Ranking the 2022 NFL Draft's top 20 tight ends
There are up to seven potential year one starters in this tight end class
The 2022 NFL Draft lacks any star power at the top of the tight end class. This year’s best tight end isn’t in the same universe as Kyle Pitts and also fails to match Pat Freiermuth’s draft profile. However, the 2022 tight end class is one of the deepest in recent history and should reinvigorate depth charts across the league, which are desperate for contributors at the position.
I could see seven tight ends from this draft becoming starters within their rookie seasons, but that projection heavily depends on scheme fit and the creativity of offensive coordinators. The top 12 tight ends in this ranking have a good chance to contribute during their rookie seasons, but this class is at the mercy of developmental traits.
Feel free to tell me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 if you believe a certain prospect should rank higher. Let me know if I missed anyone.
*All player measurements come from NFL.com unless otherwise specified
Tier 1- Second Round Pick
1. Trey McBride, TE Colorado St.
Size: 6'3", 249 lbs. with 32 1/2" arms and 10 1/8" hands
Pros: Only six drops in four college seasons, large hands allow for easy concentration grabs in crowds, above average contested catch tight end, responsible for 22.5% of Colorado State’s offense in 2021, willing blocker with the strength and frame to win leverage, creates separation late in routes, long strider with ball, quick off the line and paces his routes
Cons: Committed eight penalties in 2021, arm length is a negative as a blocker, needs to refine his blocking technique, not very physical after the catch, low YAC per reception
Production: 90 receptions for 1,121 yards and one touchdown in 2021
Tier 2- Third Round Picks
2. Jeremy Ruckert, TE Ohio St.
Size: 6'5", 250 lbs. with 32 3/4" arms and 10 1/8" hands
Pros: Immense untapped receiving potential, aggressive blocker, lands blocks on the move, active feet and shoulders to sell routes, good jump off the line, quarterback’s best friend who consistently finds space or works back when the play breaks down, won’t turn 22 until August
Cons: Limited exposure as a pass catcher at Ohio State, extent of his route tree is unknown, limited YAC player, arm length is a negative as a blocker, limited separator, needs to adjust his hands and angles as a blocker
Production: 26 receptions for 309 yards and three touchdowns in 2021
3. Greg Dulcich, TE UCLA
Size: 6'4", 250 lbs. with 33 3/8" arms and 9 7/8" hands
Pros: Back-to-back 500-yard seasons, averaged over 17 yards per reception in 2020 and 2021, speed to threaten downfield, creates YAC with acceleration, separator who runs away from linebackers and safeties, plus catch radius, tracks the ball like a wide receiver
Cons: Four drops in 2021, below average in contested catch situations, not physical enough at the catch point, committed six penalties in 2021, poor blocker who lacks functional strength for the job
Production: 42 receptions for 725 yards and five touchdowns in 2021
4. Cade Otton, TE Washington
Size: 6'5", 250 lbs. with 32 3/4" arms and 9 1/2" hands
Pros: Only six drops in college, makes adjustments outside his frame, hands pluck the ball out of the air at all angles, above average route runner, fires into blocks with aggressive strikes
Cons: Limited contested catch opportunities, limited YAC player who can’t rumble or make defenders miss, lacks functional strength as a blocker, one-speed route runner
Production: 28 receptions for 250 yards and one touchdown in 2021
Production: 32 receptions for 344 yards and two touchdowns in 2019
5. Jelani Woods, TE Virginia
Size: 6'7", 275 lbs. with 34 1/8" arms and 9 1/4" hands
Pros: Freak athlete with intriguing height/weight/speed combination, above average in contested catch situations, 93rd percentile arm length helps in blocking, good speed into cuts, fights for extra yards, runs away from linebackers, doesn’t fear contact over the middle, catch radius, leggy strider who picks up yards in a hurry, plays above the rim
Cons: Will turn 24 in October, five drops in 2021, doesn’t consistently catch the ball in stride, one season of production, average get off, no twitch, hands need to improve, physicality and size to win as a blocker but lacking refinement and technique
Production: 44 receptions for 598 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021
