2022 NFL Draft Preview – Tight Ends
March 11, 2022
By Steve Thomas
This week, we’re going to cover the draft-eligible tight end group. As far as Washington goes, the team has Logan Thomas, Jonathan Bates, and Sammis Reyes on the roster. Technically, Tyrone Swoopes is also under team control, as he failed to report last year, thus causing his contract to roll over to this year; however, there’s been no indication that Swoopes intends to report this year. Therefore, in a practical sense, Washington’s tight end group is only three. Thomas is the clear-cut starter, but he’s coming off of a serious injury and is about to turn 31. Bates played well last year as a rookie by fourth round draft choice standards, but Reyes is just a long-term project. For these reasons, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Washington burn a draft pick on a tight end. Let’s get into this year’s class.
This year’s group doesn’t have anyone who the experts believe is a top of the draft, elite prospect as was the case with Kyle Pitts last year. There’s also not strong consensus on the rankings of these prospects.
#1: Cade Otton (6’5” / 247, Washington). Otton was a 4 year starter at Washington who played 31 games, making 91 receptions, 1026 yards, 11.3 yards/reception, and 9 touchdowns. In 2021, he played 8 games and made 28 receptions for 250 yards, 8.9 yards per reception, and 1 touchdown. Otton is known a good but not great route runner, with good hands, and decent blocking ability. Most scouts believe he is is an NFL starter who can fit all tight end roles in the NFL.
Draft projection: rounds 2 – 3
#2: Trey McBride (6’4” / 246, Colorado St.). McBride played 40 games in four years at Colorado St., and had a total of 164 receptions for 2100 yards, 12.8 yards per reception, and 10 touchdowns. In 2021, he played 12 games and made 90 receptions for 1121 yards, 12.5 yards per reception, and 1 touchdown, and was selected as a Unanimous All-American. At the NFL Combine, McBride did 18 bench press reps, and jumped 33 inches in the vertical leap and 9’9” in the standing broad jump. Most scouts view him as a quality in-line blocker with decent route running skills and hands. McBride is not thought of as overly fast or athletic, but has potential to be an NFL starter.
Draft projection: rounds 2 – 3
#3: Jalen Wydermyer (6’4” / 255, Texas A&M). Wydermyer played 34 games in 3 years for the Aggies, and made 118 receptions for 1468 yards, 12.4 yards per reception, and 16 touchdowns. In 2021, he played 12 games, and had 40 receptions for 515 yards, 12.9 yards per reception, and 4 touchdowns. Wydermyer was also a 3x Second Team All-SEC selection. He’s known to be a pass-catching tight end with good hands. He’s athletic, and has good ability to accelerate. Wydermyer isn’t known as a quality blocker, so many analysts view him as more of a joker tight end, rather than a starting in-line tight end, in the NFL.
Draft projection: rounds 3 – 4
#4: Jeremy Ruckert (6’5” / 250, Ohio St.). Ruckert played 26 games in four seasons for Ohio St., and made 54 receptions for 615 yards, 11.4 yards per reception, and 12 touchdowns. In 2021, Ruckert played 11 games and made 26 receptions for 309 yards, 11.9 yards per carry, and 3 touchdowns. He did 19 bench press reps at the NFL Combine.
Draft projection: rounds 3 – 4
#5: Isaiah Likely (6’4” / 245, Coastal Carolina). Likely played 42 games in four years at Coastal Carolina. In that time, he made a total of 133 receptions for 2050 yards, 15.4 yards per reception, and 27 touchdowns. In 2021, he played 13 games and made 59 receptions for 912 yards, 15.5 yards per reception, and 12 touchdowns. Likely was a First Team All-Sun Belt Conference selectee in both 2020 and 2021. At the NFL Combine, Likely ran the 40 yard dash in 4.57 seconds and jumped 36 inches in the vertical leap. Likely is athletic and has good, reliable hands. He was a deep, vertical threat in college. Likely was a quality blocker in college, but most scouts believe he may have to develop his blocking skills in the NFL. He’s known primarily as a pass-catcher who will be better suited in a joker role in the NFL rather than an in-line tight end.
Draft projection: round 4
#6: Greg Dulcich (6’4” / 243, UCLA): Dulcich played a total of 24 games in 4 seasons with the Bruins, and made 77 receptions for 1353 yards, 17.6 yards per reception, and 11 touchdowns. In 2021, he played 11 games, making 42 receptions for 725 yards,17.3 yards per reception, and 5 touchdowns. Dulcich was a Second-team All-Pac 12 selectee in 2020 and a First-team All-Pac 12 selectee n 2021. At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.69 seconds, did 16 bench press reps, jumped 34 inches in the vertical leap and 10’2” in the standing broad jump, ran the 3 cone drill in 7.05 seconds, and the 20 yards shuttle in 4.37 seconds. Dulcich is known by most analysts as a good but not great route runner, but one who will be best suited in the joker role his in-line blocking abilities will need to improve.
Draft projection: round 5
#7: Jake Ferguson (6’5” / 250, Wisconsin): Ferguson played 47 games in 4 years for Wisconsin and made a total of 145 receptions for 1618 yards, 11.2 yards per reception, and 13 touchdowns. In 2021, Ferguson played 13 games, making 46 receptions for 450 yards, 9.8 yards per reception, and 3 touchdowns, and earned First-team All-Big Ten honors. At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.81 seconds, did 15 bench press reps, jumped 31.5 inches in the vertical leap and 9’10” in the standing broad jump, and ran the 3 cone drill in 7.03 seconds and the 20 yard shuttle run in 4.48 seconds. Ferguson is viewed by most as an in-line tight end in the NFL, although scouts don’t view him as being overly physical as a blocker. He’s known to have good hands and improved as a route runner in 2021. Opinions are varied as to where he may be drafted.
Draft projection: round 3 – 5
#8: Charlie Kolar (6’6” / 252, Iowa St.): Kolar played 43 games in 4 seasons with Iowa St., and made a total of 168 receptions for 2181 yards, 13.0 yards per reception, and 23 touchdowns. In 2021, he played 12 games and made 62 receptions for 756 yards, 12.2 yards per reception, and 6 touchdowns. Kolar was selected as Second Team All-Big 10 in 2018 and First Team All-Big 10 in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Kolar is known to have outstanding hands. Some scouts don’t view him as a high-quality route runner, in part because of his long and lanky frame.
Draft projection: rounds 3 – 4
#9: Cole Turner (6’6” / 246, Nevada): Turner played 26 games in four years at Nevada, making 117 receptions for 1370 yards, 11.7 yards per reception, and 20 touchdowns. In 2021, Turner played 11 games, making 62 receptions for 677 yards, 10.9 yards per reception, and 10 touchdowns. At the NFL Combine, Turner ran the 40 yard dash in 4.76 seconds, did 17 bench press reps, jumped 27 inches in the vertical leap and 10’0” in the standing broad jump, and ran 7.06 in the 3 cone drill and 4.41 in the 20 yard shuttle run. Turner is another prospect who scouts view as a good pass-catching prospect with quality hands. He’s not known as a particularly good blocker.
Draft projection: rounds 5 – 7
Other prospects:
Jelani Woods (6’7” / 259, Virginia): 4.61 second 40 and 24 bench press reps at Combine. Average hands and blocking ability
Chigoziem Okonkwo (6’2” / 238, Maryland): 4.52 second 40 at Combine. Joker TE in NFL. Draft projection is anywhere from mid day 2 to the back of the draft.