Originally Posted by
El-Gonzo Jackson
Thanks B&G, I think there are a lot of good TE's in the draft, but not any Hockensen or Noah Fant types. But there are a few guys including Adam Trautman at Mobile that I like. Here is kind of what I saw:
-Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic. Looks like a big WR that moved into TE. Great route runner, great hands, big target at 6'5" but slightly smaller frame and lower body could make him suspect in the blocking game, although showed to be a willing blocker. I think he looks like a Round 2 pick.
Adam Trautman TE, Dayton. At 6'5" and approx 250 he runs well, gets in and out of breaks well, gets vertical and finds seams. Look at the Denzel Mims video above and he is the TE that is open underneath and you can see his athletecism. Also showed solid blocking skills in the 11-11 sessions. I think he is the most complete TE at Mobile. I think he goes in the 2nd unless somebody falls in love with his skills.
-Brycen Hopkins TE Purdue. shorter than Trautman at 6'3.5", but similar frame, he showed good combination of speed and route running and hands. Son of former O lineman Brad Hopkins, the kid doesn't shy away from blocking in the run game. I think he is a round 3 type pick unless somebody needs a TE, so he could go from 2-4 IMO.
-Stephen Sullivan TE LSU. A converted WR, he is a big target that got caught behind Moss on the roster and LSU wasn't running a lot of 2 TE sets. He showed ability to get vertical, great hands, smooth athlete and a willing blocker. To me he didn't look great at getting lateral in running out cuts or sitting in zones on curls, so needs some work. Definitely a receiving TE, but maybe a limited route tree right now. I think he is there in the 5th.
-Jared Pinkney TE Vandy. Had a great 2018, but production was down this season in terms of receiving. A bit more stock of an athlete, doesn't seem to have the twitchy athleticism of the guys noted above, but as a complete TE he should rank ahead of Sullivan IMO. Good receiver, good blocker, but might be more of a Jerame Tuman type guy that is a good all around TE, but isn't going to beat Safetys in coverage IMO.
-Josiah DeGuara, TE Cincinatti. A guy that looks a bit like Pinkney in terms of build and not as twitchy of an athlete, but all he did at Cinci was get open all season. Was the 2nd leading receiver for the Bearcats. Watching him play TE to me is like watching Matakevich play ILB. He is all hustle, effort, finding holes in the zone and using his route running ability to get an edge. Not the best athlete on the field but a guy that gets things done. I think he is R5-7 guy and a #2 or #3 guy in the room.
McKeon from Michigan is good as well, but I think these 6 guys all rank above him.
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On the catch by Denzel Mims, look at the TE in the Red Helmet get off the LOS and get downfield. Trautman.