2023 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings: An exciting and varied class

2023 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings – Mayer and Kincaid in a class of their own

If your team is needing a tight end, then this is the year to do it. The class is deep, but that does not mean you can afford to wait too long as the cream of the crop resides on days one and two. Every prospect listed within these 2023 NFL Draft tight end rankings has something to offer at the next level, but the top two truly do stand apart from the rest.

Grade: Early-Mid 1st Round, 6’4/249lbs

Mock Draft fatigue seems to have led to a fall in Michael Mayer’s stock, but do not let that fool you; he is the best that a deep class has to offer and sits atop of these 2023 NFL Draft tight end rankings.

Mayer’s college production has been outstanding at Notre Dame. With over 800 yards receiving in both 2021 and 2022, and seven and nine touchdowns respectively during those seasons, he is able to do everything needed to play the position at a high level — a complete tight end.

He is one of the rarer tight ends who will enter the league and produce an immediate impact and will be viewed among the league’s best by the end of 2023.

Mayer has been knocked for being slower than some of his peers, but this lack of straight-line speed does not hinder his game whatsoever. Tight ends do not need to blow past defenders in this way. What they do need to be able to do, and what Mayer demonstrates time and time again, is the ability to change direction and adjust late in routes and within tight spaces.

These athletic attributes, combined with his short area burst and agility, are what make him so effective. Mayer does not always appear wide open, but there is an art to what he does in this aspect of his game. The separation at the second level that he achieves is subtle and he can uncover at the key moment.

This subtlety is not always needed though as he can be a sudden and decisive route runner and he is incredible in contested catch situations. He seems to have his own gravitational pull when the ball is in the air as he makes catches look easy, even when multiple players are draped over him. Seeing him make catches in these scenarios, tracking the ball over his shoulder and making the grab, sometimes with one hand, is a real joy and offers some real ‘wow’ moments on tape.

Talking of his hands, Mayer always manages to snag the ball softly with his hands away from his body — he has the softest hands in the class and does not rely on body catches. He has a thick trunk, so when he has the ball in his hands, he is incredibly tough to take down in the open field.

Furthermore, after the catch, he can be a real bulldozer. He has a strong stiff arm and can shrug off would-be tacklers. He is not afraid to lower his head and embrace contact and will do the dirty work when blocking.

This is an area of his game that can be cleaned up, but it is clear that he can be coached to become an excellent blocker. His PFF run block grade in 2022 was 82.1, which is fifth best in the nation, two spots ahead of the perceived top blocking tight end prospect, Darnell Washington.

Overall, teams should not hesitate to draft Michael Mayer in round one as they will be receiving a premium player at the position for the next decade.

Mid 1st Round, 6’4/246lbs

Kincaid is the current darling of Draftniks, and it is obvious why. He is an excellent receiving weapon and has the build of an ideal modern day tight end. Arms of almost 33 inches highlight his length and he does display more variety than Mayer in the ways that he wins as a receiver.

His body control is outstanding, and Kincaid can contort his body in preparation for the catch after the ball has been released by his QB, which is a sight to behold. It is outstanding how he makes such incredible adjustments with the ball in the air at his size.

These traits allow him to consistently win on 50/50 chances, and even 30/70 chances where the defensive back has an advantage. Sturdy hands allow Kincaid to gain a stranglehold on the ball through the catch point. All of this combined suddenly flips 30/70 chances back in his favor and he comes down with it more often than not.

Another area where the tight end wins is thanks to his route running. He can create obvious separation on routes by using subtle head fakes, choppy, but fluent stuttered timing and genuine wide receiver instincts.

However, he is a little leaner than the Notre Dame prospect, is not the same level of blocker, and is not quite as sudden and fearless on shorter routes underneath. He is a willing blocker but lacks the functional strength at this point to be consistent at the next level.

The ex-Ute has better overall speed and can create separation this way better than any other prospect in the class. He is a clear mismatch across the middle and will become a dangerous weapon in the red zone on both fades and quick slants.

