*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
Some See Goedert as Mid-Rounder
Updated Feb. 20, 2018By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
The 2017 NFL Draft was a banner year at the tight end position, with three being selected in the first round and two more going in the top half of the second round. The 2018 NFL Draft is not close to as strong at the tight end position, but one tight end who has received some media praise is South Dakota State’s Dallas Goedert. There have been some mock drafts that have Goedert going in the first round and rate him as the top tight end in the draft class. However after speaking to sources from a handful of teams, none of them had Goedert graded in Round 1 of the 2018 NFL Draft.
The highest grade among those five teams was a second-rounder. Two teams had him graded in the third round, and two teams had a high fourth-round grade on him. The senior amassed 72 receptions for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns in 2017. He put up even better production as a junior with 92 receptions for 1,293 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“[Goedert]’s not a great route-runner and wasn’t a separation guy,” said a NFC director of college scouting. “He is more possessional and doesn’t win with suddenness or quickness. He had lots of drops, but you counter that with some spectacular catches. They threw him a million balls, so some drops are going to happen. We just don’t see him as a special mismatch weapon.” A few of the team sources also mentioned that there were injury concerns with Goedert and his combine medical exam was going to be important. If his medical profile isn’t too alarming, Goedert appears likely to be a second-day pick in a weak year at the tight end position, with plenty of teams across the league hoping to add young talent at the position.
