Miami Dolphins: 5 Tight ends the Fins should target in the 2023 NFL Draft
3. Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
One player who could make a huge impact for the team is Tucker Kraft, a tight end out of South Dakota State. With his elite blocking skills and powerful run-after-catch ability, Kraft could be the missing piece that the Dolphins need to take their offense to the next level.
At the FCS level, Kraft was a standout player, and he’s poised to continue his success in the NFL. He has a strong, stocky frame and is a smooth athlete with easy accelerative capacity in space. His explosiveness allows him to quickly enter space and threaten up seams, while his long speed makes him a threat stretching the field horizontally and turning ahead for RAC yards.
Kraft has great lateral agility and hip freedom in smaller areas, making him a versatile player who can work the middle of the field and in short areas. This will be particularly important for the Dolphins, as they already have speedy wide receivers like Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle who can stretch the field vertically. With Kraft working the middle, the Dolphins will have a well-rounded passing attack that can attack defenses in a variety of ways.
But Kraft’s athleticism is only part of the equation. He’s also an excellent receiver who can convert at the catch point and in contested situations. He’s able to extend beyond his frame and proactively corral passes in-stride with his hands, and he has good ball-tracking ability downfield. This will be crucial for the Dolphins, as they’ll need a reliable target who can move the chains and keep drives alive.
One of Kraft’s biggest strengths, however, is his run blocking. He’s one of the most physical, imposing players on the field, and he can easily pry through contact at the catch point and keep his legs moving to maximize gains. His powerful stiff arms and ability to combat tackle attempts make him a force to be reckoned with after the catch, but it’s his blocking that really sets him apart.
Kraft brings a highly appealing mix of tools to the blocking game, including high effort, high-energy play, a finisher mentality, and assignment soundness. He’s also alignment-versatile and understands leverage, making him a valuable asset in a variety of run-blocking schemes. His athleticism and corrective mobility allow him to recover angles as a blocker, and he can flip his hips to wall off defenders in gaps.