Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2023 NFL Draft with its position previews – energized by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report. Bailey Adams continues the previews with the tight end position, with a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need at tight end. Adams also provides a detailed list of this year’s top tight ends. In addition, Scott Reynolds offers up the Bucs draft needs and the annual Pewter Report Bucs’ Best Bets – the most likely tight end for the Bucs to select in Rounds 1-3, and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Tight End

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs suddenly find themselves extremely young at the tight end position. Just a few years ago, it was one of the most veteran groups the team had, with Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate leading the way. Last year began the current youth movement, at least to an extent. With Gronkowksi retiring and the Bucs drafting Cade Otton out of Washington in the fourth round and Ko Kieft out of Minnesota in the sixth, there was certainly an injection of youth that the room didn’t previously have.

However, the team also signed veteran Kyle Rudolph and still had Brate in the room. That created a mixture of experience and inexperience, but now that experience is completely gone. Tampa Bay released Brate in a cap-cutting move this offseason, and Rudolph was a one-and-done in red, white and pewter. That leaves just Otton and Kieft, as well as David Wells and Dominique Dafney, at the position at this stage of the offseason.

Otton is coming off of a promising rookie year in which he led all rookie tight ends with 42 receptions while totaling 391 yards and two big touchdowns. Those 42 catches were the second-most by a rookie tight end in Bucs history. Kieft, on the other hand, is far more blocking specialist than pass-catching tight end, but he finished his first season with seven catches for 80 yards and a score.

What The Bucs Need At Tight End

The tight end position is one that that Bucs are turning over quite a bit this offseason. With Brate and Rudolph gone, it’s just Otton and Kieft holding things down. Wells was a practice squad member last year, while Dafney signed a reserve/future contract with the team in January. Neither are good bets to make the roster, so it’s likely that Tampa Bay will be in the market for two new tight ends before the season rolls around.

Kieft has a role due to his blocking prowess, but that figures to slot him in as the team’s TE3 rather than its TE2. Otton is a borderline TE1, and Bucs head coach Todd Bowles believes he can establish himself as the team’s top tight end in time.

Speaking generally, the Bucs need a tight end who can be a fellow borderline TE1, a true TE1 or at the very least, a TE2. That player will pair with Otton atop the depth chart.

Beyond that, the team would presumably need a fourth tight end to round out the group after Kieft. Whether that means drafting two tight ends or selecting one and signing another (as an undrafted free agent or in free agency) is up in the air. What should help Tampa Bay is the fact that this year’s tight end class is extremely deep.

Top Tight Ends In 2023 NFL Draft

*Important Note: These players are NOT listed in the order of Pewter Report’s ranking for them. Rather, the numbers are provided to show you the rough order in which we expect them to come off the board during the draft.

1. Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer – Junior – 6-4, 249 – 4.70

Mayer simply looks like an NFL tight end, with an imposing frame that he controls well in the passing game. His size also helps him as a blocker, though there are some technique issues that he’ll have to clean up at the next level. He has plenty of experience being a featured target, as he was one of the main focuses of Notre Dame’s offense. Over three years as a starter, he caught 180 passes for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Mayer isn’t the fastest, and he is slow off his releases. That can limit his big-play ability. He’s also not quick enough to engage on blocks from time to time. Nonetheless, he has the tools to develop into a top Y tight end. Mayer is likely to be the first tight end off the board and be an immediate starter wherever he ends up.

2. Utah TE Dalton Kincaid – Senior – 6-3, 246 – N/A

Utah TE Dalton Kincaid – Photo By: USA Today

If Kincaid was fully healthy throughout the pre-draft process, he may have had a case to push Mayer for that TE1 status. Even as it is, he has a first-round grade for many. It’s not hard to see why, as he is a plus athlete and a phenomenal pass-catcher. He has elite hands and does well to maintain his balance through contact. Over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Kincaid caught 106 passes for 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Kincaid did not work out at the NFL Combine due to a thoracic injury and didn’t test at Utah’s Pro Day, either. As far as weaknesses on the field, he is not a great blocker. His frame doesn’t give him a great base to work with, and that also carries over to issues running routes against bigger, more physical defenders. But Kincaid is still a likely first-rounder or at the very least, an early Day 2 pick.

