RELATED: Top five QBs as the draft nears | RBs | WRs
The NFL Draft is coming up in a few weeks. With the NFL Combine and pro days in the rear-view mirror, here is our ranked list of top tight ends heading into the draft:
Recruiting: Shortly after receiving an offer from Iowa, Hockenson took a visit and committed. The Hawkeyes were always a dream offer for him and the tight end quickly jumped on the opportunity. Iowa State and Eastern Michigan were his only other offers.
Buzz: A lot of mock drafts have Hockenson as the first tight end off the board and there have been comparisons made to Rob Gronkowski when it comes to his future. That could be a bit inflated, but Hockenson is seriously talented after catching 49 passes for 760 yards and six touchdowns this past season and he could be off the board as early as the first dozen picks.
Farrell’s take: Hockenson was a local recruit that was ignored by almost every out-of-state program despite good size and hands. He wasn’t the quickest kid out of high school but he was very productive, so it’s a bit odd that he was ignored so much. He really broke out his senior season and his film was very solid but by then he was already locked in to Iowa. Now he’s emerged as tight end 1A with his teammate as tight end 1B.
Recruiting: Fant committed to Iowa in August before his senior season. Nebraska and Minnesota remained contenders in his recruitment, but close to signing day, Fant shut his recruitment down.
Buzz: Fant performed really well at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash and posting other impressive testing numbers. Some like him even more than Hockenson and if not for the other Iowa tight end, Fant would have had an even bigger season. He still totaled 39 catches for 519 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns. It’s very likely Fant will be a first-round selection as well.
Farrell’s take: Fant was a high three-star coming out of high school. He was not as big as Hockenson but was more athletic and sudden. Fant also had more room on his frame to fill out. He was being recruited by different schools as a tight end or defensive end, so he wasn’t an easy evaluation and he lacked a lot of strength in high school. However, he made up for it with his athleticism and ability to stretch the field. As a Nebraska kid, we didn’t see him a ton but he stood out at our St. Louis Rivals Camp and played both ways.
Recruiting: Smith decommitted from Texas A&M shortly before National Signing Day and a few days later picked Alabama over Texas, Memphis and others. He had been committed to the Aggies since the summer before his senior season.
Buzz: Smith might be short on experience, but he had a breakout 2018 season and showed why he is considered a fringe first-round prospect. The former three-star prospect caught 44 passes for 710 yards and seven touchdowns in a loaded Alabama receiving corps that was led by Jerry Jeudy and many others.
Farrell’s take: Smith was another great get from Louisiana for Nick Saban, a prospect who has come a long way. He was a high three-star out of high school who had good ball skills but was not nearly as athletic and sudden as he is now.
Recruiting: Originally ranked as a two-star defensive end who signed with Kansas, Sternberger then transferred to Miami (Okla.) Northeast Oklahoma A&M before going to Texas A&M. He was ranked as a three-star coming out of junior college.
Buzz: One major season at Texas A&M was enough to get Sternberger on the NFL radar and he could easily be an early-round selection. He caught 48 passes for 832 yards and 10 touchdowns this past season, showing off his versatility and athleticism on the biggest stage in college football - playing in the SEC. Sternberger had some good numbers at the combine, although his 40 was a touch slow at 4.75, especially since he looks faster on the field.
Farrell’s take: Sternberger was a project as a defensive end when he came out of high school and signed with Kansas, a kid with some ability but lacking that elite quickness to be a pass rusher. Then at JUCO, he switched over to tight end and showed promise as a route runner and pass catcher with reliable hands and good size. Under Jimbo Fisher, who uses tight ends very well, he flourished and is now a guy being talked about as a second- or third-rounder. It’s been a long journey but it will pay off for him.
Recruiting: Knox was an unranked quarterback coming out of high school where he played receiver in his junior year before growing four inches and gaining 50 pounds heading into his senior season. Knox then missed most of his senior campaign with an injury. He walked on at Ole Miss.
Buzz: Knox only caught 15 passes for 284 yards this past season, but the Rebels rarely threw to the tight end since A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf, DaMarkus Lodge and Elijah Moore were at receiver. It is also intriguing that Knox never caught a touchdown at Ole Miss, which might scare off some teams looking to take a tight end in the later rounds. Still, Knox is an athletic specimen who can create separation, so we might be looking at a surprise later in the draft.
Farrell’s take: Knox was a big body who walked on at Ole Miss and has turned himself into someone that intrigues NFL scouts. He was a good athlete in high school playing wide receiver and quarterback, but his senior year injury killed his chances of a scholarship as it happened in the first game of the season. He was never evaluated by Rivals.com, which is why he has no stars.
