4 tight ends to watch in first round
After hiring a proven offensive coordinator, the Patriots’ surest path to improving their offense is upgrading their offensive line.
Provide better protection for Mac Jones and clear wide running lanes for Rhamondre Stevenson, and they should reach new heights and carry the team with them.
After bolstering the offensive line? How about adding a tight end?
Like a new right tackle, a starting-caliber tight end can enhance the Patriots’ pass protection and runblocking. Unlike an O-lineman, he can serve as a bigbodied receiver, most notably in critical situations such as third down and inside the red zone. It’s no accident most recent Super Bowl participants have rostered an upper-echelon tight end like Travis Kelce, Dallas Goedert and Rob Gronkowski.
Hunter Henry can be that player, but was too often asked last season to pass-block next to a leaky offensive line. Henry finished with 41 catches for 509 yards, the lowest single-season numbers of his career since his rookie season. Henry will be a free agent next spring, potentially leaving the Patriots with Jonnu Smith and Jonnu Smith only in 2024; all the more reason to address this problem via the draft.
And the timing couldn’t be much better. Several draft experts are calling this year’s class one of the deeper tight end groups in years, with 3-4 prospects graded as worthy firstround picks. If the Patriots target a tight end in the first round, it’s likely they will trade back from 14th overall given most of these prospects should be available a little later.
However, that doesn’t mean these players can’t make an impact from Day 1 or even compete for a starting spot as soon as September. Here are the names to know:
Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Of all the prospects in this year’s class, Mayer looks the part.
He’s a traditional “Y” tight end, who operates at the end of the line of scrimmage at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds. He’s an impact player as a blocker and receiver, out-muscling defenders in both roles. Mayer isn’t an elite athlete in space, but he’s strong and competes well in contested catch situations. He entered college as a five-star recruit and left as a consensus All-American.
Dalton Kincaid, Utah
One of the most athletic players in this year’s class, Kincaid can win 1-on-1 from the slot or work in-line. He’s a little bit lighter at 240 pounds, but runs sharp routes, moves well and possesses excellent ball skills. Last season, Kincaid racked up 70 passes for 890 yards and eight touchdowns as a third-team All-American.
Kincaid offers more blocking chops than a Mike Gesicki, but profiles similarly as an “F” tight end. Multiple evaluators have compared him to Zach Ertz.
Darnell Washington, Georgia
Six-foot-7 and pounds. Enough said?
Not quite, but Washington might offer the most potential in this class thanks to his rare size and athleticism. He’s a brick house on the move, manhandling defenders as a blocker and steamrolling them after the catch as a receiver. 270
Washington can play high at times and his production last season (28 catches for 454 yards) was underwhelming, but the talent is undeniable. Washington could be a Pro Bowl problem at the next level with the right coaching.
Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
Injury limited Musgrave to two games last season, but he recovered in time to dominate the Senior Bowl, one of the most important events on the Patriots’ draft calendar. At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, he cleared 20 MPH in practice, and according to Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy might run a 4.4 at the NFL Combine.
And yet there’s more to like about Musgrave than straight speed. He’s physical enough as a blocker and a natural in space, able to make defenders miss with plus quickness and awareness. Musgrave is raw and questions will linger about his lack of tape, but he should land somewhere on Bill Belichick’s board. Not to mention, he has a lacrosse background, too.