ability as a blocker, as well as some injury concerns after missing time in each of the last two seasons.
Projection: 3rd round
6. Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State (6-5, 254, rs-Junior)
Pros: Kraft is a very well-rounded tight end prospect. He is a good athlete who also possesses the size and strength to chip in and be an asset as a blocker. His short area quickness and fluidity are impressive and make him a solid option in the passing game. Kraft shows soft hands and the ability to work effectively outside his frame. Once he has made the catch he displays good contact balance to fight through contact and pick up extra yardage.
Cons: Whilst Kraft is a good athlete, he isn’t the most nuanced route runner at this point. This wasn’t much of an issue in the FCS, but it won’t be enough for him to win consistently at the NFL level. His long speed also doesn’t match his short area quickness and does limit his ability to consistently threaten up the seam. There will also be some concerns surrounding Kraft’s blocking technique, as well as the level of competition he faced at South Dakota State.
Projection: 3rd round
7. Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan (6-5, 251, rs-Senior)
Pros: Schoonmaker is a well-rounded athlete, logging a very impressive 9.86 Relative Athletic Score. He has sufficient long speed to be utilised as a three-level threat and will cause problems if left in single coverage against linebackers. He is smart too, with an innate understanding of how to find space against zone coverage. His hands are very good, logging just three drops on 57 career catchable targets. Schoonmaker is also adept as an inline blocker, with good strength and technique.
Cons: Despite his good size, Schoonmaker did not look particularly comfortable in contested situations, winning just 25% of those targets. Whilst he is a very good athlete, this did not seem to translate after the catch. Schoonmaker did not look elusive with the ball in his hands and has forced just two missed tackles on 54 career receptions. There will also be some concerns about his very modest college production and the fact he turns 25 as a rookie.
Projection: 3rd round
8. Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion (6-7, 255, rs-Senior)
Pros: Kuntz is one of the most athletic tight end prospects we have ever seen, logging a perfect Relative Athletic Score of 10.00. He pairs this with commanding height at 6’7″ that makes him a true mismatch weapon in the passing game – too fast for linebackers and too big for safeties. He possesses a huge wingspan that allows him to corral off-target passes nicely, with a drop rate of just 5.4% throughout his career. Kuntz also sinks remarkably well at the top of his routes for such a tall player.
Cons: There will be a number of concerns with Kuntz. For starters, he had to transfer away from Penn State to the Sun Belt in order to find playing time. In five years in college, he also has just one season with more than 12 catches. He will be entering the NFL after requiring knee surgery in his final season and turns 24 before the start of his rookie season. On the field, Kuntz has real issues with pad level and functional strength as a blocker. His receiving production has never matched his athletic traits.
Projection: 4th round
9. Josh Whyle, Cincinnati (6-7, 248, rs-Senior)
Pros: Whyle showcases good long speed that allows him to threaten opposing defenses up the seam. He is also a fluid route runner who is adept at locating space before picking up yardage after the catch. Whyle has a large catch radius and looks comfortable when asked to work outside of his frame and high point the football. He is also a very effective red zone weapon, with 15 of his 88 career receptions going for touchdowns. Whilst his technique needs some refinement he shows good effort as a blocker.
Cons: Whyle lacks ideal play strength for a tight end, which limits his ability to shed tackles in the open field. It also causes issues as a blocker, along with some poor hand placement and issues with leverage. Despite being a fifth-year senior, Whyle has no experience as a high volume pass catcher, never exceeding 32 catches or 353 yards in a season. He will also be turning 24 years old as a rookie.
Projection: 4th round
10. Cameron Latu, Alabama (6-4, 242, rs-Senior)
Pros: Latu possesses good speed that allows him to make plays downfield, averaging an impressive 14 yards per catch during his college career. His athleticism also makes him an effective runner after the catch, with good vision and play strength to fight off arm tackles. His play strength translates very well to the catch point too and he is an effective weapon in the red zone. During his time at Alabama, Latu showed the ability to work inline or out of the slot.
Cons: Latu is still fairly new to the tight end position (he was recruited as an edge rusher) and it shows at times, particularly with his technique. His effectiveness as a blocker is limited, with poor pad level leading to him being out-leveraged. His hand placement and ability to sustain also need work. Latu didn’t look very comfortable when he was asked to work outside his frame as a pass catcher. He also lacks anything in terms of elusiveness after the catch.
Projection: 4th round
