Finding NFL comparisons for Charlie Woerner

Who are the best NFL comparisons for Georgia tight end Charlie Woerner?

With all of the NFL combine data we have a database going back years to look at players who had similar athletic and physical profiles, and how they fared in the NFL. As we get closer to the NFL draft, we will go through players skill-set pre-draft and try to find the best possible comparisons in the NFL based on athleticism and size.

For Charlie Woerner, he is an interesting tight end prospect from Georgia. Woerner is a former wide receiver but spent most of his time at Georgia playing in a run-heavy offense as a feisty blocker. However, he still has the size of a receiver. Looking at recent combine information we can find a list of similar-sized tight ends entering the NFL draft.

From that list, what are some of the most similar outcomes that could be compared to for Charlie Woerner?

Floor Comparisons for Charlie Woerner

Woerner is not one of the more heralded tight ends. There is certainly a bust potential with a player such as him. Below are two examples of players who could not make the adjustment in the NFL.

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Maxx Williams was drafted 55th overall. However, his size at tight end could not hold up in-line, and he bounced around the NFL. The big difference between Woerner and Williams is that Woerner was much more nuanced as a blocker coming from Georgia.

Rivera has a similar profile, although he went 188th overall, a range that may be more likely for Woerner. Nonetheless, coming in under 250 pounds does not give you a long list of strong blocking options at tight end. It is nice that Woerner has more experience in that area, but his size is still a question.

Recent comparison for Charlie Woerner

Dalton Schultz was a fourth-round pick, going 137th overall in the 2019 NFL draft. This comparison may be the most accurate.

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When looking at a draft profile from Schultz, there are plenty of similar traits in the game of Charlie Woerner. Both are tenacious blockers who take their role seriously. However, neither excelled as a pass-catching option in a run-heavy offense. On top of that, both are a bit undersized from a traditional tight end mold. You can see both have shorter than average arms to go with the weight.

Schultz spent his rookie year adjusting to the NFL and we will see what his future has in store. Still, a range to expect Woerner to get drafted is around where Schultz was last year, at pick 137.

Best NFL comparison for Charlie Woerner

Below are some of the best possible outcomes that the NFL has seen from a player with the size and profile of Charlie Woerner.

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Donald Lee is a great comparison, in physical profile and play. Lee held up as a blocking tight end, and came out of college more refined, like Woerner. However, he also showed more passing game usage in the NFL than he did in college and that extended his career. Bears fans remember Lee being on the Packers from 2005-2010. He was a nice compliment to Bubba Franks, and eventually had enough juice to start at tight end. Lee also went 156th overall, a range that could be expected from Woerner.

Scaife fell to pick 179 in the NFL draft, although he had two ACL injuries attached to his name. Nonetheless, he proved himself as a reliable, two-way tight end for the Tennessee Titans from 2005-2010.

Zach Ertz is obviously the highest possible outcome, and may even be out of the range of possibilities. Still, he is worth bringing up because Woerner will get knocked for his arm length. You can see that Schultz still went round four despite short arms, and while Ertz is not a blocker, he has had a great career with shorter than average arm length. Of course, Woerner could only get to an Ertz level-ceiling if Georgia had truly held him back as a pass-catcher due to their offense. The Bears know from Javon Wims and Riley Ridley that production is not everything at Georgia. Will they make the same exception for Charlie Woerner.

Overall, the range from 137 to 188 makes sense for drafting a player similar to Woerner. While his size limits the upside of his blocking, complimentary tight ends have found success at his size. They have also shown that receiving production can be discovered in the NFL. Can Woerner have similar success, or will the adjustment be too much?