Dynasty Draftnik

Dolphins, UDFA. I was very surprised he wasn’t drafted by around Round 5 or so. He was my 7th-rated tight end overall, and I think he’s one of the best receiving tight ends out there. I actually had him rated one slot higher than the tight end they drafted, Arthur Lynch. He’s not going to be a great in-line blocker, though, but, as a move tight end, he could definitely put up TE2 numbers in this offense. The Dolphins should try to get him and Charles Clay on the field in two-TE sets.

All-Star Games: Senior Bowl.

Positives: Adequate size for an H-back. Great height for a fullback, with very good bulk. Above-average hand size and a long wingspan for a wide catch radius. Above-average hands. Consistently good concentration on passes in traffic. Good speed for the position and was often used on deep patterns in college. Runs above-average routes and uses his physicality to get separation against defensive backs and linebackers. Completes his routes and will keep moving to stay between defenders and the ball. Comes back to help quarterback in scramble drill. Agile, and can pick his way through open-field defenders. Good body control and adjusts well to underthrown passes. Can hold the ball with a big hit. Is strong, fights for extra yards, and isn’t easy to bring down. Above-average balance after contact. Adequate pass blocker who is tough to move off his base.

Negatives: Too short and slight to play tight end in the NFL. Was not used very much as an in-line tight end in college, but was split out wide often. Though his routes are pretty good, he is not especially crisp in his breaks as a route runner. Not a very strong in-line blocker, and doesn’t hit defenders hard with initial impact.

Projection: If he gets a chance to play, I’d expect TE3 numbers from him, with a TE2 ceiling.

Texans, Round 3. He was my number-6 TE going into the draft because of his good combination of hands and blocking ability. He goes to a team that is going to use both a lot. Should be their starter right away and has the skills to hold his own.

All-Star Games: Senior Bowl.

Positives: Very good height and bulk. Great hand size and a long wingspan for a wide catch radius. Has good hands that can extend to snag passes at highest point. Soft hands that accept rather than stop bullet passes easily. Shows above-average concentration in traffic. Fair body control and he adjusts well to back-shoulder passes. Runs above-average routes and knows how to use his physicality to get open. Above-average run blocker – not easily moved off his blocks. Adequate pass blocker. Adequate track speed for the position. Adequate upper body strength.

Negatives: Below-average speed and isn’t very sudden in his movement. Inconsistent concentration. Though he was an adequate pass blocker in college, he lacks the good lateral movement necessary for keeping up with outside speed rushers in the NFL and he can be also pulled off his feet.

Projection: Though the offense isn’t quite ready for prime time, he could be a nice complementary part of it. Draft as a long-term TE2.

Dolphins, Round 5. Goes to a Dolphins team with Charles Clay as their top tight end/fullback, and he caught nearly 70 passes in 2013. Also has Michael Egnew and Dion Sims at the position, but he should certainly beat them out – though I really liked Sims’s potential coming out of the 2013 draft. The Dolphins would be smart to get Clay and Lynch on the field at the same time. But it will have to wait until 2015 because Lynch was placed on IR in August with a back injury.

All-Star Games: Senior Bowl.

Positives: Adequate height. Good bulk. Great hand size. Adequate speed. Above-average hands – can extend well and make a lot of difficult catches and accept the pass even in traffic. Can extend low and away for tough catches away from his frame. Good body control and can adjust well to off-target passes. Gets physical and uses his body against defenders to get into his routes. Finds soft spots in zone coverage. Sustains blocks as run blocker. Was also a fullback on the punt team. Good upper body strength. Adequate track speed for the position and size.

Negatives: Below-average vertical leap. Below-average quickness in Combine drills. Inconsistent concentration and will often drop easy passes turning upfield before securing the ball. Though he maintains good positioning while run blocking, he doesn’t seem strong enough to drive defenders. As a pass blocker, he doesn’t have good initial punch or leverage, and can be knocked off of his feet. Will also let himself be beaten inside by defenders with quick moves. Below-average routes, and is slow in and out of his breaks.

Projection: With the injury, there’s no need to draft him, but he could be worth a stash as a potential TE2 eventually.

Ravens, Round 3. Any tight end who goes to the Ravens, you should expect to do well. Even though Gillmore went much earlier than I expected – I had four tight ends ranked ahead of him at the time – I have to believe was picked by the Ravens because they see something in him. But I still don’t expect him to be much of a fantasy factor as much as an effective piece of the puzzle in Baltimore.

All-Star Games: Late addition to Senior Bowl.

Positives: Good height and bulk. Great hand size. Above-average hands and can extend well. Knows how to find soft spots in the zone. Above-average body control, and adjusts fairly well to off-target passes. Versatile and switched back and forth from tight end to defensive end to tight end in college. Adequate lower body explosiveness. Below-average ability to change directions.

Negatives: Below-average track speed for the position. His hands aren’t especially quick, and he will let fast passes get through them. Below-average route runner, and needs to get better positioning on his routes to present a target to his quarterback. Doesn’t get good separation in his routes – he doesn’t move fluidly, is slow into his breaks, and telegraphs his cuts. Injured hamstring in pro day workout.

Projection: Feel free to draft him later in dynasty rookie drafts, but don’t expect a lot of production from him behind Dennis Pitta.