TIGHT ENDS
Tyler Warren TE Penn St
Tyler is an “I’m always open” big receiver playing the Tight End position. He has those long strides that allow him to separate with very little effort when running any kind of route. Tyler has excellent hands and the agility to change his body in the air, allowing him a bigger catch radius than most 6’6” 260 lb. receivers. He is not fast or quick but he has deceiving speed in the open field because of those long strides. Tyler is difficult to tackle in the open field because of his size, forcing DB’s and LB’s to need help to bring him down. He will make more than one big play in a game if your quarterback is smart enough to pass the ball to him. Tyler can block when he wants to, and if you need him to, but if the block isn’t to his side or not needed to spring a player, Tyler is more inclined to keep himself available and open for his quarterback to pass to him in case the play breaks down. He is a very smart runner with excellent vision in the open field, using that vision to anticipate and defeat the angle of his tackler two or three yards before his opponent can redirect to finish. Tyler is a weapon. He is smart, big, and athletic with those pillow like receiver hands, and a big catch radius that makes him an impact player on any down and distance for the team that selects him. Talent Grade: 1.57
Mason Taylor TE LSU
Mason has the potential to become a complete Tight End. His savvy route-running skills are better than most Tight Ends in the NFL right now. His football intelligence to adjust routes on the run and extinguish the defender’s cushion to gain separation is outstanding. Masson shows very good foot quickness and the fluid hips to block in space or on the move and when he lowers his pad level, he gains the needed leverage to put a defender on his back and open up holes. Mason has those strong hands to make catches with defenders hanging on to him and just enough burst and quickness to make the needed yardage after the catch, and to break a tackle to make 1st downs. He does need to improve his inline blocking, getting stronger, and keeping his pads lower to not lose leverage. This will come in time because it is easy to see that Mason is an excellent teammate and wants the respect of his teammates and he knows that respect will come through improving his blocking and doing the dirty work. Mason is on a mission to be the best that he can be. If Mason is selected by a team that uses Tight Ends instead of just having them on the team, he will become a Pro Bowl player. Look for Rob’s value board to check what round Mason is most likely to be selected. Mason will be the quarterback’s best friend on the field. Talent Grade: 1.94
Colston Loveland TE/WR Michigan
Is Colston a Wide Receiver running Tight End routes, or is he a Tight End who can run Wide Receiver routes? Colston reminds me a lot of Bills Dalton Kincaid and this type of pass-catching Tight End’s productivity is directly related to the Quarterback and Play caller's trust. Colston has excellent eye-hand coordination to catch the ball. He has a Wide Receiver's athletic talent to adjust to the ball in the air. Colston knows how to use his body in the red zone and understands how to manipulate coverage in the red zone to score Touchdowns. Colston has enough speed to work out as a wide receiver and if he ever learns to run routes better could be used “at times” as a wideout, tight end, or coming out of the backfield like an H-back. Colston had shoulder surgery recently and this will affect his draft status. Real Tight Ends are supposed to block and shoulder injuries usually affect that ability. Colston could be a weapon but if you don’t make him an integral part of your passing offense, and don’t throw the ball to him, then you have wasted your pick. Blocking is not the impact part of his game, pass catching is. Some teams will rate Colston as a 1st round pick and some will rate him as a 2nd round pick but no matter what round he gets selected in, if you don’t include him and throw to him, you will nullify his impact.
Talent Grade: 2.06
Elijah Arroyo TE Miami
Elijah is what I call a “Stack Receiver.” His size makes him listed as a Tight End, but let’s not call him something that he is not. Elijah is the type of receiver who needs a free release off the line of scrimmage to be productive and that is a “move”, or “Stack” Receiver. The other reason not to call him a Tight End or H-Back is because “blocking” is never going to be a strong point of his overall game. He might get in the way of an opponent but that’s about it. Elijah is a fluid athlete with excellent eye-hand coordination to catch the ball. He reminds me a lot of Dolphins/Patriots/Bengals Mike Gesicki whose production is directly related to the offensive coordinator’s, and Quarterback’s trust and his ability to take the pounding in the NFL. Elijah is not really, a “run-after-the-catch", type of receiver unless you hit him in stride. That being said, Elijah can make first downs and score touchdowns if he gets that free release off the line of scrimmage to get into his routes quickly. He has good speed, and because of his long strides and body length, he gets the separation needed to be effective on down-the-field routes. Nevertheless, getting into his routes quickly without a free release will always be a problem. Medicals will be an issue for some teams and the right coordinator and play caller will also be an issue that will affect his draft status. Elijah has the talent to be an impact “Stack Receiver” for the team that needs and knows how to use a “Stack Receiver” in their offense. Talent Grade: 2.67