Top Tight Ends In 2020 NFL Draft

1. Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet – Junior – 6-6, 265 – 4.7

Viewed more as a pass-catching tight end as opposed to being a blocker, Kmet looks to follow in the recent NFL tradition of larger receivers who end up playing tight end but are able to exploit mismatches with linebackers – and even safeties. At 6-foot-6, and 265 pounds, Kmet is a long bodied pass-catcher that can use his size to dominate smaller defenders while also using his large frame to block out much like basketball players do. Last season in South Bend, Kmet had 43 receptions for 515 yards and six touchdowns despite missing the first two games as he recovered from a broken collarbone.

2. Dayton TE Adam Trautman – Senior – 6-5, 255 – 4.8

Dayton TE Adam Trautman – Photo courtesy of Dayton

Trautman earned first-team Associated Press FCS All-American and the Pioneer League Offensive Player of the Year after notching 70 receptions for 916 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. Rarely do tight ends take over games, but Trautman was a tough match-up in most games and looks to carry it over to the NFL. Trautman has all the tools but will find life more difficult playing against the top players in the world as opposed to being unstoppable at times against much inferior competition. His release and technique will need to be refined, but all the tools are there to make the next jump.

3. Stanford TE Colby Parkinson – Junior – 6-7, 252 – 4.77

Parkinson is almost a wide receiver and almost a tight end but not quite either position. He will be a tight end in the NFL, but likely will be used split out in the slot and probably won’t spend much time trying to be an in-line blocker. While 252 pounds, Parkinson is somewhat thin-framed and doesn’t have a lot of read end and lower body strength to dig out defensive ends. Despite the negatives, there is a lot to like about Parkinson who can stretch the field and create headaches and mismatches in the secondary for opposing defenses. Parkinson was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection 12 starts during his final season, notching 48 receptions for 589 yards (12.3 avg.) but just one touchdown.

4. Florida Atlantic TE Harrison Bryant – Senior – 6-5, 243 – 4.73

Bryant was a first-team Associated Press All-American, while also winning the John Mackey Award. Bryant led all tight ends nationally with 65 receptions for 1,004 yards (15.4 avg.) and scoring seven times in 12 starts for the Owls. While he is viewed a primarily as a “Y” move tight end, Bryant is willing to do the dirty work when called upon to help in the run game. Whoever ends up being his offensive coordinator will have fun finding mismatches as he can move all over the field. Add in a high football IQ, Bryant might be the most complete tight end in this year’s draft class.

5. Washington TE Hunter Bryant – Junior – 6-2, 248 – 4.74

Certainly not the biggest tight end in the draft, Bryant was however one of the most productive, finishing as a John Mackey finalist and also earning second team All-American honors after a 2019 season that saw him catch 52 balls for 825 yards three touchdowns. Bryant has some injury concerns and doesn’t possess the biggest body, but plays larger than his physical dimensions. Averaging 16.4 per reception throughout his college career, Bryant has a knack for getting out of his stance quickly and separating from linebackers.

6. Missouri TE Albert Okwuegbunam – Junior – 6-5, 258 – 4.49

Even after missing time with a shoulder injury Okwuegbunam still manages to earn second-team All-SEC honors despite not having the production he had had in previous seasons with quarterback Drew Lock, including scoring 11 touchdowns as a redshirt freshmen for the Tigers in 2017. Okwuegbunam finished his last season at Missouri with 26 receptions for 306 yards and six touchdowns while playing in nine games. He will have some work to do to be successful in the NFL but his above-average ability to make contested catches, particularly in the red zone, make scouts’ eyes light up.

7. Purdue TE Brycen Hopkins – Senior – 6-4, 245 – 4.66

Purdue TE Brycen Hopkins – Photo courtesy of Purdue

Hopkins comes from good stock, as his father, Brad, was long-time offensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans. The younger Hopkins didn’t inherit his father’s size or blocking ability but did inherit his athleticism. In his senior season, Hopkins earned first-team All-American, Big Ten Tight End of the Year, and first-team all-conference honors after 61 catches for 830 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. Despite the success in college, Hopkins needs to work on his hands as he had too many drops while at Purdue. He starred in a player-friendly system while in college which helped boost his numbers.

