The 2019 NFL Draft features a bumper crop of tight end prospects, in large part due to an influx of 14 underclassmen at the position. Not only are there a couple of studs at the top but there is quality depth throughout all seven rounds. All that talent was on full display at the Scouting Combine.
T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant of Iowa arrived in Indy atop the majority of draft boards and both performed like first round picks. Ultimately who comes off the board first may come down to the type of player a team is looking for since Hockenson and Fant bring different skill sets to the table. Hockenson isn’t necessarily going to stretch the field vertically but is a reliable weapon in the short to intermediate range while also getting the job done as a blocker at an extremely high level. Hockenson isn’t deficient as athlete though, running a 4.70 forty and finishing second to Fant in both the vertical and broad jump. Fant is a dynamic pass catching weapon with the size of a tight end but the speed, athleticism and big play ability of a wide receiver. Not only did Fant lead the tight ends with an outstanding 4.50 forty but he also had top marks in the vertical leap, broad jump and 3-cone drill. There were exceedingly high, bordering on unrealistic, expectations for Fant’s workout but he lived up to the hype.
Kahale Warring of San Diego St. was a revelation, notching impressive results across the board. Checking in at 6-5 1/8 and 252 pounds, Warring ran a 4.67 forty with a 36-inch vertical leap and 10’2” broad jump while throwing up 19 reps of 225 pound on the bench press. Talk about a nice blend of size, strength and athleticism! Warring didn’t play football until his senior year of high school and is raw but all of the tools are there and he’s oozing potential. One of the most intriguing prospects in this class at any position, Warring should come off the board somewhere between Rounds 3 and 5.
The top senior tight end prospects in this class have been overshadowed by all of the incredible underclassmen. Despite a lack of buzz from draftniks don’t be surprised if a few of them come off the board earlier than expected on Draft Day, ahead of more highly-touted prospects at the position. For example, Josh Oliver of San Jose St. continues to look like a a legitimate candidate for Day 2 and checked more boxes at the Combine. Oliver ran a 4.63 forty at 6-4 5/8 and 249 pounds, which tied Alabama’s Irv Smith for the third best time at the position. Oliver also tied for the second most bench reps with 22 and had the biggest hands of any tight end in attendance with 10 3/4 inch mitts. Drew Sample of Washington and Foster Moreau of L.S.U., who are just a notch below Oliver and likely mid-round picks, also came through with solid all-around workouts.
Other Notes:
Unfortunately Dawson Knox of Ole Miss wasn’t able to run due to an injury but did look excellent in the positional drills. Knox will have another chance at his pro day but it was somewhat of a missed opportunity for a player with so much riding on physical tools and upside. … Kaden Smith of Stanford recorded the second slowest forty time in his position group with a 4.92, tied for the third fewest reps in the bench press, had the shortest broad-jump and tied for the third slowest short-shuttle. Those lackluster results coupled with an abundance of other alluring options in this class could push Smith down the board a bit. Maybe even into Day 3. … Isaac Nauta of Georgia has some fans in the scouting community but showed a severe shortage of speed, explosiveness and athleticism, finishing with the third slowest forty time while coming in dead-last in both the vertical leap and 3-cone drill. Nauta looks like a mid-to-late Day 3 value and profiles as a backup at the next level. … C.J. Conrad of Kentucky was medically disqualified and sent home after his physical revealed an issue with a heart valve that was causing irregularities in his heartbeat. Conrad issued the following statement: “I am headed back to Lexington to receive a second opinion and get more tests done. The goal is to get cleared before March 22 for my pro day. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. I won’t let this stop me from achieving my dream.”.
