DRAFT TRACKER 2024

Prolific pass-catching tight end with a rare blend of acceleration, speed, body control and hands that could breathe new life into a stale NFL offense. Bowers was a high-volume target at Georgia and led the team in receiving yards in all three of his college seasons. He plays with relentless pacing as a route runner, allowing him to beat man coverage. Also, he’s highly effective at exploiting zone pockets for first downs and chunk plays. Bowers’ secret sauce might be his ability to rip through tacklers and pile on yardage after the catch. He’ll be an adequate move blocker and give effort at the point of attack, but that is the one area where his game falls short of George Kittle’s, for comparison purposes. Bowers is an explosive athlete but lacks the premium measurables typically associated with early first-rounders. It might take a year for him to acclimate to defenders who are bigger, faster and longer, but he appears destined to become a highly productive NFL player with Pro Bowl upside.

Talented pass-catching tight end with an exciting floor if he can handle the rigors of the pro game. Sanders possesses an average build, but he has room for more muscle. He flashes as a run blocker, but he isn’t consistent at the point of attack. He can get up the field from in-line or from the slot, beating man coverage at his route stems or separating quickly from turns. He is able to dig in and win combat catches underneath and has proven to be highly effective running the seam or catching intermediate throws into zone pockets. Teams looking for a tight end with a more complete game might pass on him, but his potential to open up the passing game and become a highly productive pass-catcher should be hard to pass on.

Catch first, block second tight end whose jump in play as a receiving threat is going to be hard to ignore. Stover is a tight end conversion from the defensive side of the ball. He’s a little clunky getting off the line but really picks up the pace as the route unfolds. He starred as a high school hooper and that same athleticism can be found in his route running, high-point timing and run after catch. Stover possesses the tools to move in a positive direction as a run blocker but needs to upgrade his grit at the point of attack and effort as a move blocker. He’s an upside prospect with the potential to play in-line or flexed out and should become a productive starter within a couple of years.

Highly recruited out of high school, Johnson looks the part with an above-average frame and traits. While teams might want to place him in an elevated silo for consideration, they might not find the consistency or high number of flashes on tape that they were expecting. Johnson's run blocking is below average for his size, and adopting a glass-eating mentality in conjunction with technique work could help him improve in that area. He'll make contested catches and is adequate against man coverage, but he lacks dynamic qualities as a pass catcher. Traits will work in his favor, but there is work to be done to become anything more than an average backup.

Clearing the medical evaluations will be the first (and most important) hurdle for All on his way to the pros. He suffered an ACL tear in October and had a season-ending back injury in 2022 after just three games. When healthy, he has solid speed to run field-stretching routes, and he has the foot agility to snap off short-area routes with adequate quickness. The hands are inconsistent, and he needs to push back against handsy coverage to create route space. His run blocking needs to get better, but there is enough in place to envision him playing with his hand down or as an H-back. If he checks out medically, he has enough talent to compete for a spot as a TE3 on a roster.

Athletic F tight end with an ability to add value in the passing game and handle some blocking duties in space. The former walk-on has added 40 pounds to his frame without losing his speed or agility. He’s an adequate route runner with the quickness to compete against man coverage on all three levels and get additional yards after the catch. He lacks NFL physicality to hold up on blocking duties near the line, and he needs to prove he can play with quicker, stronger hands as a pass catcher. Sinnott is a Day 3 talent but his NFL journey could be determined by whether he can get just a little bit better in all phases.

In-line tight end who continues improving as a run blocker but is unlikely to offer much as a pass catcher. He was a captain at Indiana before transferring to Michigan, and scouts say he attacks practices and weight training with a single-minded obsession to get better and compete. He's technically sound in the early stages of the run block but needs to improve with his positioning to create better lanes for the runner. He can handle some pass protection but needs to keep improving. Barner's role might be a little limited as a blocking Y tight end with below-average pass-catching traits, but he should earn playing time in the future.

