Welcome back to my final grades for the 2022 NFL Draft. To make things go a little smoother in the uploading process of these articles, we’re going to see a slight format change going forward. I’m going to group the players by round grade with that being a subheading rather than part of the player information. It just makes it look a lot cleaner and should need less formatting going forward, which has dragged a bunch of time in the upload process.
Anyways, let’s talk about the tight end class. The class lacks the star talent we saw in 2021 with Kyle Pitts, but it boasts incredible depth. The tight end position in today’s NFL, you need to be able to a bit of everything. You can’t just be a move tight end, but you also can’t only be a run blocker. Let’s see how this year’s group stacks up. I’ve also included their ideal role for each player.
Second Round Grades
1. Trey McBride, Colorado St. Red Flags: none Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: In-line blocker or move tight end- doesn’t matter
Trey McBride is this year’s most well-rounded tight end. If only he had any talent around him or a competent QB, he would have put up great numbers for the Rams. He was the only player worth anything on that offense. At 6’4 and 245 with good hands and a fierce run blocker, regardless of the scheme you run, McBride should be a seamless fit. He could be a team’s TE1 as a rookie or a high level TE2 for a team without a dire need for the position.
2. Greg Dulcich, UCLA Red Flags: None Player Comp: Dawson Knox
Ideal Role: Big slot/ Move tight end
Dulcich is the prototypical move tight end in the modern NFL who you can line up in the slot and have run a bevy of routes due to his background as a wide receiver. His blocking has come a long way from where it was, but he’s still got room to grow in this department. He’ll be a favourite of teams using multi tight end looks.
Third Round Grades
3. Cade Otton, Washington Red Flags: None Player Comp: Diet Pepsi version of Pat Freiermuth
Ideal Role: Versatile Move TE/ Big Slot
Speaking of players who could have benefitted from having anyone competent at QB, Cade Otton was trapped on an abysmal Washington offense for 2021. That being said, he still stood out head and shoulders above his teammates. He’s a do-it-all style TE, but he’d be at his best where he’s used more as a pass catcher than in the running game as a blocker.
4. Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio St. Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Move Tight End
Great size at 6’5 250 with great hands and a decent route running repertoire, Ruckert would have been a more featured piece of any other offense in the country. He just happened to be in the same offense as two first round wideouts this year and likely another in next year’s class. He’s not a great blocker, but he’s far from being a traffic cone. He can be a contributor early as a pass catcher as the rest of his game rounds out.
5. Jelani Woods, Virginia Red Flags: One year of production Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Developmental Move TE
Woods has one season of middling production at UVA where he happened to score 8 touchdowns. Why he finds himself this high is because of his athletic upside and potential. You can’t teach 6’7 253 with a 4.61 40. If someone can hone in on his traits and develop him, he could be a massive steal.
Fourth Round Grades
6. Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina Red Flags: None Player Comp: Josh Oliver
Ideal Role: Flex TE
I’ve written Likely’s report, so you can click on his name for the full picture. In short, he had a third-round grade on film, but his poor athletic testing dropped him down a round.
7. Cole Turner, Nevada Red Flags: none Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: In-line receiving threat
8. Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin Red Flags: none Player Comp: Dalton Schultz
Ideal: Y-Tight End
Fifth Round Grades
9. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Maryland Red Flags: Past medical (myocarditis) Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Developmental TE
10. James Mitchell, Virginia Tech Red Flags: Missed most of 2021 with torn ACL Player Comp: Charles Clay
Ideal Role: Flex Tight End/ Big slot
Sixth Round Grades
11. Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: second tight end
Wydermyer’s scouting report can be found here, but much like Isaiah Likely his film grade is different than his final. On film, he graded out as a 4th round prospect. However, when you look at just how bad his 40-yard dash time was in comparison to other tight ends and even to most offensive linemen, you have to seriously question how he’ll find success in the league with that athletic ceiling.
12. Daniel Bellinger, San Diego St. Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: in-line blocker
13. Charlie Kolar, Iowa St. Red Flags: None Player Comp:
Ideal Role: Move Tight End
I don’t know where Charlie Kolar’s athletic testing numbers came from, because it didn’t show up on the field in his time with the Cyclones, which leaves me with more questions than I initially had.
14. Grant Calcaterra, SMU Red Flags: Medical Retirement during his time at Oklahoma
Player Comp: None
Seventh Round Grades
15. Jeremiah Hall, Oklahoma Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: H-Back
UDFA Grades
16. Payton Hendershot, Indiana Red Flags: Extensive off-field issues including domestic violence arrest
Player Comp: None
17. Roger Carter, Georgia State Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Fullback