8. Vanderbilt TE Jared Pinkney – Senior – 6-4, 257 – 4.96

After a stellar junior season in which he caught 50 passes for 774 yards and seven scores in 13 starts, the Vandy offense fell back down to earth and Pinkney’s numbers suffered because of it. As a senior, Pinkney totaled just two touchdowns on 20 receptions and only produced 233 yards. Pinkney showed good athleticism, and was a punisher after the catch at times. Rated as a good, but not great blocker, working on his strength will benefit him as he attempts a successful NFL career.

9. UCLA TE Devin Asiasi – Junior – 6-3, 257 – 4.73

Asiasi was honorable mention All-Pac-12 in 2019 after catching 44 passes for 641 yards and scoring four touchdowns for Chip Kelly’s Bruins in 2019. Trying to get a feel on how Asiasi will turn out as a pro has been difficult as Asiasi didn’t really show a lot of promise until last season. Asiasi has several traits scouts look for including a very smooth style when route running, more like a receiver than a tight end. But prior to last season he only had eight career catches. Adding some strength to his upper and lower body will help Asiasi’s cause to become a productive NFL tight end.

10. Oregon TE Jacob Breeland – Senior – 6-5, 252 – NA

Breeland got off to a great start for Oregon in 2019 with 26 catches for 405 yards and six touchdowns in six games before suffering a knee injury in October that ended his season. Breeland has solid size but will need to work on becoming a more well-rounded tight end, especially as a blocker if he wants to stick in the league. He has good hands and wins a lot of 50/50 balls but doesn’t have the speed to create a lot of separation according to scouts.

Best Of The Rest

11. Virginia Tech TE Dalton Keene – Junior – 6-4, 253 – 4.71

Keene came to Blacksburg and played as a true freshman for the Hokies and followed it up with a solid sophomore season. As a junior, his production slipped a little and he finished the years with 21 catches for 240 yards and five touchdowns. Keene also added 11 carries for 33 yards last season. Keene was a jack-of-all trades in college, playing tight end, fullback, wingback and on special teams as the punt team personal protector. Keene is a throwback player, who isn’t afraid to mix it up, and what he lacks athletically and size-wise, he makes up for in grit and determination.

12. Michigan TE Sean McKeon – Senior – 6-5, 242 – NA

McKeon earned Big Ten honorable mention for three straight seasons but never had a breakout year in Ann Arbor. As a senior he played in 10 games and had 13 catches for 235 yards (18.1 per) and two scores. McKeon was a solid blocker for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan but need to add some more size and strength to his frame to succeed at the next level.

13. Portland St. TE Charlie Taumoepeau – Senior – 6-2, 240 – 4.75

Taumoepeau garnered second-team FCS All-American and first-team all-conference honors  after posting 36 receptions for 474 yards two touchdowns in 10 starts for the Vikings in 2019. Not very big compared to many of this year’s TE class Taumoepeau is a gritty player and surprisingly a good blocker for his size. Taumoepeau also does a good job of catching the ball with his hands and not his body.

14. Cincinnati TE Josiah Deguara – Senior – 6-2, 242 – 4.72

Cincinnati TE Josiah Deguara – Photo courtesy of Cincinnati

If teams are looking for an all-around tough guy tight end, Deguara is your man. AAC coaches voted Deguara first-team all-league as a senior when he recorded 39 receptions for 504 yards and seven touchdowns. But it isn’t just his pass-catching ability that stands out when you watch film. Deguara is a throwback in the sense he actually likes to block, and does it well.

15. LSU TE Thaddeus Moss – Junior – 6-2, 250 – NA

If the Moss name sounds familiar, it’s with good reason. Moss is the son of NFL Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss. And while he isn’t a clone of his father, the younger Moss is a very good athlete in his own right, as evidenced by his 47 receptions for 570 yards and four scores in 2019 with two of those coming in the national title game victory over Clemson. While the Moss family is known for their hands, Thaddeus is actually a better blocker than he is as a receiver, according to many scouts who rave about his technique.

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