2023 NFL Draft Prospects: Tight End

4/22/23: Kincaid recorded 70 catches for 890 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022. He was a skilled receiving tight end for Utah, but he is undersized as a blocker for the NFL. Kincaid is a dangerous receiver with quickness, route-running, good hands, and athleticism. Team sources say they think Kincaid could be a late first-round or early second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

While Kincaid was cleared medically, teams have concerns about his body type. In the weigh-ins, Kincaid looked bad, and it appeared as if he had been allergic to the weight room. That is a real concern for some evaluators, especially for a position like tight end.

6/24/22: Kincaid has shown receiving ability over three seasons for the Utes and forms a dangerous tight end tandem with Brant Kuithe. In 2021, Kincaid totaled 36 catches for 510 yards with eight touchdowns. He recorded just one catch in the Pac-12’s five-game 2020 season. His best season was in 2019 with 44 receptions for 835 yards and eight touchdowns. Kincaid is a little undersized and could stand to get stronger.

4/22/23: Mayer recorded 67 catches for 809 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022. Team sources say Mayer does not have great size and is not especially athletic for a receiving tight end, but he is a natural receiver. They feel underwhelmed by his blocking, but he will get drafted for his ability to contribute as a receiver. Mayer may not be the first tight end selected, but he is safe to go in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. As a pro, he could be a three-down starter and a solid receiving tight end.

6/24/22: Mayer caught 71 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021. As a freshman, the 6-foot-4, 251-pounder stepped in for Cole Kmet, and the Fighting Irish didn’t miss a beat in the transition. Mayer caught 42 passes for 450 yards and two touchdowns in 2020. He has a good skill set and upside to produce more over the next year or two.

4/22/23: LaPorta totaled 58 receptions for 657 yards and a touchdown in 2022. A few team sources think LaPorta could sneak into the end of the first round and won’t get out of the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He is a touch undersized, but definitely has the ability to contribute as a receiving tight end at the next level. LaPorta had a superb showing at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

6/24/22: Iowa has produced a lot of quality tight ends for the NFL in under Kirk Ferentz, and that tradition will continue with LaPorta. He had 53 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns in 2021 after notching 27 receptions for 271 yards and a score in the shortened 2020 season. LaPorta is a quality receiving threat who also blocks well for being undersized.

4/22/23: In 2022, Washington recorded 28 receptions for 454 yards and two touchdowns. He blocked really well and would have been a starter with a much bigger role and production if he had played at another school where he was not stuck behind Brock Bowers. Washington had an excellent workout at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, running a fast 40 and putting on a good showing in the field work.

6/24/22: Washington is part of an incredible tight end room that features two players with rare skill sets in Brock Bowers and Arik Gilbert. Washington would be the starting feature tight end at most schools, but he is stuck in a rotational role at Georgia. The massive Washington has blocking ability and can function as a receiver. In 2021, he totaled 10 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown. He had seven receptions for 166 yards in 2020.

4/22/23: Musgrave recorded 11 receptions for 169 yards and a touchdown in 2022. He played in just the first two games of the year before missing the rest due to injury. Musgrave decided to enter the 2023 NFL Draft. He had strong showings at the Senior Bowl and at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

6/24/22: While Musgrave does not have huge production, advance scouts gave him an early-round projection heading into the 2022 season. Musgrave caught 22 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown in 2021. He has the skill set to produce more as a receiver in 2022. Musgrave is well-rounded with blocking ability.

4/22/23: In 2022, Kraft totaled 27 receptions for 348 yards and three touchdowns. His best season came in 2021 when he hauled in 65 catches for 773 yards and six touchdowns. Team sources say Kraft is really raw having come from nine-man high school football. They say he has a lot of talent to develop and could be a second-day pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

4/22/23: Schoonmaker would have been the starter at most schools, but at Michigan, he was the second tight end because the program had a very good player in Erick All ahead of him. Schoonmaker played well during 2022, showing blocking ability and contributing as a receiver after All went out with an injury. On the year, Schoonmaker had 35 receptions for 418 yards and three touchdowns. He recorded 17 catches for 165 yards and three touchdowns in 2021. Schoonmaker helped himself with his fast 40 at the combine.

