Fantasy Football Today - fantasy football rankings, cheatsheets, and information
A Fantasy Football Community!




 Log In  | Sign Up  |  Contact      






2022 NFL Draft: Best of the Rest - Tight Ends



By Doug Orth | 4/29/22 |

It is much better to have an idea of where you stand on an incoming talent before he is drafted, if only the public tends to cater to popular opinion and "fit" after he is selected. Evaluating the incoming rookie class before the draft gives us a more stable ground with which to base our opinions and helps us avoid some of those "popular" pitfalls.

The goal with this piece (and the position-by-position ones to follow) is to provide a slightly quicker but still very thorough overview of some of the top prospects that were not covered in my draft profiles. The hope is that this exercise will give readers all the information that could ask for as they began preparing for upcoming rookie drafts.

Trey McBride

Trey McBride Draft Profile

Vitals

College: Colorado State
Height/Weight: 6'4"/246
Hands: 10 1/8"
Age: 22 (at the time of the 2022 season opener)


Important NFL Combine Numbers

40-Yard Dash: 4.56 (pro day)
Vertical Jump: 33"
Broad Jump: 9'9"
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A

College Production (Stats)

High-end NFL Player Comp(s): Greg Olsen
Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Harrison Bryant

Position-Specific Attributes and Grades
Attribute Att Grade Scale
Ball Tracking 9.0 10.0
Contested Catch/Body Control 8.5 10.0
Hands 10.0 10.0
Release 8.0 10.0
Route-Running 8.5 10.0
Run After Catch 8.0 10.0
Physicality/Competitiveness 6.5 8.0
Blocking 4.5 6.0
Separation 2.0 3.0
Speed 3.0 3.0
Film Grade 68.0 80.0
     
Pre-Draft Fantasy Prospect Grade* (out of 50): 40.5

* - How well does his skill set carry over to the fantasy game? For tight ends, a player needs to be a realistic threat for 60 catches and 800 rushing yards at some point early in their career to be a candidate for a perfect grade. Positional scarcity at the pro level is also a part of the equation.

Positives

With a mere six drops and one fumble during his college career (versus 164 catches), McBride is as sure-handed as they come. He runs to his timed speed (4.56) and figures to threaten the seam from the moment he first steps onto a pro field. McBride's competitive spirit shows up in the effort he puts into blocking as much as it does after the catch; he is not elite in either area but certainly more advanced in both relative to the majority of tight ends who have entered the draft recently. Last year's John Mackey award winner became the first tight end since 2013 to surpass 1,100 receiving yards in a season last season despite below-average quarterback play and emerging as the central focus of every defense early in the season. McBride also proved to be extremely versatile for the Rams, contributing on special teams every year while also lining up all over the field - including at fullback.

Negatives

There are not many gaping holes in McBride's game, but rather areas that he can shore up over the next year or two. The amount of separation he gets for someone with his athleticism is a bit disappointing, although it is most likely a function of concentrating too much on running the route as it is drawn up and the expectation his defender will get help over the top. Although he wins more than his fair share of contested catches, he could afford to be more aggressive in those situations. McBride's five missed tackles forced (per Pro Football Focus) is a small number for a player who caught 90 balls. He also committed an unusually high number of penalties (eight) in 2021. McBride blocks well for a college tight end but probably needs to add some more muscle to finish off his man on a more regular basis. (Added muscle might improve his ability after the catch as well.)

Bottom Line

Outside of his surprisingly low touchdown production (he scored only one time in 2021 and averaged a score only once every 16.4 catches in his college career) and some functional strength concerns that most college tight ends have, McBride is about as complete of a prospect as NFL coaches could hope for. There is some Travis Kelce to his game and there is a small chance he could have that kind of ceiling in time, although a more realistic goal is probably in the Olsen or Zach Ertz stratosphere. So long as he stays healthy enough to run as well as he does now and develops more nuance as a route-runner, McBride should eventually emerge as a top-10 tight end in the league.

