Tanner McLachlan, TE Arizona: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

McLachlan was a recruit from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada in the class of 2018

Tight end Tanner McLachlan was a breakout contributor for the Arizona Wildcats in 2022. The Southern Utah transfer overcame a torn ACL in 2021 to produce more than 450 yards this past season. He needs another productive year to establish his stock in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Tanner McLachlan, TE Arizona: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt senior tight end from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Background: McLachlan was a recruit from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada in the class of 2018. He didn’t receive a star ranking from 247Sports. In high school, he earned All-Canadian honors as a wide receiver. He gained more than 1,000 all-purpose yards as a senior. McLachlan only appeared in 11 games at Southern Utah, totaling 15 receptions for 168 yards. He didn’t see action in the fall of 2021 because of a torn ACL. McLachlan transferred from Southern Utah to Arizona as a walk-on for the 2022 season. He was put on scholarship during the 2022 season.

Injuries & Off-Field: Suffered a torn ACL during the 2021 COVID-19 spring season

Awards: N/A

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, punt coverage, and field goal units, high school wide receiver, experience playing in line, slot, and out wide, long strider who gains ground quickly, navigates the MOF well, able to generate some separation against linebackers on crossing routes, finds the space between the defense’s second and third level, some hip sink at the top of his stem, willing pass protector and run blocker

Cons: Four drops in 2022, appears to have short arms for the position, high-hipped, lean build, not speedy or sudden, slow release, doesn’t threaten defenses vertically, routes are more rounded than sharp, creates limited separation, below average in contested catch situations, not shifty or elusive in space, doesn’t break tackles with power, currently not a viable in-line blocker, ducks head into contact, occasionally whiffs on blocks, doesn’t sustain blocks, lacks the mass and arm length to anchor or sustain blocks in pass pro, footwork as a blocker is underdeveloped, too much of a tweener between WR and TE with no dominant traits for either position

Overview: McLachlan was a high school receiver, and it shows in his build and approach to playing tight end. He has experience playing out wide, in the slot, and in-line with the Wildcats. McLachlan is a long strider who covers ground quickly. He navigates traffic well over the middle of the field and generates some separation against linebackers on crossing routes. The Canadian excels at finding space between the defense’s second and third level, but he could do a better job of sitting in open zones overall. There’s some hip sink at the top of McLachlan’s stem, but his cuts aren’t very sharp or sudden. He’s a willing blocker but currently isn’t a viable in-line player. The redshirt senior ducks head into contact, which leads to him whiffing on blocks. He struggles to sustain blocks because he lacks the technique and arm length to engage defenders effectively. McLachlan doesn’t have the mass to anchor in pass protection. His footwork as a blocker is underdeveloped. The Southern Utah transfer is too much of a tweener who lacks the traits to fit in the mold of a tight end or wide receiver. He has a lean, high-hipped build with what appears to be short arms. McLachlan isn’t fast or sudden. His release is slow, and he lacks the top speed to threaten defenses vertically. The Alberta native’s routes are more rounded than sharp. He creates limited separation and doesn’t offer much after the catch.

Overall, McLachlan hasn’t adjusted to his position’s role as an in-line blocker yet and lacks the high-end athletic traits to operate as a full-time slot threat. It’s unlikely he hears his name called before late Day 3 unless his body composition changes dramatically over the summer.

Role & Scheme Fit: Depth slot/F tight end

Round Projection: Seventh Round

Size: 6'5", 240 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 03-30-23