2019 NFL Draft: Finalized top 50 big board, positional rankings

Tight Ends

1. (5) Noah Fant, Iowa

Top-10 grade

While the debate between which of the two Iowa tight ends is the better prospect rages on, this writer settled that long ago. Noah Fant is the best tight end in this class, and is a superb athlete. At 6-4 and 249 pounds, Fant’s 4.5-flat 40-yard dash, nearly 40-inch vertical jump, and 6.81-second 3-cone drill show a tight end that can win at every layer of the field.

While his run blocking could use some work, teams will not be looking to draft Fant to stay in and run, but to make explosive plays all over the field. Fant is the most qualified pass catcher, tight end or wide receiver, in this class to make impact plays for an offense on day-one.

2. (9) T.J. Hockenson, Iowa

First round grade

While Fant may be the most explosive weapon in this entire draft on the offensive side of the ball, his Hawkeye counterpart T.J. Hockenson is the most well-rounded tight end in the draft. Hockenson comes in right around the same size as Fant and slightly less athletic. However, Hockenson could provide an offense a better pass blocker than his college teammate could. This year’s tight end class is a two-man race, as the quality of prospect drops off tremendously after the Iowa duo.

3. (n/a) Dawson Knox, Ole Miss

Third round grade

Shadowed underneath Metcalf and Brown at Ole Miss, tight end Dawson Knox is ready to explode onto the scene at the next level. Knox, an elite athlete does not have the production desired from top talent in the NFL, but it may have more to do with the quarterback play and amount of passes to receiver ratio. If a team like the New England Patriots or New Orleans Saints can get their hands on Knox, he could thrive in the NFL and become a top-tier tight end.

4. (n/a) Irv Smith Jr., Alabama

Third round grade

Undersized and below average testing has Irv Smith Jr. receiving only a fourth round grade after being mocked in the second round early on in the draft process. Smith has good film, but a tight end who ranks in the bottom tenth percentile in every conceivable measurement and in the bottom 50th percentile in traits, which measure explosiveness and agility, are not a great combination at the next level. At just 6-2, Smith Jr.’s ceiling looks like that of Trey Burton.

5. (n/a) Kahale Warring, San Diego State

Fourth round grade

The sleeper of the class at the tight end position is Kahale Warring of San Diego State University. Testing as an elite athlete at the combine, the 6-5 and 252-pound weapon ran a 4.67-second 40-yard dash while hitting the 36.5-inch mark on his vertical jump and over 10 feet on his broad jump. Do not count out Warring as the Rob Gronkowski of this class; a mid-round sleeper with excellent size, quick burst and enough speed to separate down the field against safeties and linebackers.