Jelani Woods Draft Profile

Vitals

College: Virginia
Height/Weight: 6'7"/275
Hands: 9 1/4"
Age: 23 (at the time of the 2022 season opener)


Important NFL Combine Numbers

40-Yard Dash: 4.61
Vertical Jump: 37.5" (pro day)
Broad Jump: 10'9" (pro day)
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.33 (pro day)
3-Cone: 6.95 (pro day)

College Production (Stats)

High-end NFL Player Comp(s): A stronger Logan Thomas
Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Marcedes Lewis

Position-Specific Attributes and Grades
Attribute Att Grade Scale
Ball Tracking 8.0 10.0
Contested Catch/Body Control 8.0 10.0
Hands 8.0 10.0
Release 6.5 10.0
Route-Running 6.0 10.0
Run After Catch 7.0 10.0
Physicality/Competitiveness 6.5 8.0
Blocking 3.5 6.0
Separation 2.0 3.0
Speed 2.5 3.0
Film Grade 58.0 80.0
     
Pre-Draft Fantasy Prospect Grade* (out of 50): 39.0

* - How well does his skill set carry over to the fantasy game? For tight ends, a player needs to be a realistic threat for 60 catches and 800 rushing yards at some point early in their career to be a candidate for a perfect grade. Positional scarcity at the pro level is also a part of the equation

Positives

Woods is yet another example of college programs showcasing tight ends (or not knowing what to do with the spectacularly talented ones when they are on campus). Oklahoma State did the right thing by converting him to tight end (from quarterback) in 2017 but asked him to block about a third of the 659 passing snaps he was on the field over his four seasons in Stillwater. It is somewhat understandable considering how big he is, but the Cowboys' coaching staff obviously ignored his athleticism. He transferred to Virginia and doubled his career production across the board en route to becoming an All-ACC selection. Woods is ridiculously long (approximately 34-inch arms and a wingspan of more than 82 inches) and routinely snags balls with his hands that are outside of his frame. (He recorded 11 contested catches last season, good for sixth at his position in college football.) While his yards after the catch average (5.2) was nothing to write home about in 2021, he forced 11 missed tackles on 44 catches and repeatedly made linebackers and safeties crumble when they tried to tackle him downfield.

Negatives

For all of Woods' athleticism, he is limited athletically when it comes to doing what he will be drafted to do: threaten the seam. He can do it once, but it takes him a bit to hit top speed (long-strider). Additionally, he is going to remain on his track once he hits top speed because he is so massive. His inexperience at the position is likely the main reason for his raw route-running (although he does show flashes, he does tend to telegraph routes) and inconsistent hand placement, which undoubtedly contributed to his 10.2 percent drop rate in 2021. While he certainly has the body to hold up as a blocker, Oklahoma State did not give him enough snaps to prove he can hold up game after game in that area. Virginia rarely used him as a blocker.

Bottom Line

The fact that Woods' testing numbers are better than Kyle Pitts' from last year is befuddling, to say the least. While Woods moves well for a player of his size, I would bet on him winning any drill against Pitts now if the two were to retest. Either way, his testing numbers mean he has to be taken seriously as a draft prospect. What Woods did in 2021 was impressive given how little he was used at Oklahoma State. He profiles immediately as a red zone fiend who can either box out defenders with his massive frame or fly above the rim to snag in a high throw that most defenders could only dream to touch. It seems reasonable to believe he will be a bit of a project this year and maybe next, but one that is easily capable of becoming a Pro Bowl performer down the line. There is simply too much athleticism here for him to fail if he gets coached up (and utilized) correctly.

Isaiah Likely Draft Profile

Vitals

College: Coastal Carolina
Height/Weight: 6'4"/245
Hands: 10"
Age: 22 (at the time of the 2022 season opener)


Important NFL Combine Numbers

40-Yard Dash: 4.82 (pro day)
Vertical Jump: 36"
Broad Jump: 10’3” (pro day)
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.57
3-Cone: 7.39 (pro day)

College Production (Stats)

High-end NFL Player Comp(s): Delanie Walker
Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Randy McMichael

Position-Specific Attributes and Grades
Attribute Att Grade Scale
Ball Tracking 9.0 10.0
Contested Catch/Body Control 8.5 10.0
Hands 9.5 10.0
Release 8.0 10.0
Route-Running 9.0 10.0
Run After Catch 9.0 10.0
Physicality/Competitiveness 5.0 8.0
Blocking 3.5 6.0
Separation 2.0 3.0
Speed 1.5 3.0
Film Grade 65.0 80.0
     
Pre-Draft Fantasy Prospect Grade* (out of 50): 37.0

* - How well does his skill set carry over to the fantasy game? For tight ends, a player needs to be a realistic threat for 60 catches and 800 rushing yards at some point early in their career to be a candidate for a perfect grade. Positional scarcity at the pro level is also a part of the equation.

Positives

Despite some lackluster athletic testing numbers (40, 20-yard shuttle, 3-cone), Likely produced his share of big plays (five catches of 55-plus yards over the last two seasons) and is a threat after the catch (14 receptions of 20-plus yards in 2021). He is surprisingly quick and loose-hipped for a 245-pound man, and he possesses much more experience in running a full route tree than one might expect from a Sun Belt player. While he will likely not line up outside very often in the NFL, he is sudden enough to beat most linebackers and some safeties with a speed-out, curl or slant if he gets flexed out of the backfield and the defense is slow to adjust.

