Here are the top 41 tight ends in the draft, as rated by NFL Draft Report’s Dave-Te Thomas. “Round” is Thomas’ prediction. “Grade” is based on pro potential. An explanation of the grading system is provided at the end.
FLEENER, Coby
Stanford
Height: 6:060 Weight: 247 40-yard time: 4.52
Round: 1-2 Grade: 6.6
ALLEN, Dwayne (Jr.)
Clemson
Height: 6:031 Weight: 255 40-yard time: 4.85
Round: 2 Grade: 6.5
CHARLES, Orson (Jr.)
Georgia
Height: 6:024 Weight: 251 40-yard time: 4.83
Round: 3-4 Grade: 6.1
GREEN, Ladarius
Louisiana-Lafayette
Height: 6:056 Weight: 238 40-yard time: 4.45
Round: 3-4 Grade: 6.0
EGNEW, Michael
Missouri
Height: 6:051 Weight: 252 40-yard time: 4.52
Round: 4 Grade: 6.0
CARRIER, Derek
Beloit College
Height: 6:033 Weight: 238 40-yard time: 4.50
Round: 6-7 Grade: 5.8
ELLISON, Rhett
Southern California
Height: 6:047 Weight: 251 40-yard time: 4.84
Round: 5-6 Grade: 5.6
THOMPSON, Taylor
Southern Methodist
Height: 6:061 Weight: 266 40-yard time: 4.58
Round: 4-5 Grade: 5.5
PETERSON, DeAngelo
Louisiana State
Height: 6:030 Weight: 243 40-yard time: 4.69
Round: 5 Grade: 5.4
HANNA, James
Oklahoma
Height: 6:036 Weight: 252 40-yard time: 4.43
Round: 6-7 Grade: 5.3
ROBINSON, Adrien
Cincinnati
Height: 6:040 Weight: 264 40-yard time: 4.56
Round: 6-7 Grade: 5.3
LINTHICUM, Brian
Michigan State
Height: 6:040 Weight: 249 40-yard time: 4.87
Round: 7 Grade: 5.2
FORD, Chase
Miami
Height: 6:065 Weight: 253 40-yard time: 4.75
Round: 7 Grade: 5.2
CELEK, Garrett
Michigan State
Height: 6:043 Weight: 250 40-yard time: 4.72
Round: 5-6 Grade: 5.2
VELDMAN, Matt
North Dakota State
Height: 6:062 Weight: 266 40-yard time: 4.88
Round: 6-7 Grade: 5.1
PROVO, Nick
Syracuse
Height: 6:032 Weight: 237 40-yard time: 4.77
Round: 7 Grade: 5.0
BRYAN, George
North Carolina State
Height: 6:050 Weight: 258 40-yard time: 5.05
Round: 7 Grade: 5.0
HARKEY, Cory
UCLA
Height: 6:040 Weight: 260 40-yard time: 5.06
Round: 7/FA Grade: 4.9
PAULSON, David
Oregon
Height: 6:032 Weight: 246 40-yard time: 4.79
Round: 7/FA Grade: 4.9
MILLER, Anthony
California
Height: 6:033 Weight: 254 40-yard time: 4.92
Round: 7/FA Grade: 4.8
HERMAN, Brad
Iowa
Height: 6:042 Weight: 255 40-yard time: 4.63
Round: PFA Grade: 4.8
WHITE, Aron
Georgia
Height: 6:036 Weight: 238 40-yard time: 4.91
Round: PFA Grade: 4.7
RELIFORD, Beau
Florida State
Height: 6:051 Weight: 256 40-yard time: 4.84
Round: PFA Grade: 4.7
URBAN, Tyler
West Virginia
Height: 6:044 Weight: 252 40-yard time: 4.89
Round: PFA Grade: 4.7
GOTTLIEB, Alex
William & Mary
Height: 6:032 Weight: 250 40-yard time: 4.74
Round: FA Grade: 4.6
CHICHESTER, Josh
Louisville
Height: 6:060 Weight: 233 40-yard time: 4.63
Round: FA Grade: 4.6
BRYANT, Lamont
Morgan State
Height: 6:042 Weight: 224 40-yard time: 4.53
Round: FA Grade: 4.6
LLOYD, Tarren
Utah State
Height: 6:061 Weight: 256 40-yard time: 4.72
Round: FA Grade: 4.6
NISSLEY, Adam
Central Florida
Height: 6:054 Weight: 263 40-yard time: 5.02
Round: FA Grade: 4.6
SZCZERBA, Andrew
Penn State
Height: 6:064 Weight: 262 40-yard time: 5.12
Round: FA Grade: 4.5
BARDEN, Brandon
Vanderbilt
Height: 6:046 Weight: 246 40-yard time: 4.80
Round: FA Grade: 4.5
SUPERNAW, Phillip
Ouachita Baptist
Height: 6:042 Weight: 253 40-yard time: 4.70
Round: FA Grade: 4.5
EURE, Tiree (Jr.)
