2014 NFL Draft Scouting Report – Arthur Lynch, TE Georgia

Sep 28, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Arthur Lynch (88) is tackled by LSU Tigers safety Ronald Martin (26) after a catch during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Arthur Lynch has been a tremendous tight end for the Georgia Bulldogs in every aspect of the position.  He has been an inline block, slot receiving threat and H-Back in the backfield.  Certainly, he has been able to make plays as a pass catcher but he has been a good blocker and had to earn his playing time by being able to block, only catching two passes in his first two seasons on the field in Athens.  The Dartmouth, Massachusetts native was able to work his way into the starting lineup and show off his talent in his final two years.  As good as he was, Lynch may still have been underutilized as a pass catching threat.

Projecting to the NFL, Lynch is a full service tight end who has a good understanding of every facet of the position and should only get better with more time and development.  Lynch is able to play inline and contribute as an extension of the offensive line while also being a pass catching threat that can extend drives, be a threat in the red zone.  He is also has shown he can do more after the catch than some might expect.  Lynch warrants going in the top 75 picks but should be gone by the end of day two.

Vitals & Build

Lynch is listed 6’5” 254lbs with a build that looks like a defensive end.  He is lean with a good amount of strength but excellent fluidity for the position.  Lynch has good strength but can do more to maximize his functional power at times.  His feet and body control are good.  His speed is solid but unspectacular, but he is quick.  Lynch still has the room to continue adding strength on his frame, so there is still physical potential to be had.

Route Running & Technique

Lynch does experience both releasing as an inline tight end and from a joker stance.  His stance when he is in a joker position, lined up like a wide receiver is inconsistent in terms of how high he lines up in a situation.  At times, he will line up much taller than in others, though he releases effectively.  The lower he is, the better he is able to take on and deal with contact out of his release.  This is a small issue but a quick fix as well.

Lynch gets out of his stance effectively from a three point stance.  He is quick and has his momentum going forward, so he is not only maximizing his speed but has a good power base as well that can help him block or get into a route.

Additionally, Lynch is good at varying his release off of the ball.  He can make the quick move outside to get up the field as well as firing out at the opponent, getting a hit or selling a block before releasing into the route.  Lynch is extremely savvy when it comes to selling block before releasing into a route and has mixed up how he does it in given situations, which make it difficult for opponents to defend.

Georgia has had Lynch run an extensive pro route tree during his career.  From drags to outs to flag routes, Lynch has done a little of everything and attacked at most every area of the field.  He is able to create separation by jamming his foot in the ground and twisting outside effectively along with using his body to box opponents out from the play.  The Bulldog tight end is probably more effective in short to intermediate routes because he does not have elite speed, but is dangerous enough where a changeup where he does go deeper can be effective.

Lynch is able to absorb contact well when opponents try to jam him and knock him off of his line, but he can probably do a better job of using his hands and arms to protect himself and be more able to slip through more cleanly.  Nevertheless, Lynch is accustomed to going through crowded boxes, fighting through trash and finding spots to settle in defenses and get open to give his quarterback a target.

Hands

Lynch has shown the ability to be a reliable pass catcher, fitting the role of both an attacking option but also a safety net.  He is confident pass catcher with his hands and looks to snatch the ball cleanly out of the air.  There are some drops that need to be cleaned up, but they seem to be more a case of concentration than a real technical issue.  There is a small question about hearing footsteps and catching the ball into contact, but that should be resolved with reps and experience.

Lynch has a big catching radius as he has great hips and can contort himself effectively to catch passes behind him or over his head.  Already a big target, he can make less than ideal passes work well and make plays as well as making the run of the mill passes look easy.  Lynch tracks the ball well and is able to locate it and attack it effectively even when he has a small amount of time to adjust, making it easy for a quarterback to want to throw his way.

Run After Catch

Lynch is not a burner but he does do a good job of getting more than the minimum after he catches the ball.  He makes the transition from pass catcher to run after the catch smoothly and is able to anticipate contact and react.

Though he is not someone who is going to make opponents miss, he has an effective stiff arm and can attack the open field when it is there for him, occasionally springing some big runs.  Teams may not be afraid of him breaking a 50 yard run, he is not a lumbering tight end and is a good athlete.  So if teams do not account for him or sleep on him, he can rack up yards quickly.

Blocking

Lynch has experience both as an inline blocker and in the slot and as an H-back.  He is aggressive and not afraid to block down and take on defensive linemen, having success on defensive ends without help.  Lynch can end up being high, which makes it difficult for him to drive opponents down the field and he ends up working to force a stalemate and hold his ground, but he has certainly shown the ability to get behind his pads and drive an opponent down the field.  He works hard to finish plays and will look to send a message when possible.

There are times when Lynch will have trouble finishing blocks, but for the most part and will lose opponents as he tries to seal them from the play.  For the most part, he does a great job of opening the door for opponents to go away from the running play, so they take themselves out of the play.  Some of this is due to getting off balance and having his hands too far inside on the opponent, giving them an option to push pull.

Lynch is also able to hold up when opponents try to attack right at him, showing a good base and anchoring well.  He does have the ability to pass block, whether in a full time role during a given play or as a release option.

Specifically when it comes to attacking opponents as an H-back or in space, Lynch can do the job though it is not easy because he is tall.  When he combines that with a tendency to play high, it can be difficult.  His momentum carries him to a certain point, but if he can sink his hips and get lower with his pad level, he can adjust and be accurate with his blocks as well as win with power.

Lynch can still work to get behind his hands more consistently and get more power in his blocks, so he can be more impactful as a run blocker, but he has shown he is willing and able to contribute in that part of the game and should be able to step in immediately and help a team in that capacity.  More strength and better use of the power he has should only make him more effective with time.

System Fit

Lynch is a full service tight end that can do everything a team could want, but he has been groomed really well in Athens to be in a more traditional pro-style offense.  He seems to be at home inline, able to help block as well as attack the middle of the field to extend drives and be a red zone threat.

Nevertheless, Lynch could be attractive for any offense because he can contribute as an H-back and has experience as a joker.  While some may dismiss him as a joker style tight end, he can block from that position or play a bastard split to extend or change up the look of a blocking scheme.

Lynch may be ideal as a second tight end but certainly has the ability to develop into a #1 threat.  In a league that is looking for such specialized receiving threats, Lynch is more traditional, able to do a little of everything and for many teams, that might not be their goal for the #1 threat from that position.

NFL Comparison

Lynch’s game might be similar to that of Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys.  That does not mean that Lynch is a lock to be a possible Hall of Fame player but in terms of his ability to help block for a team with more fluidity and athleticism as a pass catcher than some might expect, there is a lot of ability there that could make him a great player at the next level.  Much will depend on how a team ultimately wants to use him, but he could certainly be a featured weapon for an offense like Witten has been.

Draft Projection

Arthur Lynch is a great well-rounded tight end in a world of specialists.  He has been great for Georgia and his skillset should translate extremely well to the NFL, both in his ability to help block and be an effective pass catcher.  As good as he was for the Bulldogs, Lynch’s best football could still be ahead of him and with the right team and fit, he could really flourish.  Lynch is worth a second round pick but could end up slipping into the third round due to the sheer amount of depth in the draft as a whole as well as the position.

Some of the film used in this scouting breakdown was provided by the good folks at draftbreakdown.com