The Others (players I didn't cover in my profiles) - TEs

[The Football Guru 211]

1. O.J. Howard

 

2. David Njoku

 

3. Evan Engram

 

4. Bucky Hodges

 

High-end NFL Player Comp(s): Marques Colston

Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Matt Jones

 

Make no mistake about it: Hodges is a "matchup tight end" with little chance of ever becoming an in-line option. To that end, Virginia Tech used him almost exclusively as a wide receiver this year under first-year coach Justin Fuente, who favors the spread attack over retired HC Frank Beamer's more pro-style approach. With that said, there are only so many 6-6, 257-pound tight ends with 4.57 speed, 39-inch verticals and 12'2" broad jumps walking the earth. (To put that into some perspective, Mike Evans ran 4.53 and jumped 37 inches at the 2014 combine.) Hodges' 2016 Pitt tape was essentially the Panthers putting on a pass-interference clinic on him and he still came away with six catches for 145 yards. Perhaps this is all just a long way to say there isn't really like him to come into the draft in recent memory (Jimmy Graham is close athletically, but Miami never used him as a full-time receiver and he was 260 pounds. Hodges didn't look much heavier than 235 on tape.) So, it seems rather pointless to call him a receiver or a tight end because he should really be considered an offensive weapon. His snaps will need to be managed throughout the early part of his career because he doesn't bring much as a blocker, but he should make up for it many times over with his ability to tower over smaller defensive backs on deep balls and simply present a bigger target than anyone can realistically be expected to guard in the end zone.

 

 

5. Adam Shaheen

 

High-end NFL Player Comp(s): Jason Witten

Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): C.J. Fiedorowicz

 

In an age in which it seems like most tight end prospects are "rocked-up" receivers, Shaheen is a throwback at 6-6 and 278 pounds. Despite his near-offensive lineman size, he is a former accomplished high-school basketball player who actually possesses a bit of fluidity as a route-runner and has more than speed (4.79) than anyone his size should expect to have. Surprisingly, he didn't maul defenders as a run-blocker at the Division II level, although it seems rather apparent that was more due to lack of proper technique - something one would hope a NFL coach could correct in relatively short order. Like most receivers/tight ends who dominate a lower level of competition, Shaheen has some work to do in terms of learning how to use his hands in order to free himself down the field - he didn't consistently separate from defenders at the Division II level based solely on athleticism, so he'd have a very hard time doing so in the NFL if he doesn't improve - and needs to hold his line better during his route. However, there is no question some tight end coach is going to want to work with him, as it doesn't take a lot of imagination to figure out he could be a dominant red zone force if he is developed properly.

 

 

6. Gerald Everett

 

High-end NFL Player Comp(s): (Young) Julius Thomas

Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Austin Seferian-Jenkins

 

Everett is part of the growing list of former basketball players to become a higher-round prospect despite limited experience playing football. Despite checking in at 6-3 and 240 pounds, he is still a more oversized wide receiver than an undersized tight end at this point. To this point, he's gotten by more on athleticism than precision. The odds are long Everett will ever become a traditional tight end, but that doesn't mean he can't become one of the better "F" (move) tight ends in the league. But he is a huge projection. He blocks with more passion - especially for someone with his limited football background - but obviously hasn't been schooled all that much on the art of route-running. Everett boasts enticing run-after-catch and big-play potential, but he has some of the smaller hands in the draft (8 1/2") and didn't score nearly as many touchdowns (13 in three years) as someone might expect a player of his talents might have in Conference USA (UAB) and the Sun Belt (South Alabama). It will probably take him a little while to reach his potential but if developed properly, a Thomas-like career (hopefully without the injuries) is more than achievable.

 

 

7. Jake Butt

 

High-end NFL Player Comp(s): Zach Miller (former Raider and Seahawk)

Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Cameron Brate

 

Butt is not nearly as athletic as the other top-ranked tight ends in this class and is coming off the torn right ACL he suffered in Michigan's Orange Bowl loss to Florida State, but he is probably going to survive a long time in the NFL because he has a great feel for how to get open against zone coverage, makes the difficult catch, is fearless over the middle and has very reliable hands. Like most of his fellow tight end classmates, he needs to get stronger and is very much a work in progress as a blocker. The beauty of his game is that he understands his limitations and already has a few years of experience working around them. He's crafty and doesn't waste a lot of movement turning up the field after the catch. In short, he's already a pro's pro. And despite his limited athleticism, he is still a downfield weapon. PFF credited Wolverine QBs with a 135.4 quarterback rating when Butt ran either a post or corner route.