4/22/23: Whyle collected 32 catches for 326 yards and three touchdowns during 2022. Inconsistent quarterback play hurt the Cincinnati passing game, but Whyle played well enough to receive a Senior Bowl invitation. He was decent in Mobile and then worked out well at the combine.

6/24/22: Whyle has been a steady receiver for the Bearcats over the past couple of seasons. Whyle recorded 28 catches for 353 yards and six touchdowns in 2020 and stayed consistent a year later with 26 receptions for 332 yards and six scores. Whyle could stand to get stronger for blocking in the NFL.

4/22/23: Latu had 30 receptions for 377 yards and four touchdowns in 2022. He projects as a potential backup tight end for the NFL.

6/24/22: Latu flashed ability during his sophomore season, catching 26 passes for 410 yards and eight touchdowns. For the NFL, Latu has good size with quickness and athleticism. He has the potential to be a big producer in 2022.

4/22/23: Mallory totaled 42 receptions for 538 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. NFL sources say they were really disappointed in Mallory over the season. They say he has some speed as a receiver, but is very soft as a blocker and has inconsistent hands. They are down on him, but think he will make an NFL roster as a backup. Mallory showed his speed at the combine, running the fastest 40 time of any tight end prospect.

2/22/22: Mallory really flashed for Miami in 2020 despite being the No. 2 tight end behind Brevin Jordan. Mallory has quality size to him, and it showed in how he contributed as a blocker and receiver. He played well in 2021 despite Miami having some inconsistent play around him. Mallory could be a sleeper value for the 2023 NFL Draft.

4/22/23: In 2022, Allen recorded 39 catches for 443 yards and five touchdowns.

6/24/22: Allen flashed some ability as a junior in 2021. Despite Clemson having struggles at quarterback, Allen caught 28 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns. In 2020, he had 16 catches for 247 yards and four touchdowns. Allen has receiving and blocking potential for the next level.

4/22/23: Willis recorded 39 catches in 2022 for 514 yards and seven touchdowns. He is a touch undersized for the NFL, but could serve as a rotational player.

4/22/23: In 2022, Durham recorded 54 catches for 550 yards and eight touchdowns. He decided to opt out of the Citrus Bowl and enter the 2023 NFL Draft. Durham had a good week of practice at the Senior Bowl, but he ran very slowly at the combine, putting up the worst time of any tight end.

6/24/22: Durham contributed as a receiver for Purdue in 2021, hauling in 45 passes for 467 yards and six touchdowns. He caught seven touchdowns over the previous two seasons. Durham could fit as a Y tight end in the NFL.

4/22/23: Gamble recorded seven receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown during 2022.

6/24/22: After the 2021 season, Gamble transferred to Central Florida. He has a thick build to block with some quickness, athleticism, and size to contribute as a receiver. Gamble is a sleeper who could be a nice value on the Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft, but some sources have character concerns around him.

Gamble did not play in the first two games of 2021, but after returning to the field, he was solid for the Florida Gators. Gamble closed out the regular season by flashing impressive speed and receiving ability versus Florida State. He could have had a much bigger year if the Florida offense had fielded a more consistent passing ability out of the quarterback.

Gamble would have been a starter at most schools, but he was stuck behind Kyle Pitts, who dominated college football over 2019 and 2020. Gamble flashed in a backup role in 2020 and has the potential to be a riser as a senior.

4/22/23: Knox was previously a big receiver, but he added weight and moved to tight end. He is a work in progress there, but he flashed some receiving ability in 2022 with 26 catches for 296 yards and five touchdowns. In 2021 (20-141-1) and 2019 (28-385-3), he had modest production.

4/22/23: Billinglsey was suspended by Texas for a few games over something that happened at Alabama. He recorded three receptions for 38 yards in 2022.

6/24/22: Billinglsey flashed receiving ability at Alabama over the past few seasons while splitting tight end reps with other players. While Billinglsey has talent, he was in the dog house at times, leading to some lost playing time. In 2021, Billingsley caught 17 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns. He had 18 catches for 287 yards and three touchdowns in 2020. Billingsley could rise with a strong season at Texas.