The former walk-on became a team captain in 2023. He's a huge Y tight end capable of becoming a quality run blocker in the NFL. Hand placement limits his consistency, but that should get corrected. He blocks with good leg drive and plays with some nasty at the point of attack. He'll be better working double-teams and combo blocks than blocking in space. He's the type of garden-variety pass catcher that you would expect a run-blocking specialist to be. Reiman's career will be defined by how he blocks, which should be good enough to make it in the league.

Pass-catching tight end who exploded on the scene at Colorado State after three years of pedestrian production at BYU. Holker lacks the size and grit for in-line blocking but can handle positional blocks in space. He has average play speed but might be able to crank it up a notch with better attention to it. Holker has the focus and ball skills to make the contested catch and should be capable of running most first- and second-level routes a team needs. Holker's production provides a window into his pass-catching ability, but he's a very limited blocker and appears to have a ceiling as a TE3/4.

McLachlan is a slightly challenging evaluation, as his measurables and traits don't really match the intangibles and effort he puts on tape. He plays with the spirit of an in-line tight end and flashes what it takes to execute blocks, but he's missing the mass and play strength for one to confidently project him as a pro blocker at this point. While McLachlan has short arms and average speed, he still finds ways to go get the football outside his frame and does whatever it takes to add yards after catch. There are boxes that go unchecked, but his "whatever it takes" mentality is the kind of intangible that often turns prospects into pros.

Tall, long-armed tight end who flashes the potential to line up in-line or as a move tight end. Wiley would benefit from better strength in his lower half to help sustain blocks, but his technique is generally good. He has the stride length to pick up speed in the seam and across the hashes on intermediate throws. The short-area foot quickness is very average and he’s an average separator underneath. Wiley’s catch talent and ability to fight through contact are big check marks in his favor. He has the versatility and potential to compete for a role as a TE3.

Undersized as a tight end and lacking instincts as a lead blocker out of the backfield, Bell is a player without a clean positional fit after playing all over the field at South Carolina and Florida State. When Bell centers in and locks up, he can be an effective blocker, but he is wildly inconsistent when asked to make blocks on the move in space. He's tight-hipped, but he does have the speed to run the seams and is a talented runner after the catch. He might need to find a modified gadget role and really show out on special teams to make a squad.

Castles is a 24-year-old tight end prospect whose traits stand out more than his production. His combination of size and athleticism is typically sought after by NFL teams who employ multiple tight end sets. His tape shows that he’s clearly capable of becoming a more productive pass catcher with the right team. He’s versatile enough to line up all over the field and might have enough toughness and technique to line up in-line when needed. The ball skills need work and he must learn to play to his size against crowding coverage. Castles projects as a Day 3 pick with upside.

Heins has an NFL frame and a willingness to do the dirty work as a run blocker. He lacks short-area footwork and bend to be much of a route-runner but is a big, reliable target as a zone-beater between the hashes. He’s physical after the catch but will struggle to get open against concentrated coverage. His tenacity and play strength are NFL-ready as a blocker. He has a great feel for landmarks and technique as a zone blocker. Also, he shows drive and finish when scrapping at the point of attack. Heins has soft hands and will make catches here and there as a pro, but he will earn a roster spot based on his ability as a well-rounded run blocker.

Big tight end with the frame of an in-line Y receiver but the playing style of a move tight end. Spann-Ford showed some improvement in his run blocks in 2023 but sustaining them and blocking with accuracy in space is still a work in progress. He’s a little heavy-legged on zone-beater routes underneath and lacks instincts to create separation against man. Spann-Ford struggled badly with drops and contested catches this past season, but teams might be intrigued by the potential matchup issues he could create as a big slot target. 

Culp's tape features below-average blocking combined with bad drops and unbelievably acrobatic grabs. He doesn't have the size or aggression to help much as a run blocker and will project as an F tight end. He has decent vertical speed but spent much of his time running routes underneath due to the receiving talent around him. Fastballs get on top of his hands and turn into drops, but he's able to flash with circus grabs and contested catches downfield. Culp has played a decent amount of football, so teams will need to determine whether they can project enough improvement to make him a pro.