Tier 3- Fourth Round Picks
6. Charlie Kolar, TE Iowa St.
Size: 6'6", 260 lbs. with 34 1/2" arms and 10" hands
Pros: Over 2,000 yards in the past three years, massive frame and catch radius, terrific at finding space in zones, puts out effort as a blocker, only five drops in college, above average in contested catch situations, blocks out defenders at the catch point
Cons: Lacks twitch and athleticism to make defenders miss in space, two fumbles in 2021, gets cuts down instead of gaining YAC, separation is inconsistent, blocking techniques and leverage need reworking
Production: 62 receptions for 756 yards and six touchdowns in 2021
Production: 51 receptions for 697 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019
7. Isaiah Likely, TE Coastal Carolina
Size: 6'4", 240 lbs. with 31 7/8" arms and 10" hands
Pros: Back-to-back years with at least 600 yards, one drop in 2021, averaged over 15 yards per reception in each of the past two seasons, extends to make catches away from his body, generates YAC with acceleration, bursts into routes, great get off, wins at all three levels, appears to have loose hips and ankles
Cons: Supposedly ran a 4.8 40 at his pro day along with a 7.33 three-cone and 4.57 20-yard shuttle, testing numbers were awful for a player with his build, five drops in 2020, lacks play strength to sustain blocks, gets bumped off his routes
Production: 59 receptions for 912 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021
8. Jake Ferguson, TE Wisconsin
Size: 6'5", 244 lbs. with 32 5/8" arms and 9 1/2" hands
Pros: Three 400-yard seasons, one drop in 2021, catches through contact over the middle, above average in contested catch situations, creates separation at the top of his route, works back to the quarterback, unfazed by defenders in his air space, some wiggle after the catch, good footwork
Cons: Creates limited separation, not a very dynamic athlete, one-speed routes, lacks speed to threaten defenses vertically, light frame struggles to sustain blocks against power rushers, seven penalties committed in 2021
Production: 46 receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns in 2021
Tier 4- Fifth Round Picks
9. Derrick Deese Jr., TE San Jose St.
Size: 6'3", 236 lbs. with 33 5/8" arms and 10 1/4" hands (Shrine Bowl)
Pros: Excellent arm length and hand size, makes mid-air adjustments, converted wide receiver, one of the best blocking tight ends in this class, can get open downfield, makes catches outside of his frame, identifies block targets in space, active hands to stay clean early in routes
Cons: One season of high-end production, below average on contested catches, four drops in 2021, makes very few defenders miss, 4.9 40-time, not a natural separator, early 2010s Antonio Gates build, route tree needs development
Production: 47 receptions for 730 yards and four touchdowns in 2021
10. Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE Maryland
Size: 6'3", 250 lbs. with 32 3/4" arms and 9 3/4" hands
Pros: Caught all of his contested catch opportunities in 2021, only one penalty in 2021, excellent athletic testing at the Combine, finds people to block in space, speed to separate and generate YAC, has the athleticism to develop as a full-field threat
Cons: Five drops in 2021, consistently low average depths of target, missed 2020 with myocarditis, basic route tree, length and sustaining blocks were issues, limited tape running routes downfield
Production: 52 receptions for 447 yards and five touchdowns in 2021
11. James Mitchell, TE Virginia Tech
Size: 6'3", 255 lbs. with 32 7/8" arms and 9 3/4" hands
Pros: Only three drops and four penalties in college, over ten YAC per reception in 2019 and 2020, competitive blocker, averaged over 16.5 yards per reception in 2019 and 2020, finishes catches through contact, speed and burst to threaten all three levels, makes catches away from his frame
Cons: Torn ACL limited him to two games in 2021, limited missed tackles forced, hand usage as a blocker, never had more than 26 receptions in a season
Production: Five receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown in two games in 2021
Production: 26 receptions for 435 yards and four touchdowns in 2020
12. Gerrit Prince, TE UAB
Size: 6'4 3/8", 239 lbs. with 33 1/8" arms and 9 5/8" hands (Shrine Bowl)
Pros: Only six drops in college, averaged over 19 yards per reception in 2021, deploys from a large variety of positions, YAC monster compared to other TEs in this class, wins at all three levels, terrific arm length and wingspan, runs through arm tackles, breakaway speed in space, natural separator with fluid cuts,
Cons: Turns 25 in August, committed five penalties in 2021, nearly blanked by Georgia (2021), one season of high-end production, lacks the size and functional strength to be an effective blocker, classic “big wide receiver” mold, some examples of body catches, uncomfortable when crowded at the catch point
