Tight Ends
The were 18 TEs selected in the 2022 draft, as follows:
Round 1 - 0
Round 2 - 1
Round 3 - 3
Round 4 - 6
Round 5 - 3
Round 6 - 4
Round 7 - 1
The 2022 TE draft class dwarfed that of the 2021 offering, bettering the prior year by +7 selections. While there was no Kyle Pitts in the bunch, Day 2 had four guys taken, each of which will see good time early as rookies. Round 4 had a whopping six selections, and many of these guys will be solid to good contributors as well.
The 2023 draft class could/should have at least one first-rounder, and fill out nicely in the near rounds to follow. As the league continues to pivot toward and be enamored with TE usage, I see no less than a dozen guys hearing their name called at the position.
1) Michael Mayer | 6'4 | 250 | TE | Notre Dame
2021 - 71 receptions for 840 yards, 7 TDs
9/3 - Ohio State - Targeted often, Mayer looked the part. He caught 5 balls for 32 yards, produced well given how much attention he garnered.
10/8 - BYU - Mayer was terrific, basically was the offense for the majority of the game. He caught 11 balls for 118 yards, 2 TDs. BYU simply couldn't contain him.
2) Darnell Washington | 6'7 | 270 | TE | Georgia
2021 - 10 receptions for 154 yards, 1 TD
9/3 - Oregon - Washington was solid as a receiver, flashing some athleticism in one reception that went for 25 yards. He finished with 2 receptions for 33 yards. What really stood out was his dominant presence as a blocker. On a few plays, he functioned like an extra O-lineman, consumed the defender across from him. Even when not blocking or catching the ball, his big body drew a lot of attention operating up the seam, freeing up others.
10/1 - Missouri - Washington is special. He caught 3 balls for y64 yards, used his size to dominate. It was very obvious that he's a very tough guy to match up against. He moved quite well for a big man.
3) Dalton Kincaid | 6'4 | 240 | TE | Utah
2021 - 36 receptions for 510 yards, 8 TDs
9/3 - Florida - Kuithe was TE1 in this one, but Kincaid looked solid as well. He caught 2 balls for 29 yards, showed some good route-running ability.
10/8 - UCLA - Kincaid looked very good, caught 4 balls for 67 yards. He was targeted throughout the game, was a tough match up for Florida at times.
10/15 - USC - Kincaid looked fantastic, played like a future 1st-rounder in this one. He often looked like the best player on the field, regardless of team or position. He caught a whopping 16 balls for 234 yards, 1 TD. He ran excellent routes, using technique and speed to exploits defenders. He also showed good perimeter blocking skills.
4) Cameron Latu | 6'4 | 250 | TE | Alabama
2021 - 26 receptions for 410 yards, 8 TDs
9/10 - Texas - Latu had a very solid game. While I think he was underutilized, he still caught 4 balls for 28 yards. He did a good job of getting open, also looked good on perimeter blocks.
10/1 - Arkansas - Latu wasn't targeted in this one much, but he did chip in as an adequate blocker at times. He did have one drop and drew a penalty from the defense as well.
10/8 - Texas A&M - Latu caught just 1 ball for 10 yards, wasn't a focal point.
5) Sam LaPorta | 6'4 | 250 | TE | Iowa
2021 - 53 receptions for 670 yards, 3 TDs
9/3 - South Dakota State - Despite only notching 2 receptions for 9 yards, LaPorta looked the part. He ran good routes and was solid at the LOS as a blocker.
10/1 - Michigan - LaPorta had a good game. He caught 5 balls for 24 yards, looked very clean running his routes.
6) Luke Musgrave | 6'5 | 250 | TE | Oregon State
2021 - 22 receptions for 304 yards, 1 TD
7) Arik Gilbert | 6'5 | 248 | TE | Georgia
2020 - 35 receptions for 368 yards, 2 TDs
8) Tucker Kraft | 6'5 | 255 | TE | South Dakota State
2021 - 65 receptions for 773 yards, 6 TDs
9) Jaheim Bell | 6'3 | 230 | TE | South Carolina
2021 - 30 receptions for 497 yards, 5 TDs
9/10 - Arkansas - Bell was underutilized, used solely as rusher, which didn't pan out. He had 4 carries for 5 yards. He moved very well, looked athletic, just not schemed for well.
10/8 - Kentucky - Bell was underutilized, caught just 2 balls for 16 yards. He looked athletic in his limited duty.
10/8 - Tennessee - Bell had an excellent game, showed off tremendous versatility. As a receiver, he caught 5 balls for 39 yards, 2 TDs. With RBs down, he field in there and looked very natural carrying the ball. He had 17 carries for 82 yards, showed off solid speed and quickness.
10) Payne Durham | 6'5 | 255 | TE | Purdue
2021 - 45 receptions for 467 yards, 6 TDs
9/17 - Syracuse - Durham had an excellent game. He caught 9 balls for 83 yards, 2 TDs. He not only did a great job of using his long frame to shield off defenders, he ran sharp routes and displayed good hands.