3. Iowa TE Sam LaPorta – Senior – 6-3, 245 – Senior – 4.59

LaPorta is one of the quicker tight ends in this year’s class, running well with a solid build for the position. He’s a good athlete and is outstanding with the ball in his hands. His quickness helps in that aspect of his game, but he also has tackle-breaking ability, having totaled 20 broken tackles on 58 catches last year, according to Pro Football Focus.

With 111 catches and 1,327 yards and four touchdowns over the last two years, LaPorta proved he can be a force in the passing game. He’s a bit more of a mixed bag as a blocker, but that’s part of his game that he can grow into at the next level. He has a high floor in the NFL, and he could be an ideal fit for a team looking to build a reliable tight end duo. Look for him to get drafted in the second or third round.

4. Georgia TE Darnell Washington – Junior – 6-6, 264 – 4.64

Georgia TE Darnell Washington – Photo by: USA Today

Washington is a very young prospect, but it’s so easy to see why he’s generating so much buzz. He’s a big, big dude and is plenty athletic to match. He has strong hands and comes across as a dominant blocker, using his imposing size and impressive strength to body defenders. His role at Georgia was limited, as the Bulldogs utilized Brock Bowers more in the passing game.

Because of Bowers and the limited role he was forced into, Washington didn’t put up any big numbers at Georgia. He caught 45 passes for 774 yards and three touchdowns over three years (36 games, 27 starts). He’s a true Y tight end, though, and he’ll be an absolute force as a blocker wherever he plays. Not to mention, his size and strength will make him a weapon to employ in the red zone. The Bucs brought Washington in for a Top 30 visit this week and he’s a solid Day 2 pick.

5. Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave – Senior – 6-5, 253 – 4.61

Musgrave told Pewter Report at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. that he admires Bucs tight end Cade Otton, noting that he’s a player that he has watched at length. Musgrave’s size and overall frame works in his favor, as he boasts an impressive wingspan. The physical tools are enticing, and his skill set complements them well. He is quick and agile, plus he plays with good physicality. He’s a high-character guy, too, which will work in his favor.

The drawback with Musgrave is that he hasn’t put it all together yet. His production in college doesn’t match the tools, and that’s partly due to Oregon State’s offense. He had just two career touchdown receptions as opposed to nine career drops, and he’s coming off a season in which he was limited to two games. Despite that, there’s plenty to work with and Musgrave figures to be a Day 2 pick.

6. South Dakota State TE Tucker Kraft – Junior – 6-4, 254 – 4.62

South Dakota St TE Tucker Kraft – Photo By: USA Today

Kraft has everything he needs to be an effective tight end at the NFL level. He has the size and strength, plus he’s proven to be a skilled pass-catcher. In three years at South Dakota State, he caught 99 passes for 1,218 yards and nine touchdowns. He moves well for his size, which helps him disengage from defenders and run routes effectively. Kraft worked well in the quick game for the Jackrabbits, using short-area quickness and toughness to make plays.

Predictably, there are some areas where Kraft needs to refine his game. He can become a more well-rounded route runner and engage on blocks better as an in-line tight end. But he projects well due to his size and overall athleticism. With time, he should be an effective tight end as a Day 2 selection.

7. Michigan TE Luke Schoonmaker – Senior – 6-5, 251 – 4.63

Schoonmaker has impressive size that is ideal for the tight end position at the NFL level. He complements that size with functional quickness and smooth movement, making him an effective receiving threat. The Michigan product is a good route runner, too, though his after-the-catch ability leaves a little more to be desired. Nonetheless, he caught 35 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns for the Wolverines last year and finished his college career with just three drops.

One knock on Schoonmaker is his age, as he’s an older prospect. He’ll turn 25 during his rookie year, which isn’t ideal. Regardless, he has a good blend of size and speed that should make him a good No. 2 for an NFL team. The Bucs brought him in for a Top 30 visit last week and he’ll be a third- or fourth-round pick.

