2020 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings – Top 5 Tight End Prospects: The NFL continues full steam ahead with plans for the 2020 NFL Draft, and I’m continuing to roll through some position-by-position breakdowns of the top prospects in this year’s class. Up next are the tight ends, and while the position hasn’t always garnered as much attention as the wide receiver spot, having a dominant tight end seems to be paying off for teams. Last year, we had arguably the two best tight ends in the game, Travis Kelce and George Kittle, meet in the Super Bowl. We’ve also seen Zach Ertz win a Super Bowl in recent years, and Rob Gronkowski played a huge part in New England’s dynasty. I’m not sure there is a game-changing talent at the position in the 2020 group, but there are several who should add another dimension to whatever offense they land in.
2020 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings: Top 5 Tight End Prospects
1. Cole Kmet, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Kmet didn’t have the most impressive numbers in 2019, but he wasn’t asked to stretch the field at all in Notre Dame’s passing attack. On the flip side, he was used as both in-line as a blocker and split outside, making him one of the most well-rounded prospected at the position. The icing on the cake was Kmet’s performance at the Scouting Combine where he weighed in as the heaviest tight end but posted a top-five time in the 40-yard dash and the best vertical leap. His combination of size, athleticism and versatility should make him the first tight end off the board in April as a potential top-20 pick.
2. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic Owls
He took home the John Mackey Award as the best tight end in the country last year, finishing with 65 grabs for 1004 yards and seven scores. Needless to say, Bryant is going to make his money in the passing game, but at 6-5, he’s big and strong enough to develop into a quality blocker. He has all the tools to handle a high snap count and become a high-volume option for an offense. Bryant is a high-floor prospect who should come off the board during Day 2.
3. Adam Trautman, Dayton Flyers
His stats have to be taken with a grain of salt because of the level of competition, but Trautman dominated opposing defenses to the tune of 70 catches for 916 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019. More importantly, he backed his numbers with his performance at the Senior Bowl and the Scouting Combine, posting the best three-cone drill time among tight ends. Trautman wasn’t asked to do much blocking in college, so he may never be an every-down player. However, he has the athleticism to be a dynamic weapon in the passing game, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Trautman be the second tight end picked.
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4. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri Tigers
Known largely for his prowess in the red zone, Okwuegbunam didn’t put up blockbuster numbers in terms of catches and yards while at Missouri. However, he did haul in 23 touchdowns over three seasons with the Tigers, excelling at winning jumpballs and attacking the seam of secondaries. Okwuegbunam also opened eyes at the Scouting Combine, leading all tight ends with a 4.49 time in the 40-yard dash. That time will make a lot of high-end receivers blush, and while he still needs a lot of refinement as both a blocker and all-around receiver, it is clear that Okwuegbunam has rare physical abilities that you can’t find in many tight ends. Even if he is never more than a red zone weapon, he is going to have a place in the NFL. He should be off the board by the end of the third round.
5. Hunter Bryant, Washington Huskies
A history of knee injuries is a bit of a concern, but Bryant was one of the better receiving threats at the position in 2019, hauling in 52 passes for 825 yards for the Huskies. He’s a little undersized to be an in-line tight end, but his route running and ability to make defenders miss after the catch give him a big-play ability that not every prospect possesses. Bryant will have a chance to carve out a role as a team’s pass-catching tight end.
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