There is no doubt that he is the readiest pure pass-catching player in the 2023 NFL Draft tight end rankings and a selection in the middle of round one would not be unwarranted.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1607045252161966081

2023 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings #3-5

Mid 2nd Round, 6’3/245lbs

LaPorta is a chain mover. He is less showy than either of the two prospects ranking ahead of him in these 2023 NFL Draft tight end rankings, but should not be forgotten early on day two.

Less flashy than Kincaid in the passing game and not quite as sure-handed as Mayer, LaPorta nonetheless is an exciting prospect with a legitimate NFL skillset.

He already has a varied route tree and will not be overawed when he reaches the NFL. During his collegiate career, LaPorta lined up inline, as a big slot and out wide often, and was effective across the formation, even used as part of the screen game.

The ex-Hawkeye has a good build, is effective after the catch, and breaks tackles in the open field. Whilst on first appearance he looks like an average athlete, he had an excellent combine and this level of athleticism is evident the more you watch. He has good hips and can weave through traffic, making defenders miss, and has legitimate speed once he hits top gear.

He does rely on body catching a little more than the top two tight ends and he is not the most polished blocker, but the willingness is there. LaPorta is simply a complete tight end and will be higher coveted by NFL teams.

Late 2nd Round, 6’5/251lbs

Schoonmaker is a player with excellent size and looks like a traditional NFL tight end. He possesses terrific power and aggression and looks to dominate his opponent, finishing blocks with aplomb.

He has a great blend of everything that makes a successful tight end, displaying his athleticism at the combine to go along with his ideal size. A 10’7” broad jump ranked second at the position and his 4.63 second 40 time placed a quicker-than-expected fifth.

These testing results highlight another gear that Schoonmaker has in his locker, so there is some clear room for growth despite the fact that he will turn 25 early in the 2023 season.

The ex-Wolverine does have a few question marks in that does not create after the catch unlike the top three and does not create easy separation on longer developing routes.

Having said that, and whilst he may not be naturally creative with the ball in his hands, he will be an effective safety valve as he consistently finds soft holes in coverage on shorter routes underneath.

Schoonmaker has a high floor thanks to his well-rounded game and should find a home late on day two.

Early-Mid 3rd Round, 6’7/264lbs

Can’t go through him, can’t go around him, Washington looks more like a right tackle and is the best blocking tight end in the class. Playing second fiddle to Brock Bowers in the passing game, Washington flashed but is not the complete article just yet.

These flashes are exciting though. His ability to adjust when the ball is in the air is impressive for such a massive, powerful athlete. Washington’s route running is raw, but for his size, he has surprisingly good feet which was confirmed by the fastest short shuttle at the combine (4.08).

His run blocking ensures that his floor is high, but can he fulfill his perceived ceiling? He does sometimes look a bit lethargic on his breaks and is not the most subtle route runner; this is an area where he needs to develop more nuance to help create separation.

Washington will immediately become a threat on seam routes, in the red zone, and within soft spots against zone schemes. If he can develop as a legitimate receiving weapon against any type of defense, he has the potential to become a true TE1.

Pick your poison in round 3: Whyle, Musgrave and Kraft all carry major upside within these 2023 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings

Mid 3rd Round, 6’7/248lbs

Whyle has been going under the radar and is ranked just outside the top five in these 2023 NFL Draft tight end rankings.

Possessing a huge frame, he looks like a massive wideout and plays like it. Whyle’s combine results do not quite echo what you see on the field as he plays much faster than his 4.69-second 40-yard dash suggests.

He is an excellent route runner and has real YAC ability. Whyle is a good hands catcher and consistently plucks the ball out of the air in stride, and can tuck and run in one motion with no wasted motion. He is a fluid mover in space and has the ability to get open with regularity.

Should be decent with zone blocking at the next level, but Whyle is not a natural in-line blocker. While his frame and length are huge benefits in the passing game, he does not have a low center of gravity and is lacking a thick trunk, which lessens his natural anchor. His long legs and high-set frame may inhibit his overall ceiling when blocking in the run game at the NFL level.

Questions abound regarding his raw power compared to some of his peers ranked above him in this class, but Whyle’s impressive athleticism should help him find a home as an excellent TE2 in the NFL.