11/12 - Illinois - Durham looked the part today. He had 7 receptions for 70 yards, 2 TDs. He showed that he can get separation, while being a great red one target.
11) Benjamin Yurosek | 6'5 | 231 | TE | Stanford
2021 - 42 receptions for 653 yards, 3 TDs
9/10 - USC - Aside from one drop, Yurosek had a great game. He went 5 for 45 as a receiver, generally showing good hands and route-running. His big, eye-popping play came on an end around, one where he galloped for 50 yards. He showed off diminutive speed, outpacing much of the USC defense.
12) Brant Kuithe | 6'2 | 235 | TE | Utah (Out for Season, ACL tear)
2021 - 50 receptions for 611 yards, 6 TDs
9/3 - Florida - Kuithe had a fantastic game, was the most dangerous receiving threat on either team. He finished with 9 receptions for 105 yards, 1 TD. He ran excellent routes, was a challenge to cover. He offered little as a blocker, but that's not his game.
13) Jahleel Billingsley | 6'4 | 230 | TE | Texas
2021 - 17 receptions for 256 yards, 3 TDs
14) Camren McDonald | 6'4 | 244 | TE | Florida State
2021 - 24 receptions for 243 yards, 2 TDs
9/4 - LSU - McDonald was very solid in this one,, showing that he can be a reliable target in the seam. He went just 2 for 23, but looked to be very capable.
9/16 - Louisville - McDonald flashed early on, but wasn't targeted nearly enough. He caught 2 balls for 45 showing, showing his run after catch capabilities.
9/24 - Boston College - See above. Underutilized, he caught just 2 balls for 52 yards. He continues to look dangerous after the catch.
15) Zack Kuntz | 6'7 | 245 | TE | Old Dominion
2021 - 73 receptions for 692 yards, 2 TDs
16) Josh Whyle | 6'6 | 235 | TE | Cincinnati
2021 - 26 receptions for 332 yards, 6 TDs
9/3 - Arkansas - Whyle had a very solid game. He had 5 catches for 38 yards, consistently showed his ability to beat coverage and get open. His blocking was a bit erratic, but he was willing in said capacity.
9/24 - Indiana - Whyle was targeted sparingly, caught just 1 ball for 8 yards.
17) Austin Stogner | 6'6 | 260 | TE | South Carolina
2021 - 14 receptions for 166 yards, 3 TDs
9/10 - Arkansas - Stogner was a good release valve for Rattler, as he caught 5 balls for 34 yards. He didn't wow, but was certainly reliable and got open often.
10/8 - Kentucky - Stogner was solid today. While he didn't record a catch, he did get open, and looked stout when blocking a few times.
10/8 - Tennessee - Stogner was a non-factor, had just 1 catch for 3 yards.
18) Will Mallory | 6'5 | 245 | TE | Miami
2021 - 30 receptions for 347 yards, 4 TDs
9/17 - Texas A&M - Mallory had a solid game, was the one bright spot for Miami in the receiving game. He was quiet early on, but then caught firs, catching 6 balls for 56 yards. He ran solid routes and was able to get yards after the catch.
19) Kemari Averett | 6'6 | 260 | TE | Bethune Cookman
2021 - 51 receptions for 876 yards, 10 TDs
20) Marshon Ford | 6'2 | 240 | TE | Louisville
2021 - 49 receptions for 550 yards, 2 TDs
9/3 - Syracuse - Ford was very underutilized, catching just 2 passes for 12 yards. He looked solid enough when given the chance, but his body of work here was too limited to evaluate much.
9/16 - Florida State - Ford was solid tonight, catching 3 balls for 15 yards. He showed some open filed ability to move the ball in space. He was underutilized, yet again.
21) Trey Knox | 6'5 | 245 | TE | Arkansas
2021 - 20 receptions for 141yards, 1 TD
9/3 - Cincinnati - Know had a great game, pacing his team with 6 receptions for 75 yards, 2 TDs. Sporting a thick frame, he used his size and strength to better defenders. He also moved well for a guy of his stature.
9/10 - South Carolina - Knox wasn't targeted much, caught just 1 ball for 5 yards. He did assert himself as a blocker on the perimeter.
10/1 - Alabama - Knox had a lone reception for 36 yards, did shoe some good athleticism. He was strong as a blocker, helped open up some run options.
22) Ben Sims | 6'4 | 253 | TE | Baylor
2021 - 31 receptions for 361 yards, 6 TDs
9/10 - BYU - Sims underwhelmed in the blocking department, but looked solid as a receiver. He caught 4 balls for 30 yards, 1 TD.
23) Isaac Rex | 6'5 | 247 | TE | BYU
2021 - 18 receptions for 191 yards, 3 TDs
9/10 - Baylor - Rex was used sparingly, caught just one pass for 7 yards. He showed very little to go off of.
9/17 - Oregon - Rex caught 2 balls for 32 yards, 1 TD. His TD catch was for 28 yards, one where he showed good run after the catch speed.