8. Old Dominion TE Zack Kuntz – Senior – 6-7, 255 – 4.55

Old Dominion TE Zack Kuntz Photo By: USA Today

Kuntz is an athletic freak, and there’s a reason he’s been one of the biggest risers in this year’s tight end class. At 6-foot-7, he has insane length and his 4.55-second 40-yard dash is legitimately mind-blowing when you take his size into consideration. And the best part is, Kuntz uses his combination of size and speed extremely well, gaining separation from defenders and high-pointing the ball when necessary.

There’s room for Kuntz to grow as a route runner, and his lower half does give him some limitations as a blocker. He has also had to overcome a dislocated knee cap he had surgery on last season, but it clearly didn’t impact him as he put on a show at the NFL Combine. There’s so much to love about Kuntz’s traits and overall ability, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him sneak up into late Day 2 territory.

9. Clemson TE Davis Allen – Senior – 6-5, 245 – 4.84

Allen is likely more of a developmental tight end, as he doesn’t possess great speed and isn’t overly impressive as a receiver. He’s adequate in the passing game and does have reliable hands, but his willingness and potential as a blocker are pluses. He’s fundamentally sound in that aspect of his game and he does enough as a receiver to establish himself as a threat. In four years at Clemson, he totaled 88 catches for 951 yards and 12 touchdowns, with just three drops in 54 games (25 starts).

He doesn’t do anything poorly, but he isn’t going to wow anyone most of the time. But some tight ends make a career out of doing the dirty work and quietly contributing as an effective threat in the passing game, so there’s enough to like about Allen to make him a mid-round pick.

10. Penn State TE Brenton Strange – Junior – 6-3, 253 – 4.70

Strange lacks the ideal length for a tight end, but he has an athletic build that he controls well on the run. He separates well and has good hands, recording just one drop last season. He’s an aggressive run blocker, too, with the ability to work out of an H-back role, much like Bucs tight end Ko Kieft does. The fact that he has plenty of special teams experience helps his case, too.

There isn’t a lot of production on Strange’s resume, as he totaled just 755 yards in his career. He did have 11 touchdowns over 37 games (31 starts), but it’s fair to say his lack of length hurts his catch radius. As a blocker, he has to clean up his fundamentals and align his technique with his willingness to engage. Effort isn’t a problem, that’s for sure.

Best Of The Rest

11. Cincinnati TE Josh Whyle – Senior – 6-6, 248 – 4.69

Cincinnati TE Josh Whyle – Photo by: USA Today

Whyle is a solid all-around tight end, using his size to his advantage as a blocker and posing a serious threat in the red zone. He reads defenders well and has a good catch radius, which made him exceptionally effective near the goal line. He broke Brent Celek’s Cincinnati tight end touchdown record, finishing his career with 15 scores. Whyle is most likely a fourth- or fifth-round pick.

12. Alabama TE Cameron Latu – Senior – 6-4, 242 – 4.78

Latu proved to have big-play potential at Alabama, averaging 14.1 yards per catch over the course of his career. He was effective up the seam and has good vision to create yards-after-catch possibilities. But there are limitations to his game as a receiver and he has work to do as a blocker. At the very least, though, he is a chain-moving tight end who could carve out a nice role somewhere early on.

13. Purdue TE Payne Durham – Senior – 6-5, 253 – 4.87

Durham wowed at the Senior Bowl back in February, finishing the week as one of the biggest winners at the tight end position. He can go up and get the ball, plus he plays with a fearless edge when going over the middle of the field. His touchdown production at Purdue was impressive, as he totaled 21 in 45 games (32 starts). He has to improve his pad level as a blocker, but he does play like someone who enjoys that gritty side of the game. Durham projects as a potential late-round steal.

14. Miami TE Will Mallory – Senior – 6-4, 239 – 4.54

Miami TE Will Mallory Photo By: USA Today

As a pass-catching threat, Mallory is outstanding. He finished his Miami career with 115 catches for 1,544 yards and 14 touchdowns, and his 4.54 speed works to his advantage when he looks to get separation from defenders. Unfortunately, he had some issues with drops and offers very little as a blocker. Mallory doesn’t project as someone who can line up as an inline tight end. Rather, he’s going to be a tight end in name only.

