American Football

Matt’s Positional Rankings: Tight End

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 23 Florida State at Clemson
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The tight end position has emerged as one of the most hotly debated topics among Jets fans this draft cycle, albeit primarily focusing on one standout prospect. However, it’s imperative to assess the entire group, given the array of promising talents, each offering unique skill sets, with some excelling in specific areas.

Presently, our options seem limited to Conklin and Ruckert. While there are potential talents waiting in the wings, pinning our hopes on them seems imprudent. Conklin boasts reliability, but Ruckert’s performance has been marred by inconsistency, underscoring the need for a substantial upgrade across the position.

Thankfully, this year’s talent pool appears robust, spanning from the early rounds to the mid-draft selections. Whether you covet yards after catch specialists, imposing blockers for the trenches, or well-rounded athletes, this draft class offers a diverse range of options to suit various team needs. Below, I’ve outlined my top 10 prospects in this regard.

[1] Brock Bowers, Georgia – (Projected Round – Top 20)

Top Strength: An elite YAC master

Top Weakness: Below AVG size

[2] Ben Sinnott, Kansas St – (Projected Round – Round 2)

Top Strength: Very well rounded as both a receiver and a blocker

Top Weakness: Has decent long speed but his short area quickness lacks

[3] Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas – (Projected Round – Round 2)

Top Strength: Is a nightmare at the catch point

Top Weakness: Doesn’t have the play strength to play in-line

[4] Cade Stover, Ohio State – (Projected Round – Round 3)

Top Strength: Very reliable hands with crisp route running to boot

Top Weakness: Needs to turn on the mean as a blocker

[5] AJ Barner, Michigan – (Projected Round – Round 4)

Top Strength: The best in-line blocker in the class

Top Weakness: Lacks top end athletic ability

[6] Theo Johnson, Penn State – (Projected Round – Round 4

Top Strength: Size and athleticism combo

Top Weakness: Not a YAC guy

[7] Jaheim Bell, Florida State – (Projected Round – Round 4)

Top Strength: Incredibly efficient at getting YAC (Better than Bowers)

Top Weakness: Doesn’t have much in-line value

[8] Jared Wiley, TCU – (Projected Round – Round 5)

Top Strength: Has a 2nd gear to outrun the defense

Top Weakness: His speed doesn’t translate in and out of breaks

[9] Tip Reiman, Illinois – (Projected Round – Round 5)

Top Strength: Very good play strength at the POA with + athleticism

Top Weakness: Never really got to show off his skills as a receiver

[10] Jack Westover, Washington – (Projected Round – Round 6)

Top Strength: A very fluid mover in space

Top Weakness: Doesn’t offer much YAC

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