Minnesota
Height: 6:046 Weight: 268 40-yard time: 4.97
Round: FA Grade: 4.5
BYRNE, Jake
Wisconsin
Height: 6:044 Weight: 258 40-yard time: 4.85
Round: FA Grade: 4.5
MIDDLETON, Kavario
Montana
Height: 6:047 Weight: 256 40-yard time: 4.95
Round: FA Grade: 4.5
CHILDERS, Jamie
Coastal Carolina
Height: 6:042 Weight: 246 40-yard time: 4.69
Round: FA Grade: 4.5
GUICE, Demetrius
Central Washington
Height: 6:050 Weight: 274 40-yard time: 4.86
Round: FA Grade: 4.4
BIERE, Tim
Kansas
Height: 6:035 Weight: 246 40-yard time: 4.87
Round: FA Grade: 4.4
McGRATH, Sean
Henderson State (Ark.)
Height: 6:052 Weight: 247 40-yard time: 4.79
Round: FA Grade: 4.4
EFAW, Kyle
Boise State
Height: 6:033 Weight: 232 40-yard time: 4.84
Round: FA Grade: 4.4
FIGGINS, Bruce
Georgia
Height: 6:032 Weight: 272 40-yard time: 5.22
Round: FA Grade: 4.4
Thomas' grades are based on pro potential and are not round projections.
8.5-9.0
Franchise Player: Immediate starter. ... Should have a major impact to the success of the franchise, barring injury. ... Possesses superior critical factors in all areas. ... Plays with consistency and without abnormal extra effort. ... Rare talent.
7.8-8.4
Top Ten Player: Immediate starter. ... Should have a major impact to the success of the franchise, barring injury. ... Possesses superior critical factors in most areas. ... Plays with consistency and without abnormal extra effort. ... Rare talent.
7.3-7.7
Star Quality: Eventual starter. ... Should make a significant contribution in his first year. ... Possesses above average critical factors. ... Has the talent and skills to start. ... Will contribute to upgrading the team. ... Can play without abnormal effort, but has some inconsistency in his play that will improve with refinement and development. ... Has no real weakness.
6.9-7.2
Impact Player: Possesses at least average to above average critical factors in all areas. ... Will contribute immediately, whether as a starter or a valuable reserve. ... Will move into the starting lineup with seasoning. ... Above average player who needs to refine certain areas.
6.4-6.8
Eventual Starter: Could move into the starting lineup within three years. ... Has average critical factors in all areas. ... Needs further development, but has the ability to contribute.
6.0-6.3
Potential Starter: Could force himself into the starting lineup with improved performances. ... Will make a team. ... Has average critical factors in most areas, but at least one with less than average quality that he will have a hard time overcoming. ... Probable draft choice.
5.5-5.8
Roster Player: Has the ability to serve as a key reserve and possible future starter. ... Has average critical factors, but more several areas that are less than average. ... Plays with normal extra effort.
5.0-5.4
Project: Has the skills to play pro ball with proper tutoring. ... May make a team based on need. ... Possesses no real strong critical factors and is probably below average in several areas that the player will have a hard time overcoming.. Possible draft choice, but only if that team is caught short on talent available at that position.
4.6-4.9
Developmental : Could make a team with an impressive showing in training camp. ... Not strong in most critical factors. ... Deficient in more than one area that he will not be able to overcome. ... At least average in the factor of competitiveness. ... May not make a team due to his limitations.
4.1-4.5
Camp Player: Has redeeming qualities that could allow him to play in the pros with improved performances. ... Deficient in more than one critical factor. ... Might make a team, but will always be the player that squad will look to replace.
3.5-4.0
Reject: Might make a team, but has glaring deficiencies in several critical factors. ... Below average competitor whose athletic skills will allow him to enter training camp, but has a difficult time in trying to make a team.
2.0-2.5
Unrated: Serious injury (2.0) or off-field problem (2.5).