Missouri tight end Albert Okwuegbunam declares for 2020 NFL Draft

The list of underclassmen who are declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft is growing. Today it was Missouri tight end Albert Okwuegbunam who joined the group.

Announcing today via Twitter, Missouri tight end Albert Okwuegbunam will be foregoing his senior season of eligibility to declare for the 2020 NFL Draft. Okwuegbunam is one of a handful of Missouri Tigers to declare for the draft after the University decided to fire head coach Barry Odom.

In a weak tight end class that has seen Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth and Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet return to school, Okwuegbunam has a real opportunity to become the first tight end off the board, along with Purdue’s Brycen Hopkins and Washington’s Hunter Bryant. He has the size, versatility, and athleticism that NFL teams will be looking for at the tight end position, one of growing importance at the next level.

At 6-5 and 250 pounds, Okwuegbunam is an ideal size to create mismatches against linebackers and safeties in the NFL, a trait that will not be ignored by scouts and general managers. He shows a good first step off the line of scrimmage and is a more than willing participant in blocking in space and in the trenches.

https://twitter.com/AOkwuegbunam/status/1201516422343647232?s=20

While his production has dropped in 2019, that may be more of a systematic complaint than a dig at Okwuegbunam. Last year the massive target caught 43 passes for 466 yards receiving and scored six touchdowns; this year, while still scoring six times, Okwuegbunam has managed just 306 yards on 26 catches in 2019.

Okwuegbunam has all of the potential to be a threat in the NFL, and he is taking his chances now rather than go through a coaching change in college. Look out for the big target throughout this pre-draft process.