Production: 36 receptions for 699 yards and ten touchdowns in 2021
Tier 5- Sixth Round Picks
13. Daniel Bellinger, TE San Diego St.
Size: 6'6", 255 lbs. with 32 1/2" arms and 10 1/8" hands
Pros: Won’t turn 22 until September, zero drops in 2021, speed to gain YAC, competitive blocker who is one of the more developed tight ends in this class, tracks the ball well
Cons: Very low average depth of target in 2021, committed five penalties in 2021, limited to no opportunities in contested catch situations, not many broken tackles on tape
Production: 31 receptions for 357 yards and two touchdowns in 2021
14. Grant Calcaterra, TE SMU
Size: 6'5", 247 lbs. with 33 1/4" arms and 10" hands
Pros: Ideal height, arm length, and hand size, two penalties in 2021, only six drops in college, good footwork as a blocker, athletic mover who threatens defenses downfield, snappy footwork going into cuts
Cons: Turns 24 in December, retired for the 2020 season because of concussions, lackluster in contested catch situations, doesn’t break tackles, lacks functional strength as a blocker
Production: 38 receptions for 465 yards and four touchdowns in 2021
Tier 6- Seventh Round Picks
15. Cole Turner, TE Nevada
Size: 6'6", 240 lbs. with 33" arms and 9 7/8" hands
Pros: Back-to-back 600-yard seasons, converted wide receiver, terrific size and arm length, above average in contested catch situations, plays above the rim, still room to add more weight, red zone threat, wide receiver ball skills
Cons: Under ten percent of his college snaps came in-line, will have to play the slot in the NFL, seven drops in the past two years, lacks mass to block NFL rushers, 4.76 40-time shows speed limitations, not much YAC, no wiggle to make defenders miss
Production: 62 receptions for 677 yards and ten touchdowns in 2021
16. Jalen Wydermyer, TE Texas A&M
Size: 6'5", 255 lbs. with 33 1/8" arms and 9 3/4" hands
Pros: Won’t turn 22 until December, back-to-back 500-yard seasons, red zone threat possessing ideal size and length, accelerates to cover ground quickly, faster release than Texas A&M’s wide receivers
Cons: Below average in contested catch situations, can’t make defenders miss, eight drops in 2021, five penalties committed in 2021, 5.01 40-time at his pro day was disastrous, routes are rounded, not aggressive at the catch point, not a competitive blocker
Production: 40 receptions for 515 yards and four touchdowns in 2021
17. Armani Rogers, TE Ohio
Size: 6'5", 226 lbs. with 33 1/8" arms and 9 1/2" hands (Shrine Bowl)
Pros: Versatile player with 2,863 passing yards and 2,215 rushing yards, ideal height and arm length, impressed at the Shrine Bowl, speed to surprise linebackers and safeties, learning the position quickly, 99-yard touchdown in college displayed speed
Cons: Turns 25 in December, only two receptions for two yards in college, needs to add mass for blocking assignments, near complete projection as a tight end
Production: 92 carries for 552 yards and seven touchdowns plus 29 completions for 350 yards in 2021
Tier 7- Undrafted Free Agents
18. Austin Allen, TE Nebraska
Size: 6'8", 255 lbs. with 33 5/8" arms and 9 1/2" hands
Pros: Only two drops in college, above average in contested catch situations, zero penalties committed in 2021, offers ideal size and arm length, catches through contact, fights for YAC, willing blocker
Cons: Turns 24 in November, one season of high-end production, only three career touchdowns, lacks burst off the line, needs to fill out lower body, doesn’t have the speed or agility to create consistent separation, loses leverage as a blocker and narrows his base
Production: 38 receptions for 602 yards and two touchdowns in 2021
19. Connor Heyward, TE/FB Michigan St.
Size: 6'0", 230 lbs. with 31 7/8" arms and 9 1/2" hands
Pros: Tight end-fullback hybrid, only two drops in college, special teams experience, kick returner in 2017 and 2018, catches outside his frame, won’t get bumped off his routes, catches through contact, squatty build that packs and punch and drags tacklers, willing blocker
Cons: Lacks ideal size and arm length, never had an average depth of target above 5.0 in college, gets caught from behind, needs to fill out his lower body, lacks body type to fill all blocking assignments, route running lacks burst and definition
Production: 35 receptions for 326 yards and two touchdowns in 2021
Production: 32 receptions for 249 yards plus 118 carries for 529 yards and five touchdowns in 2019
20. Peyton Hendershot, TE Indiana
Size: 6'4", 254 lbs. with 32 5/8" arms and 9" hands
Pros: Two career 500-yard seasons, one drop in 2021, one penalty in 2021, wins consistently in the flats and underneath, willing blocker
Cons: Arrested on multiple charges in Feb. 2020 following a domestic incident with his girlfriend, limited opportunities for contested catches, six drops in 2020, smaller hands and arms than ideal
Production: 46 receptions for 543 yards and four touchdowns in 2021
Production: 52 receptions for 622 yards and four touchdowns in 2019
Honorable Mentions
Chase Allen, TE Iowa St.
Trae Barry, TE Boston College
John FitzPatrick, TE Georgia
Daniel Imatorbhebhe, TE Kansas St.
Lucas Krull, TE Pittsburgh
Nick Muse, TE South Carolina
Teagan Quitoriano, TE Oklahoma St.