2014 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Troy Niklas

Strengths:

Big target

Quickness

Fast release off the line

Weapon down the middle seam

Dangerous run after the catch

Tough to bring down

Drags defenders

Good route-runner

Physical

Isn’t afraid of contact

Makes contested catches

Outfights defenders for the ball

Red-zone weapon

Blocking potential

Upside

Weaknesses:

Needs development

Will have to continue to improve run blocking

Quicker than fast

Misjudges some passes

Will drop some passes

Will have to learn pass protection

Summary: Notre Dame has produced some quality tight ends in recent years and Niklas is the latest in line. He started his career as a defensive end, but moved to tight end. Niklas has only been at the position for two years and could have used more development for the next level, but he decided to enter the 2014 NFL Draft.

In 2012, Niklas was a backup to Tyler Eifert. He had only five receptions for 75 yards and a score. With Eifert in the NFL, Niklas took over as the starting tight end for 2013. He had a quality year with 32 receptions for 498 yards with five touchdowns. Niklas improved throughout the season and would have had a bigger year if Nortre Dame had received better play from the quarterback position.

For the NFL, Niklas projects as a three-down starting tight end. He is a dangerous receiver who is good at getting open in the middle of the field. Niklas is tough to bring down, and it usually takes multiple defenders to get him on the ground. He is good at getting open running down the middle seam and on crossing routes. Niklas also is nice weapon on the sideline and in the red zone. He is very good at making contested catches over defensive backs and out fights them for the ball. While Niklas doesn’t have elite speed, he has enough quickness to get open.

Niklas has room to grow as a blocker. Being raw as a tight end doesn’t help his technique. He has the size and ability to become a good blocker, but he has to improve his hand usage and engagement of defenders rather than reaching. A good tight ends coach should turn him into a complete player in the NFL.

Sources have said that they expect Niklas to be a second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.



Player Comparison: Rob Gronkowski. Physically and athletically, Niklas is a poor man’s version of Gronkowski. One of the most significant differences between the two is Gronkowski having better speed and blocking for the NFL. Gronkowski (6-6, 265) and Niklas are similar size and both are loads to bring down in the open field. Gronkowski was a second-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, and Niklas should be a second-rounder this year. If Niklas develops under pro coaching, he could be a lesser version of Gronkowski.

NFL Matches: Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New England, Buffalo, Miami, New York Jets, Houston, Atlanta

There are a lot of teams that could consider taking Niklas in the second round. The Packers could look at him as a replacement for Jermichael Finley. Green Bay has a big hole at tight end.

Heath Miller is declining with the Steelers, so they could consider a tight end early. Baltimore also may want another receiving tight end if one is the best passing weapon available. Both of these AFC North teams could consider Niklas in the second round.

All four AFC East teams could be potential landing spots for Niklas. The Bills need a receiving tight end for their offense and could target Niklas with their second-round pick if they pass on Eric Ebron in Round 1. Miami could use a tight end to pair with Charles Clay, and Niklas could be in play for the Dolphins’ second-round pick.

The Jets need to add some weapons for Geno Smith, and a receiving tight end like Niklas would provide a nice security blanket for Smith. The Jets would have to move up for him in Round 2. The Giants could be a fit as well in the second round.

The Patriots really missed Aaron Hernandez last year, and Rob Gronkowski is becoming more and more injury prone. New England’s offense could really use a player like Niklas, and he would be an appropriate value late in the second round. He is a nice fit for the Patriots’ offense.

If Niklas falls to the third round, Houston may take a tight end at pick No. 65. It would make sense to target him to fill the Gronkowski role in Bill O’Brien’s offense. To start the third, Niklas could be too good to pass up.

Atlanta needs to replace Tony Gonzalez. Niklas would make sense for Atlanta on Day 2.

2014 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2014 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Georgia Tech Dion Bailey, S, USC Anthony Barr, DE/OLB, UCLA Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State Joel Bitonio, OT, Nevada Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson Bashaud Breeland, CB, Clemson Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State HaHa Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri Dominique Easley, DE, Florida Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M David Fales, QB, San Jose State Ego Ferguson, DT, LSU C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa Dee Ford, OLB, Auburn Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech Ben Gardner, DE, Stanford Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota Cody Hoffman, WR, BYU Jeremy Hill, RB, LSU Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State Gabe Jackson, G, Mississippi State Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State A.J. Johnson, ILB, Tennessee Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU Christian Jones, ILB, Florida State Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama Ja'Wuan James, OT, Tennessee Lamarcus Joyner, CB, Florida State Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU Demarcus Lawrence, OLB, Boise State Marqise Lee, WR, USC Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan Craig Loston, S, LSU Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M Kareem Martin, DE, North Carolina Marcus Martin, C, USC Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame Tre Mason, RB, Auburn Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama Daniel McCullers, NT, Tennessee Keith McGill, CB, Utah Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia Troy Niklas, TE, Notre Dame Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville Loucheiz Purifoy, CB, Florida Ed Reynolds, S, Stanford Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee Cyril Richardson, G, Baylor Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State Marcus Smith, DE/OLB, Louisville Xavier Su'a-Filo, G, UCLA Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas De'Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame Kyle Van Noy, DE/OLB, BYU Jason Verrett, CB, TCU Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson David Yankey, G, Stanford

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