Negatives

At 245 pounds, he is stuck in a bit of a no man's land; he is at a great size to be a fullback but does not block well enough to live there. He is also too light to be a traditional tight end in most schemes. There are flashes of him exerting his will on second-and third-level defenders, but his blocking as a whole needs work - even though he typically gives good effort. To that end, he needs to add some muscle, but it is fair to wonder if he can do it without sacrificing some of his aforementioned positive traits. It is not as if he can afford to move slower at his current weight; he is not exactly a seam-stretcher as it is.

Bottom Line

Likely is a player that is about 10 years too late to the party in that he is an ideal H-back in a league that largely does not use the position anymore. Creating mismatches is in vogue, however, and that is where Likely could shine. On film, he appears to be much more athletic than his test scores would indicate, and there is always going to be a place in the league for potential mismatch players with good hands who can do some work after the catch.

Greg Dulcich Draft Profile

Vitals

College: UCLA
Height/Weight: 6'4"/243
Hands: 9 7/8"
Age: 22 (at the time of the 2022 season opener)


Important NFL Combine Numbers

40-Yard Dash: 4.69
Vertical Jump: 34"
Broad Jump: 10'2"
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.37
3-Cone: 7.05

College Production (Stats)

High-end NFL Player Comp(s): Dalton Schultz
Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Austin Hooper

Position-Specific Attributes and Grades
Attribute Att Grade Scale
Ball Tracking 8.5 10.0
Contested Catch/Body Control 8.5 10.0
Hands 8.0 10.0
Release 7.0 10.0
Route-Running 9.0 10.0
Run After Catch 8.5 10.0
Physicality/Competitiveness 5.5 8.0
Blocking 2.0 6.0
Separation 2.0 3.0
Speed 2.0 3.0
Film Grade 61.0 80.0
     
Pre-Draft Fantasy Prospect Grade* (out of 50): 36.5

* - How well does his skill set carry over to the fantasy game? For tight ends, a player needs to be a realistic threat for 60 catches and 800 rushing yards at some point early in their career to be a candidate for a perfect grade. Positional scarcity at the pro level is also a part of the equation.

Positives

Dulcich tested well at the Combine, and there are times when he shows why those numbers are legit. He is no stranger to detaching from the line (he lined up in the slot nearly a third of the time last season). Dulcich's 4.69 speed shows up when he gets a chance to build up some momentum (six of his catches covered at least 30 yards in 2021 and three of his 11 career TD catches covered at least 50 yards). His 33 3/8-inch arms would make many offensive tackles jealous. They also give him a larger catch radius than most tight ends. I did not get to see many plays in which he exhibited remarkable body control or ball-tracking skills, but there was a touchdown catch against Cal last year in which he showed both - at least enough to make me believe he has that in his bag if he needs it.

Negatives

Dulcich has added roughly 35 pounds to his frame since walking on at UCLA and he will need to add more, as he lacks the functional strength at this point to win at the line of scrimmage consistently. His blocking technique and effort are inconsistent, to say the least. Dulcich also tends to get too upright at the top of his routes, which takes away from his overall fluidity and reduces the effectiveness of his ability as a route-runner. I also feel as though his big-play ability and speed may be a bit overrated. For example, his 75-yard catch-and-run against LSU was a play in which the zone defense forgot about him about 15 yards down the field and the closest defender was about five yards away. That defender missed his tackle attempt about 15 yards later, yet he was nearly caught right at the end despite having about a 10-15 yard head start.

Bottom Line

Schultz and Hooper are good tight ends that have benefited a great deal from their scheme and/or supporting cast as pros. Ultimately, I believe Dulcich is in the same boat. His hands are steady for the most part. He will consistently make himself available in the short and intermediate passing game and is a good bet to move the chains when he gets his hands on the ball. I do not believe he is a game-changing tight end by any stretch, but that doesn't mean he will not be more than serviceable as a pro. Schultz and Hooper each have multiple 60-catch seasons on their resume, and I think that is also possible for Dulcich in the right system.

---

Predict the top ten picks of the NFL Draft for a chance to win FFToday prizes. Enter our NFL Draft Contest now.


Doug Orth has written for FF Today since 2006 and been featured in USA TODAY's Fantasy Football Preview magazine since 2010. He is also a high-stakes player who often appears as a guest analyst on a number of national sports radio shows, such as Sirius XM’s “Fantasy Drive." Doug is also a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association.