Bradley Ylitalo’s Scouting Notebook: Final Tight End Rankings

Bradley Ylitalo

I thought I had a hard time splitting up the top three wide receivers. That didn’t compare to ranking these tight ends. Placing them into talent groups was actually pretty clear in my eyes, but after that, nothing came easily.

In this article more than any, I encourage readers to really focus on the tiers, and a little less on the actual rankings. As per usual, I’ll assign each prospect a PPR or standard label to help you understand what kind of player they are. This should be a fun one, let’s get into these tight end rankings!

Tier One

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1) Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State (Standard)

I get that it was FCS football. But look at Dallas Goedert’s stats and tell me you’re not impressed. In his final two seasons as a Jackrabbit, he totaled 164 receptions, 2,300 yards, and 18 touchdowns. Goedert will need to sharpen up his hands and route running if he wants to come close to that success in the NFL, but the framework is there to be a dominant force.

2) Hayden Hurst, South Carolina (PPR)

It looks to be increasingly probable that Hayden Hurst will be the first (if not second) tight end off the board on draft night. Although he’s not a bad blocker, he’s definitely getting drafted for his polish and promise as a pass catcher. Hurst has the best combination of route running, athleticism, and after the catch skills in this entire group. He’s not Evan Engram, but he’s the closest thing this class has to offer. There’s a ton to like but be aware – Hurst will turn 25 before the regular season kicks off.

3) Mike Gesicki, Penn State (Equal)

Pre-Combine, Mike Gesicki was pretty firmly slated behind Mark Andrews. After his ridiculous, and yes I mean ridiculous showing in Indy, he’s become a real candidate to be considered as TE1. He still needs to work on his blocking and isn’t very exciting with the ball in his hands, but his size and athleticism combination is just too tantalizing to ignore. You can feel good buying into the Gesicki hype.

4) Mark Andrews, Oklahoma (PPR)

In what was arguably the scariest offense in all of college football, Mark Andrews, behind Baker Mayfield, may have been the most important cog. He posted 62 receptions for 950 yards on his way to winning the John Mackey award. The Unanimous All-American boasted a complete and well-rounded game that made him almost impossible to stop. Not much about Andrews will blow you away, but he should become a very consistent producer.

Tier Two

5) Ian Thomas, Indiana (PPR)

Everyone is in tier two for one reason or another. Ian Thomas, while he’s near prototype in terms of size and athleticism, is simply a little on the raw side. Most highly-regarded tight ends go to the NFL after dominating college football. Thomas didn’t exactly do that. This kid is just beginning to blossom and has all the tools to become a deadly weapon. Give him a couple years to come into his own and you should see that he was worth the wait.

6) Chris Herndon, Miami (FL) (PPR)

He may have been overshadowed by Braxton Berrios in the Miami offense, but Chris Herndon flashed more than enough traits to get scout and analyst attention. His strong hands and impressive quickness point to a strong future as a versatile playmaker. He, like a lot of rookie tight ends, will now need to prove he can handle the physicality of the NFL.

7) Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin (Tier Two/Three) (PPR)

Neither tier two nor tier three felt right for Troy Fumagalli. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, it just came with an asterisk. Talk about a kid who has overcome adversity. After having part of one of his fingers surgically removed as a baby, Fumagalli hasn’t let that slow him down in the slightest. The Senior led the Badgers in receiving and was a willing and capable blocker in their run-heavy offense. He isn’t the most talented prospect but part of me just knows he’ll find a way to make a name for himself.

Tier Three

8) Jordan Akins, Central Florida (PPR)

Only look at the tape and you’ll be wondering how on earth Jordan Akins is ranked as low as tier three. Take into account that he stands at 6’3 and just turned 26, and you can see why people aren’t drooling over him. Akins was a key piece in the UCF offense and will need to rapidly transition to the NFL game. He’s more polished than most, but the age concerns are a big hurdle.

9) Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan (PPR)

For dynasty purposes, tight ends in this tier aren’t much more than stabs in the dark (Except for Akins who’s here for his own reasons). If you’re going to take a chance on one, Tyler Conklin is a fun option. Turn on the tape, and you’ll quickly see him showcase hands that aren’t matched by anyone in this group. As with any day three prospect, he most likely won’t earn much playing time early on.

10) Dalton Schultz, Stanford (Standard)

Maybe it’s the Stanford uniform or the fact that his technique in blocking is downright awesome. Whatever it may be, there’s just something I really like about Dalton Schultz. Don’t get me wrong though. I have a few concerns.

For starters, his production is pretty crummy. Yes, he split time with Kaden Smith which limited his role somewhat, but I still would have liked to see more than 22 receptions and 212 yards. Secondly, as is pretty common with this position, he’s not going to drop jaws with his speed. Schultz is an interesting prospect who should get solid playing time. I just don’t know if he’ll produce enough to be a viable dynasty option.

Names To Consider

Jordan Thomas, Mississippi State (Equal)

Definitely one of my personal favorites, Jordan Thomas showcased some really enticing traits in his time as a Bulldog. However, as his 22 receptions as a Senior demonstrates, he’s still very raw. Thomas should be viewed as a fun player to take a chance on in deep leagues.

Durham Smythe, Notre Dame (Standard)

I like Durham Smythe as an NFL draft prospect, but not as much in terms of dynasty purposes. He graded out as my top blocker yet may lack the explosiveness to put up noteworthy numbers as a pass catcher.

Ryan Izzo, Florida State (Standard)

Another very polished blocker who doesn’t offer promise in the passing game. As Izzo’s 4.94-second forty showed, he’ll have a hard time out-running NFL defenders. He, along with Smythe might get playing time but most likely won’t see many targets.

That wraps up this edition of “Bradley Ylitalo’s Scouting Notebook”. Please leave a comment or question about a specific prospect, or fit for your team, below. Feel free to shoot me a question on Twitter (@NFL_Drafthub), I’m always happy to interact with football fans. See you next time!

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