Ohio State’s Nick Vannett Scouting Report.
Nick Vannett fits the mold of the modern day tight end in that he creates mismatches in the passing game. His combination of size, length and quickness makes it tough for defenses to find someone to cover him in one on one situations.
Vannett is a fluid athlete who can run clean routes and create separation. He shows enough awareness to find holes in the zone and provide his quarterback with a big target. His length allows him to attack the ball at its highest point and catch the ball when in tight coverage.
As a blocker, Vannett plays with balance and works to gain inside hands. He knows how to use angles and can seal a defender from the play. This isn’t an overly physical blocker nor will help consistently generate a push off the ball.
However, he does enough as a blocker to keep defenses honest and hope some running lanes. Ohio State uses him a lot out of the backfield where he served as a lead blocker. A few NFL teams might want to use him in that type of role when asking him to help the running game.
Ohio State didn’t do Vannett any favors as far as his draft stock is concerned. Vannett wasn’t a major part of the team’s game plan and was routinely a secondary option. He has a chance to be much more effective in the NFL than he was in college.
Current Draft Range: 4th Round