2023 NFL Draft prospect rankings: Tight ends
theScore's prospect rankings series takes a position-by-position look at the top players available in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Top 50
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL
EDGE | DL | LB | CB | S
Mayer is a violent football player. Whether it's as a blocker, high-pointing a catch, or burying a defender with a stiff arm, the 21-year-old is a force to be reckoned with. Despite his lack of elite speed, Mayer routinely picked up extra yardage with his strength, and he regularly cast aside arm tacklers and defensive backs. Stronger, more athletic linebackers and safeties could give Mayer more issues in the NFL. However, his route running and understanding of coverages should keep him alive on most snaps and allow him to produce consistently at the next level. Mayer also showed good body control as a receiver, shielding defenders with his frame to help come down with contested catches when the route didn't generate significant separation. The former Notre Dame star should immediately start and contribute on every down for whichever team takes him on Day 1.
Kincaid is the 1B to Mayer's 1A. Who gets picked first will come down to whether a team wants the all-around versatility Mayer offers or the athletic upside you get with Kincaid. The Utah product has some of the best hands in the draft, regularly coming down with balls requiring full extension to snag. Kincaid showed he can also come down with passes thrown into traffic, using the combination of his frame and confidence in his hands to catch difficult receptions. Kincaid is far from the best blocker in the class, but he's willing to mix it up and explodes through defenders when given space to pick up speed before engaging in blocks. That explosion translated as a ball carrier, as Kincaid opted to power through defenders more often than trying to avoid them. Improving technique and strength when playing in-line will dramatically elevate his ability to contribute and could see him become a superstar.
LaPorta is one of the smaller tight ends in the class, but he's also among the shiftiest. He routinely made defenders miss with various moves, both as a ball carrier and a route-runner. Iowa's offense did LaPorta no favors, frequently forcing him to attempt difficult catches. Still, it would've been nice to see him come down with more of his targets. He had a 10.2% drop rate in 2022, per PFF. But when LaPorta secured the ball, he showcased an excellent burst. Improving his average run-blocking technique and power will keep the former Hawkeye on the field and give him more opportunities to contribute, as will unlocking a wider route tree. He ran a pretty shallow selection of routes last season, but that had more to do with Iowa's offensive limitations than LaPorta's capabilities.
Musgrave has some of the most tantalizing tools in the class, but he has yet to put it all together. He's at his best when he stresses defenses vertically, leveraging his length and athleticism to make impressive catches regardless of where defenders are. If Musgrave pairs up with a coach who can round out his game and increase his versatility, he could wind up as the best tight end in the class. Improving the crispness of his routes and expanding his route tree beyond seams and crossers will go a long way in unlocking his potential. Musgrave also needs to move with more control to prevent stumbling as a blocker and receiver. He was reportedly medically cleared at the combine, but he played in only 20 games over four seasons with Oregon State, including just two in 2022 after sustaining a knee injury.
Washington might've been TE1 if this were the 2003 draft. He made big people look small at Georgia, whether blocking them at the point of attack or reaching above them for receptions in the intermediate area of the field. Washington doesn't offer a ton of finesse, but the behemoth displayed a decent hurdle move that he pulled out to pick up some extra yardage when defensive backs dove at his ankles. He also showcased a solid understanding of zone coverages that allowed him to find open spaces for easy catches. However, Washington's at his best when he's road grading defenders in the ground game. To truly blossom as a blocker, he'll want to form a stronger base that remedies his tendency to bend at the waist and lean into his targets. Run and play-action heavy teams should be all over the 21-year-old.
Schoonmaker is a faster-than-quick offensive weapon who will be right at home in a spread or vertical scheme that provides space for him to show off his burst. A lot of the former Wolverine's routes weren't very fluid, but his ability to reach top speed quickly helped alleviate some of those issues. Schoonmaker is a boom-or-bust threat after the catch, relying on raw athleticism rather than any ball-carrier moves like jukes or stiff arms. He's comfortable working the middle of the field on seams and crossers and should be a good contested catch target early. It would serve Schoonmaker well to find some more consistency as a blocker. But he has the frame to blossom into an above-average contributor with good coaching, and he's already among the better blockers in the draft class.
Kraft is a bit of a poor man's Mayer, and I mean that as a compliment. He moves really well and has a frame that seems tailor-made to play tight end in the modern era. His size and strength popped as a runner, allowing him to overpower defenders and pick up extra yardage frequently. This was important for the former Jackrabbit as his routes were far from pristine, and he's not very sudden or twitchy. Kraft showed he's already a very solid blocker, but he tended to stand up too early, which cost him leverage. He'll need to learn to stay low to prevent being blown up by NFL defensive ends. There weren't many "wow" plays on tape, but the 22-year-old was a versatile contributor in college. Kraft should be a good backup as a pro with starter potential.
Allen was a bit of a one-trick pony at Clemson, but he was pretty good at that trick. Seam and flat routes made up a lot of Allen's film and will likely be most of his workload in the NFL due to his less-than-stellar change of direction and speed. His 4.84-second 40-yard dash was the second slowest at this year's combine. The former Tiger can still contribute thanks to his ability to adjust to the ball when it's in the air and his impressive size. Allen's ability to pluck the ball out of the air while shielding the defender with his frame will be his biggest strength. As a blocker, Allen is just fine. He can wall off defenders and willingly engages, but he won't gain ground on most defenders at the next level.
Despite playing tight end for the Hurricanes, Mallory may be better suited as a receiver in the NFL. He's got the speed (4.54 40-yard dash), leaping ability (36.5-inch vertical), and catch-and-run skills to be a big slot, occasionally lining up at tight end to be a mismatch on interior linebackers. Mallory ran a lot of underneath routes that relied on him making defenders miss or breaking tackles to pick up yardage and did so to great effect. There's room for improvement at the top of his routes, as he lacks some of the speed adjustments and hesitations that elite route-runners show off to gain extra separation. Mallory is also susceptible to being knocked off his desired path and taking big hits after the catch, but that concern would be alleviated, at least partially, if he moved to receiver. Putting on extra muscle and getting more creative with his routes will benefit Mallory regardless of where he lines up.
Kuntz is a better athlete than a football player right now, but he oozes potential. He tested off the charts at the combine and is still learning how to use his length and athleticism to win against defenses consistently. As a blocker, Kuntz often throws his body at defenders rather than engage with his hands. He'll need to improve significantly in that area to play in-line at the next level. The 23-year-old needs to put on more muscle to make better use of his length and frame, as he's too easily dislodged from the ball right now. Kuntz also needs to improve as a route-runner to take advantage of his athletic profile. Too often, he runs rounded corners or telegraphs the direction of his break. The team selecting Kuntz has to be patient, but he has Pro Bowl potential.
Other notable prospects
Cameron Latu, Alabama
Brenton Strange, Penn State
Josh Whyle, Cincinnati
Payne Durham, Purdue
Marshon Ford, Louisville