15. Oklahoma TE Brayden Willis – Senior – 6-3, 241 – N/A

Willis has some Ko Kieft in him, as he has positional versatility in terms of working inline, in the slot or as an H-back. His mentality matches up with Kieft’s as well, as he’s a gritty blocker who loves engaging in that side of the game. As a receiver, he’s more limited. He doesn’t get separation all that easily and has average route-running ability on the whole. He can contribute on special teams, which is a plus as a late Day 3 selection.

16. Wake Forest TE Blake Whiteheart – Senior – 6-3, 247 – 4.70

A traditional Y tight end at Wake Forest, Whiteheart lacks an elite trait but is serviceable all around. He’s tough as a blocker and can contribute as a receiving threat. He started for only one year and doesn’t have much production on his resume, but he has some moldable characteristics that could make him worth a late-round flier.

17. North Dakota State TE Noah Gindorff – Senior – 6-5, 263 – N/A

Gindorff was a four-year starter at North Dakota State and has a strong build. That helps him in the blocking game, but he isn’t overly athletic or fluid as a route runner, which limits his ceiling. He also suffered season-ending ankle injuries in back-to-back years, which will raise some health concerns for some teams. Gindorff will be a seventh-round pick at best, though he figures to be an undrafted free agent.

18. Cincinnati TE Leonard Taylor – Senior – 6-4, 250 – N/A

Taylor has good size and has a basketball background, which is apparent with the way he climbs the ladder to go after the football. The frame is there for him to fill out, and he has the potential to grow into it and become a more well-rounded tight end. As it stands, though, he’s a sound blocker and has reliable hands. He projects as a rotational TE3/TE4 type.

Bucs’ Best Bets: Tight End

Bucs’ Best Bet – Rounds 1-3: Iowa TE Sam LaPorta

If the Bucs are going to prioritize the tight end position with a Day 2 pick, there will be several interesting options, including Iowa’s Sam LaPorta, Georgia’s Darnell Washington and South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft. Even though he’s smaller than the other two at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, LaPorta has the most upside as a receiver and weapon on offense. LaPorta has 4.59 speed and can not only get open, but make things happen after the catch. He had back-to-back seasons with over 50 catches for 650 yards in both 2021 and 2022.

For his size, LaPorta is a good blocker and a high-character leader and team captain. He plays with toughness with the ball in his hands or at the point of attack while blocking. LaPorta would bring more speed and athleticism to the team that Cade Otton possesses and has the ability to develop into a starting-caliber tight end right away. Iowa has produced some stud NFL tight ends, including George Kittle, TJ Hockenson and Noah Fant. LaPorta is the next Hawkeyes tight end that should excel at the next level and could be the Bucs’ second- or third-round pick.

Bucs’ Best Bet – Rounds 4-7: Purdue TE Payne Durham

If the Bucs decide to wait until Day 3 to select a tight end, there will still be plenty of good ones to choose from, including Michigan’s Luke Schoonmaker, Cincinnati’s Josh Whyle and Purdue’s Payne Durham. At 6-foot-5, 253 pounds, Durham isn’t terribly fleet of foot (4.87), but he is a load to bring down in the passing game. He’s a bigger, more powerful tight end than Cade Otton and could develop into a nice TE2 in Tampa Bay. Durham is a gritty, hard-nosed player that is tough to tackle and will do the dirty work in the trenches as a blocker.

While his 10.1-yard receiving average is nothing to get excited over, his touchdown production certainly is. Durham scored 21 touchdowns in four seasons, including 14 over his last two years with the Boilermakers. He’s a bigger, better version of former Bucs tight end Cam Brate, who also was a red zone weapon and had a nose for the end zone. The Bucs had success with two Day 3 tight ends last year in Otton and Ko Kieft. Durham is like both of those players rolled into one and would make a great addition to Tampa Bay’s offense.