2022 NFL Draft Prospects: Tight End

4/26/22: McBride produced well for Colorado State in 2021. He is a quality receiver who combines route-running, quickness, and nice hands. McBride practiced well at the Senior Bowl. He is the consensus top tight end prospect for the 2022 NFL Draft.

6/26/21: McBride played well in Colorado State’s limited 2020 action. He was a receiving weapon for Colorado State in 2019, showing quality route-running and hands. For the NFL, McBride needs to improve his blocking and could stand to get stronger. McBride, however, lacks length and could be limited as a blocker. He would likely fit best in the pros as an F – movement – tight end.

4/26/22: Dulcich went from walk-on to being a good tight end for the Bruins and ultimately a second-day prospect for the 2022 NFL Draft. In 2021, he recorded 42 receptions for 725 yards and five touchdowns. Dulcich flashed in 2020 with 26 catches for 517 yards and five scores. He is a smooth athlete with quickness, route-running, and receiving potential for the NFL. With some development, Dulcich could become a three-down starter. Some teams have medical concerns with Dulcich and if he slides in the 2022 NFL Draft, that could be a primary reason.

4/26/22: Otton got off to a quality start in 2021 before being sidelined by COVID-19. He also dealt with some other injuries. After missing almost a month, Otton returned the field, but he was not as productive for Washington in 2021. Otton, however, has fans in the scouting community who think he could be a sleeper steal and a good second-day pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

6/26/21: Otton played well in limited action for Washington in 2020. He has three-down starting potential for the NFL because he is a solid receiver and is a willing contributor as a blocker. Otton worked his way onto the field as a freshman, and he has the potential to be one of the better tight ends in college football in 2021.

4/26/22: Likely had a good season for Coastal Carolina, showing receiving ability. He put together a solid week at the Senior Bowl. Likely has some receiving ability for the NFL, but will need to develop as a blocker to become a three-down starter.

6/26/21: While Likely is not the biggest of tight ends, he is a dangerous receiver who has quickness and athleticism. Likely has some strength to his build to compete as a blocker, but his lack of height and length will be problematic as a blocker in the NFL. Likely could be a fit as an F – movement – receiving tight end who is paired with a Y – blocking – tight end.

4/26/22: Wydermyer played well overall in 2021, minus a little stretch with some dropped passes, but he illustrated his skill set by getting open consistently. His production and the Texas A&M offense were held back by struggles and inconsistency at quarterback. For the NFL, Wydermyer is a good route runner who has three-down starting potential. He possesses quality speed and athleticism to go along with mismatch size. Wydermyer, however, struggled in the combine meetings and had a disappointing workout.

6/26/21: Wydermyer created a buzz with scouts in 2019 from displaying a good skill with a ton of upside. The Aggies staff raved about Wydermyer to NFL evaluators coming through College Station. That season, he totaled 32 receptions for 447 yards and six touchdowns. As sophomore in 2020, Wydermyer recorded 45 catches for 502 yards and six touchdowns.

Wydermyer has good size to him with speed and athleticism. He could have three-down starting potential for the NFL.

4/26/22: Kolar was held out of the 2021 season opener with an injury, but came back to put together a solid senior year for Iowa State. Kolar recorded 62 receptions for 756 yards and six touchdowns in 2021. He didn’t really stand out at the Senior Bowl and did not run at the combine.

6/26/21: Kolar was a quality receiver for Iowa State in 2020. He runs quality routes and has solid hands and an NFL build. Kolar shows some yards-after-the-catch ability and could become a starting tight end at the pro level. To start his college career, Kolar was a good receiver as a sophomore, hurting the Big XII defenses in the red zone? and that set the tone for him to be a valuable receiver for Brock Purdy.

4/26/22: Ruckert did not see a lot of targets in 2021, but he has the potential to produce more. In 2021, Ruckert had 26 receptions for 309 yards and three touchdowns. He could be mid-round sleeper with upside.

6/26/21: Ruckert showed some nice red-zone ability against Penn State and Rutgers, but Ohio State featured its wide receivers in the passing game rather than the tight ends. Still, Ruckert was graded high by the advance scouts for the 2022 NFL Draft, and they really like his skill set of size, speed and athleticism.

Ruckert flashed some ability during his sophomore year and was a nice red-zone contributor for the Buckeyes. He also has quality size to be a blocker, so the ability is there for Ruckert to become a prospect with three-down starter potential.

4/26/22: Ferguson played well in 2021, but Wisconsin’s struggling quarterback play held him back all season. Ferguson could be a solid No. 2 tight end in the NFL. Some team sources really like him and think he could be a sleeper value pick.

6/26/21: Over the last few years, Ferguson was a solid receiving tight end for the Badgers. He could have produced more, but Wisconsin featured a rushing offense that had Ferguson also contribute as a blocker. If Ferguson gets more receiving opportunities and shows mismatch receiving talent, he could rise in 2021.

Ferguson played well in 2020, including scoring three touchdowns in the first two games of the year. He’s a solid receiver, but he has been held back by Wisconsin’s quarterback play and the focus on the rushing attack.

4/26/22: Calcaterra was decent for SMU in 2021. He needs to improve as a blocker for the NFL. Calcaterra was decent at the Senior Bowl. For the NFL, he looks like a backup F – movement – receiving tight end. Calcaterra does not have the size or strength to be a Y – blocking – tight end.

6/26/21: Calcaterra started out his collegiate career at Oklahoma before transferring to the Mustangs. He flashed some receiving ability in 2018 with Kyler Murray at quarterback, but he struggled in 2019 with Jalen Hurts before leaving for SMU. Calcaterra is an h-back receiving tight end for the NFL who faces limitations in terms of size and blocking ability.

4/26/22: Turner had a quality 2021 season for Nevada. He could be a nice mid-round value pick who could be a backup and might rise above that.

6/26/21: Turner enjoyed a breakout 2020 season and was a dangerous red-zone weapon for the Wolf Pack. To go along with receiving ability, Turner has good length and the room to add weight to his frame. He is a sleeper who could rise.

4/26/22: Muse was not targeted much by South Carolina in 2021, but he flashed backup ability for the NFL.

6/26/21: Muse has flashed some receiving ability for the Gamecocks over the past three seasons even though the Gamecocks have not fielded consistent quarterback play. In his fourth season, Muse could stand to improve his blocking and potentially produce as a receiver if South Carolina can become more effective at throwing the ball.

4/26/22: Gindorff could be a late-round pick and competitor to be a third tight end.

6/26/21: North Dakota State had a strange 2020 season, but Gindorff flashed with three touchdowns on only 11 receptions. He was a big-time point producer in 2019, notching six scores on just 10 catches. Gindorff has good size with surprising quickness. He could be a riser if the Bison feature him more as a receiver.

4/26/22: Bellinger could be a late-round pick who challenges to make an NFL roster as a third or fourth tight end.

6/26/21: Bellinger is a big-bodied tight end who flashed enough receiving ability the past two seasons to make it on to NFL teams’ preseason watch list. He could rise if he can show more mismatch receiving ability in the 2021.

4/26/22: Barker did not see a lot of targets in 2021, but he was a red-zone weapon for the Illini.

6/26/21: Barker flashed some receiving ability during the past two seasons and also contributed as a blocker for the Fighting Illini. He has some quickness and athleticism. New head coach Brett Bielema has developed some quality tight ends at his previous coaching stops, and Barker could benefit from Bielema’s coaching.