NFL Draft

2024 Draft Preview - Tight Ends

Dave Syvertsen
10/25/2023 2:20PM ET

1.   Bowers, Brock*

Georgia   6040   230

Three-year starter, Napa, CA. Two-time first team All SEC and the 2022 Mackey Award Winner. Unique athlete and weapon for the offense that can line up anywhere. Football instincts combined with toughness and speed make him a menace to get to the ground when he has the ball. Big, strong hands swallow the ball on contact as a receiver. Will see it in and immediately tuck and turn upfield. A yard-after-catch machine. Fiesty as a blocker to the second level that punches with accurate hands while keeping his feet active. Will take a lot of extra hits and does not have the frame to make a consistent impact in the trenches.

 

2. Sanders, Ja’Tavion*

Texas   6040   241

Two-year starter, Denton, TX. First team All-Big 12. A former defensive player and wide receiver that took some time to develop at tight end. Brings the physical brand necessary to factor as an every-situation threat and weapon for the offense. Can stay on field in all situations and has plenty of experience lining up all over the field, including the backfield. Adjusts to the ball naturally. Can twist and turn once in the air and get to balls away from his frame. Tremendous ability after the catch to get away from tacklers with both agility and speed. Does not make in-line blocking impact and is too easily deterred by traffic as a receiver.

 

3.  Evans, Mitchell*

Notre Dame   6050   251

One-year starter, Wadsworth, OH. A former high school quarterback who had more carries than catches in 2022. Athletic background and skill set on a prototype body. Waited in the wings behind program record-setter Michael Mayer and is providing a similar level of play to the 2022 second rounder. Wide and long catch radius with coordinated reactions to the ball. Quick to snag the ball and tuck it. Gets moving post-catch in a hurry. Uses size, power, and late movement to break tackles and gain extra yards. Lines up both in the slot and on the line. Holds his own as a blocker. Shows some athletic limitations when he needs to open up his stride.

 

4.  Stover, Cade 

Ohio State   6037   251

Two-year starter, Mansfield, OH. All-Big 10 in 2022. Accomplished high school basketball player began his career at Ohio State as a defensive player, playing both on and off the ball on the outside. Made a full-time move to tight end in 2022 after some back and forth the year prior.  Has shown enormous strides within the skill components to the position, notable as a route runner. Clean footwork and soft hands makes him a reliable and very useable weapon underneath.  Physical try-hard blocker that can stay attached and create movement off the line. Physical brand will show up with the ball in his hands. Nasty competitor that gets more out of himself than most. Slight tool limitations will limit the upside.

 

5.  Yurosek, Benjamin

Stanford   6043   243 

 

6.  Johnson, Theo 

Penn State   6060   260

 

7.  McLachlan, Tanner

Arizona   6050   241

 

10.  Warren, Tyler 

Penn State   6057   256

 

11.   Sinnott, Ben

Kansas State   6040   245

 

12.  Barner, AJ

Michigan   6054   249

 

13.  Wiley, Jared

TCU   6063   259

 

14.  Bell, Jaheim*

Florida State   6017   229

 

15.  Rex, Isaac

BYU   6053   253

 

16.  Spann-Ford, Brevyn

Minnesota   6070  263

 

17. Lachely Luke

Iowa  6060  252

 

18.  Yassmin, Thomas 

Utah   6044   244

 

19.  Prieskorn, Caden

Mississippi   6053   260

 

20.  Cupp, Baylor

Texas Tech   6062   257

 

21. Redman, Mark

San Diego State   6055   252

 

22.   Heins, Zach 

South Dakota State   6064   257

 

*Denotes underclasman