| Position | First Name | Last Name | School | HT | WT | Hand | Arm | Wing | 40 | Reps | VJ | BJ | SS | 3-Cone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TE01 | Kendall | Blanton | Missouri | 6-6 1/4 | 262 | 10 3/8 | 33 3/4 | 81 7/8 | 4.95 | 22 | 31.0 | 113 | 4.42 | 7.37 |
| TE02 | Keenen | Brown | Texas St. | 6-2 1/2 | 250 | 9 7/8 | 34 1/2 | 82 3/4 | 4.75 | 17 | 33.0 | 117 | 4.51 | 7.27 |
| TE03 | C.J. | Conrad | Kentucky | 6-4 1/2 | 249 | 9 1/4 | 31 | 74 1/8 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| TE04 | Noah | Fant | Iowa | 6-4 1/8 | 249 | 9 3/4 | 33 1/2 | 80 | 4.50 | 20 | 39.5 | 127 | 4.22 | 6.81 |
| TE05 | Zach | Gentry | Michigan | 6-8 1/8 | 265 | 9 1/2 | 34 1/8 | 80 1/8 | 4.90 | 12 | 29.5 | 110 | 4.53 | 7.40 |
| TE06 | Daniel | Helm | Duke | 6-4 1/8 | 249 | 9 1/2 | 33 3/8 | 79 5/8 | 4.89 | 14 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| TE07 | T.J. | Hockenson | Iowa | 6-4 3/4 | 251 | 9 1/2 | 32 1/4 | 77 7/8 | 4.70 | 17 | 37.5 | 123 | 4.18 | 7.02 |
| TE08 | Dawson | Knox | Ole Miss | 6-4 3/8 | 254 | 9 3/4 | 33 1/2 | 80 1/2 | DNP | 16 | 34.5 | DNP | 4.27 | 7.12 |
| TE09 | Alizé | Mack | Notre Dame | 6-4 | 249 | 9 3/8 | 33 3/4 | 80 1/8 | 4.70 | 22 | 36.0 | 120 | 4.34 | 7.27 |
| TE10 | Foster | Moreau | L.S.U. | 6-4 1/8 | 253 | 9 5/8 | 33 1/2 | 81 1/2 | 4.66 | 22 | 36.5 | 121 | 4.11 | 7.16 |
| TE11 | Isaac | Nauta | Georgia | 6-3 1/4 | 244 | 9 3/8 | 31 7/8 | 76 5/8 | 4.91 | 19 | 28.0 | DNP | 4.43 | 7.45 |
| TE12 | Josh | Oliver | San Jose St. | 6-4 5/8 | 249 | 10 3/4 | 33 1/2 | 78 7/8 | 4.63 | 22 | 34.0 | 117 | 4.47 | 7.21 |
| TE13 | Dax | Raymond | Utah St. | 6-4 3/4 | 255 | 10 1/4 | 32 5/8 | 77 7/8 | 4.73 | 15 | 32.0 | 109 | 4.39 | 7.15 |
| TE14 | Drew | Sample | Washington | 6-4 3/4 | 255 | 9 5/8 | 33 3/8 | 79 1/4 | 4.71 | DNP | 33.5 | 115 | 4.31 | 7.15 |
| TE15 | Irv | Smith | Alabama | 6-2 3/8 | 242 | 9 1/2 | 31 1/2 | 74 7/8 | 4.63 | 19 | 32.5 | 110 | 4.33 | 7.32 |
| TE16 | Kaden | Smith | Stanford | 6-5 | 255 | 9 5/8 | 32 1/4 | 78 1/8 | 4.92 | 15 | 32.0 | 108 | 4.47 | 7.08 |
| TE17 | Jace | Sternberger | Texas A&M | 6-4 | 251 | 9 3/4 | 32 1/8 | 77 1/4 | 4.75 | 17 | 31.5 | 113 | 4.31 | 7.19 |
| TE18 | Tommy | Sweeney | Boston College | 6-4 1/2 | 251 | 9 3/4 | 32 3/4 | 78 3/8 | 4.83 | 17 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| TE19 | Kahale | Warring | San Diego St. | 6-5 1/8 | 252 | 9 3/4 | 32 3/4 | 77 | 4.67 | 19 | 36.5 | 122 | 4.25 | 7.21 |
| TE20 | Trevon | Wesco | West Virginia | 6-3 1/2 | 267 | 9 1/2 | 34 3/4 | 81 1/2 | 4.89 | 24 | 31.0 | 117 | 4.38 | 7.18 |
| TE21 | Caleb | Wilson | UCLA | 6-4 1/4 | 240 | 9 3/4 | 33 | 79 1/2 | 4.56 | DNP | 29.0 | 113 | 4.40 | 7.20 |
Tallest: Zach Gentry, Michigan (6-8 1/8)
Shortest: Irv Smith, Alabama (6-2 3/8)
Heaviest: Trevon Wesco, West Virginia (267)
Lightest: Caleb Wilson, UCLA (240)
Longest Arms: Trevon Wesco, West Virginia (34 3/4)
Shortest Arms: C.J. Conrad, Kentucky (31)
Biggest Hands: Josh Oliver, San Jose St. (10 3/4)
Smallest Hands: C.J. Conrad, Kentucky (9 1/4)
Longest Wingspan: Keenen Brown, Texas St. (82 3/4)
Shortest Wingspan: C.J. Conrad, Kentucky (74 1/8)
Fastest 40: Noah Fant, Iowa (4.50)
Slowest 40: Kendall Blanton, Missouri (4.95)
Most Reps: Trevon Wesco, West Virginia (24)
Fewest Reps: Zach Gentry, Michigan (12)
Best Vertical: Noah Fant, Iowa (39.5)
Worst Vertical: Isaac Nauta, Georgia (28.0)
Best Broad-Jump: Noah Fant, Iowa (127)
Worst Broad-Jump: Kaden Smith, Stanford (108)
Best Short-Shuttle: Foster Moreau, L.S.U. (4.11)
Worst Short-Shuttle: Zach Gentry, Michigan (4.53)
Best 3-Cone: Noah Fant, Iowa (6.81)
Worst 3-Cone: Isaac Nauta, Georgia (7.45)