Late 3rd Round, 6’6/253lbs

Major hype started to build for Musgrave before the combine and his performance at the event then helped to amplify this. Musgrave has length and can run with the best of the players listed in these 2023 NFL Draft tight end rankings.

The Oregon State product does carry major athletic appeal but is a bit more of a project than some may expect. Musgrave does not possess convincing physicality or power and so is not yet a convincing blocker. He also sometimes gets knocked around by defenders in coverage.

Musgrave wins because he has the pass-catching chops that will enable him to be aligned across the formation. He has decent hands and adjusts well to the ball in the air. As long as he is not overmatched in press, he can run by linebackers, but questions remain concerning his ability to consistently win at the catch point in traffic.

Due to injury in 2022, there is a smaller sample size than ideal to judge Musgrave on, but he will be drafted for his potential as a mismatch at some point on day two.

Late 3rd Round, 6’5/254lbs

The final tight end that could potentially hear his name called on day two, Tucker Kraft is another prospect in these 2023 NFL Draft tight end rankings who will be drafted as an enticing project at the position. Kraft has great size and like Musgrave, can line up across the formation.

Another excellent athlete who possesses terrific body control through the catch and with the ball in his hands as a runner. He is scintillating to watch for a man of his size as he weaves through traffic utilizing his flexible hips and ability to run through tackles.

The question mark here though is the level of the Jackrabbits’ competition and this is what makes him a tough projection.

Further questions abound in the run game too, as his blocking could be more overwhelming. He just leaves you wanting more in terms of his physicality when taking the caliber of opposition into account.

Having said this, there is no doubt that Kraft possesses excellent traits and a team will bet on them. His ceiling is very high, but can he get there?

Early-Mid 4th Round, 6’4/245lbs

Allen is a proven red zone weapon with a real ability to post up defenders effectively in this area of the field. He extends very well to high point the ball and make the grab, not just in the red zone, but in all areas of the field.

The ex-Tiger is effective as a weapon down the seam and across the middle of the field and he is reliable in traffic on contested catch situations. Allen has also shown that he is a useful asset leaking out from the backfield and will become a useful safety valve for his quarterback in the NFL on short underneath routes.

He has decent athletic ability as demonstrated by his usage on screens, but he is unlikely to run by NFL defenders or overpower multiple tacklers. Allen does not appear to have the build or raw strength to become a top-tier blocker, but he does show willing.

Should find a role as a pass-catching tight end in the NFL with the potential to block adequately in certain situations.

Mid 4th Round, 6’4/253lbs

Strange is a physical prospect who blocks well. He has a genuinely impressive ability to get off the ball and accelerates quickly on his routes. On extended run plays, he adjusts to blocks at the second level well and is not afraid to do this dirty work. Strange is certainly more powerful than he looks.

As a ball carrier, he moves fluidly and could have been used more in this sense for Penn State, giving off a feeling that his best football is still to come. He offers potential after the catch and could become a true weapon if schemed effectively.

Comparably against his peers, his potential in the passing game may be slightly limited as he does not quite have the catch radius as some of the other players in these 2023 NFL Draft tight end rankings. Nor is he a particularly impressive route runner.

He does possess solid hands though and will compete through the catch, so he should not be completely discounted as an afterthought in this class.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1613553260421316608

Strange is a better athlete than his combine stats suggest and he has effective functional athleticism. It is easy to wish that there was more variety and usage to his game in college, as suggested earlier, but he is one to watch as someone who may blossom at the next level.

Perhaps ends up as a reliable TE2 who moves around the formation and is a jack of all trades, but a master of none.

2023 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings: Best of the rest available in rounds 5-7

11. Will Mallory — Miami — Late 4th Round/6’4/239lbs

12. Zack Kuntz — Old Dominion — Late 4th Round/6’7/255lbs

13. Cameron Latu — Alabama — 5th Round/6’4/242lbs

14. Brayden Willis — Oklahoma — 6th Round/6’3/241lbs

15. Payne Durham — Purdue — 6th Round/6’5/253

How do your ratings compare to my 2023 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings? Who would you draft for your team? Let me know on Twitter @BenAMatthews