Michael Mayer and 7 potential Patriots TE picks
Welcome to Potential Patriots!
Each day leading up to the NFL Draft on April 27, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are likely targeting position by position. The Pats have 11 picks this year, starting at 14th overall, their highest selection in more than a decade. As for their other picks, the Patriots could pad their depth at virtually any position.
Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ best prospect fits at tight end.
Day 1 Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 250 Projected round: 1st Scouting report: Looking for a surprise pick for the Patriots in the first round? Start with Mayer.
As Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki enter contract years, Mayer could offer the Patriots a chance to start a new era at the position. He is universally regarded as a top-two prospect among tight ends, and the safest pick in this class. He spent most of his time inline at Notre Dame, where he blocked well and caught 67 passes for 809 yards and nine touchdowns.
Mayer doesn’t have breakaway speed, but he runs a sharp, diverse route tree and can be a reliable target in high-leverage situations such as third down and inside the red zone. He’s drawn comparisons to the Steelers’ Pat Freiermuth and potential Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Witten.
Darnell Washington, Georgia
Ht/Wt: 6-7, 265 Projected round: 1st-2nd Scouting report: Washington is a unicorn prospect based on size alone, but his raw strength and quick feet separate him as a potential game-wrecker in the NFL. He can function as a sixth offensive lineman when run-blocking, and make catches no other prospect in this class can as a receiver. Washington will be a force on Day 1 of training camp, but if his next coaches can mold him into a more disciplined blocker and refine his route-running, Washington’s potential is unmatched among this year’s tight end prospects.
Day 2 Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
Ht/Wt: 6-6, 251 Projected round: 2nd Scouting report: If the Patriots are betting on potential and Washington’s off the board, Musgrave should be their man.
He crushed the Senior Bowl after injury limited him to two games last season, when he was widely expected to break out as one of the best tight ends in college football. He’s a rare athlete with elite acceleration and explosion for the position, traits he maximizes through his fluid route-running and natural run-after-catch skills. Musgrave also shows no quit as a blocker and potential for that area of his game to develop into a strength.
Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 259 Projected round: 2nd-3rd Scouting report: A twotime FCS All-American, Kraft is among the strongest tight ends in the draft who passed up interest from Alabama last year to return to South Dakota State. Injury prevented him from breaking out statistically, but his testing numbers at the combine match his man-among-boys tape. Kraft can play both in-line and split out wide, where he’s a monster after the catch. He might have a yearlong learning curve coming from the FCS level, but there’s potential for him to finish as a top-3 tight end from this class.
Sam LaPorta, Iowa
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 245 Projected round: 2nd-3rd Scouting report: Every Iowa opponent knew the ball was going to LaPorta last season, and he separated anyway as one of the best pass-catching talents in the draft. In a program that produced NFL talents George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant, he became the first tight end to lead Iowa in receiving for two straight seasons. He also forced more than 20 missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus.
LaPorta is smaller than the Patriots’ ideal prototype, but his quickness, toughness and leadership (former team captain) make him a good bet to emerge in the NFL as a borderline No. 1/No. 2 tight end down the road.
Day 3 Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 251
Projected round: 4th Scouting report: A twoyear starter for the Wolverines, Schoonmaker has ample experience playing in a pro-style offense and will be no stranger to the rigors of run-blocking against NFL talent. He tested exceptionally well for a player of his size (4.6 in the 40-yard dash and a 6.81-second time in the 3-cone), which should assuage concerns about his lack of receiving production in college. Aside from his athletic testing numbers, Schoonmaker doesn’t wow in any area but he is one of the most well-rounded prospects in this tight end class.
Payne Durham, Purdue
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 253 Projected round: 4th-5th Scouting report: A Senior Bowl standout, Durham is one of the few prospects at this stage of the draft with prototypical size for an in-line tight end. He revels in the dirty work of the position and can make tough catches in short areas. Durham won’t wow with his athleticism, but can move around the formation and develop into a red-zone threat. And his lacrosse background should earn him extra points in Foxboro.
Will Mallory, Miami
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 238 Projected round: 5th-6th Scouting report: The fastest-timed tight end at the NFL combine, Mallory profiles as a receiving or “F” tight end at the next level. He’s a smooth, natural athlete coming off the best season of his college career (43 catches, 538 yards, 3 TDs) when he was also voted a team captain. Mallory shows great acceleration to set up and blow by linebackers in coverage and can sit down against zone coverage. Coming from a football family with ex-NFL head coaches, Mallory should bring a pro attitude to his next team.