Yassmin is an intriguing athlete and pass catcher, but he’s lacking in game experience and production. He has good play speed in his routes and appears to have better instincts than I expected in space. He doesn't show much attention to detail with his routes and will need to prove he can make catches in congestion. He lacks aggression and his frame is too underdeveloped to compete as a point-of-attack run blocker. He’s unlikely to be drafted but his athletic traits and upside are worth prioritizing as an undrafted free agent.

Knox has pass-catching measurables and the willingness to block as an in-line tight end. He's a receiver-turned-tight-end-prospect with an expansive wingspan. He's better at getting into the route and separating than he is at making tough catches. While he saw plenty of schemed opportunities and short catches, it appeared he was able to create his own chances over the first two levels. Knox possesses credible run-blocking talent in-line or on the move but will need to get bigger and stronger for the pro game. His timed speed could hurt his draft stock, but teams might be pleasantly surprised with Knox’s catch/block potential.

Combination tight end who can do a little blocking and a little pass catching. Welch powers through routes with too much aggression and not enough finesse. He competes to win combat catches and shows an ability to go get the off-frame throw. He struggles to separate against tight man coverage and isn’t big enough to sustain run blocks against edge defenders, despite his toughness. Welch should get a shot to compete in a camp even if he goes undrafted.

Combination tight end who will need to focus less on the pass catching and more on the run blocking to make it in the league. Grandy’s catch production looks good on paper, but most of the catches were stop routes and short catches. He gets what defenses give him but is unlikely to uncover against NFL man coverage. He gets into run blocks with good hands and feet and might have enough toughness to grow that part of his game if he can get stronger on the next level.

H-back prospect with good quickness and footwork as a pass catcher underneath. Westover figures to be targeted as an F tight end with fullback potential. He’s not a very strong blocker at the point but there are technical corrections that should help him improve in that area. He’s capable of uncovering underneath and has the speed to threaten the seam. He’s a wily zone-beater but is fairly pedestrian after the catch. Westover will have a shot to make the roster for a team looking to operate out of heavier personnel groupings.

Yankoff’s talent rests in his ability to get down the field to find and tackle punt and kick returners. He has adequate top-end speed as an F tight end, but he has very little practical experience as a route runner. He will need to prove his ball skills and show he can wall off defenders as a run blocker in space. His experience as a running back should help him after the catch. Unless a team decides to use him exclusively as a special-teams ace, he will need to prove to be at least functional at an offensive position to secure a roster spot.

Rex burst onto the scene in 2020, making 37 catches for 429 yards and 12 touchdowns with Zach Wilson at quarterback for BYU, but he’s failed to match any of those totals since. He has good size but is too tight-hipped to bend and leverage blocks with consistent success. He’s an average route runner, but he does have good catch instincts in space and quality hands outside his frame. Rex suffered a broken ankle in 2021 and might not have the same high-point talent he once showed. He’s effective after the catch and is a smart player, but he could face long odds to become a TE3/4 in the NFL.

A track standout with an NFL body type and traits, Stona is trying to become a pro football player with no competitive football in his background. As a discus and shot put thrower, Stona possesses explosive hips and above-average core strength to pair with very long arms and huge hands. He will likely be targeted as a developmental project at tight end, where he will have to learn to block. He ran and jumped well at his pro day, but he looked uneasy running and catching in drills. If he’s committed to making it, he might be worth prioritizing as an undrafted free agent.

Hearing Pline is a former basketball player might initially cause evaluators’ ears to perk up, but he fails to overwhelm coverages with athleticism and above-the-rim ball skills. He’s tall with an athletic frame but needs to get much stronger to keep from getting bounced around by defenders. He’s unable to sustain blocks for long and lacks the necessary aggression to do battle with the bullies in the league. While he showed continual improvement as a pass catcher this past season, it might not be enough to create a legitimate camp opportunity.