2023 NFL Draft Rankings: Tight Ends
Josh Frey
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With the college football season coming to an end, we are approaching the always anticipated NFL Draft cycle. Prior to this portion of the NFL calendar’s beginning, we are going over a few of the top players at each position here on PurplePTSD. So far, we’ve discussed the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. Today, we go over the tight end 2023 NFL Draft rankings.
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1. Michael Mayer (Notre Dame)
Michael Mayer isn’t the other-worldly athlete that Kyle Pitts was coming out of college, but he brings the whole package at the tight end position. Throughout his collegiate career at Notre Dame, he’s carved out a major role in their offense over the past three years.
At 6’4, he can make catches above the rim on a consistent basis, making him difficult to cover in the middle of the field, and most importantly, in the red zone. Additionally, he can lay some impressive blocks on defenders in the running game, though he could use some improvements in that area. If a tight end will get picked in the first round, it will be Mayer.
2. Darnell Washington (Georgia)
Simply put, Darnell Washington is massive, even by tight end standards. The Georgia Bulldog is 6’7 and 267 pounds, making him closer to an EDGE in size rather than a tight end. Combine that with enough athleticism to hurdle tacklers, and you get a great prospect.
Washington won’t blow you away with speed, but he brings capable hands as a receiver. On top of that, his size gives him the ability to block like a legitimate offensive lineman. He hasn’t put up massive numbers over his career, but his fingerprints have been all over the Georgia offense during their run of success.
3. Dalton Kincaid (Utah)
Dalton Kincaid is a bit on the smaller side for NFL tight ends, but he brings terrific athleticism to the table and soft hands as a receiver. In each of the last two seasons for Utah, he’s caught 8 TD passes and displays some sharp ability as a route runner.
The biggest thing that Kincaid must improve upon is his strength, though. He doesn’t provide much in terms of blocking, and he won’t wow anyone with his ability to run through tacklers. Either way, expect him to be a Day Two or early Day Three selection for his receiving upside.
4. Cameron Latu (Alabama)
Coming out of high school, Cameron Latu actually was a successful high school pass rusher, but he quickly transitioned to the tight end position given the Crimson Tide depth at EDGE.
Success quickly found Latu at his new position, and now, he enters the 2023 NFL Draft as one of the top dogs at the tight end spot. Latu’s best trait is his explosive speed into his route. This combination of explosivity and size makes him a difficult cover for anyone on defense.
Similar to Kincaid, though, he could benefit from adding strength to his frame. He doesn’t offer much as a blocker right now, but that could change with dedication to building a few extra pounds of muscle.
5. Luke Schoonmaker (Michigan)
Luke Schoonmaker isn’t the most consistent blocker right now, but he certainly gives solid effort in that area of his game. With some further development, he could become a major asset in the running game.
Similarly, among the final three players in this top-five, Schoonmaker offers the least amount of immediate upside as a receiver. He’s not the most explosive player, and because of that, it takes some time for his routes to develop. However, he has sure hands, so when the ball goes his way, it will likely find its way into his grasp.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.