*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
Four Teams Say T.J. Hockenson Will Be Chosen in the 20s
Updated Feb. 28, 2019By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson is the consensus top tight end for the 2019 NFL Draft, and there have been some mock drafts that have Hockenson going in the top 10. However, team sources have Hockenson projected to go in the back half of the first round, with four teams saying he should be selected in the 20s. A couple of others said he belongs in the 20s, but could go higher because of teams reaching for need.
Every team source from five different teams said that Hockenson did not grade out higher than O.J. Howard in 2017 or Eric Ebron in 2014. Howard was selected with the 19th-overall pick by Tampa Bay and Ebron was drafted with the 10th pick by Detroit. Sources say that Howard and Ebron were better prospects coming out of college than Hockenson is this year. Hence, they feel he would be a reach to go in the top 20. A couple of evaluators also said they like the depth at tight end so that could cut down on the need for teams to reach for one earlier.
While some teams think Hockenson would be a reach to go in the top 20, a few were quick to say that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Some teams reach for team need and overdraft players every year. Hockenson could be a candidate for that even though teams value him in the 20s.
