Ranking 2022 NFL Draft Tight End Class

5. Jelani Woods, Viriginia

NFL Comparison for Kellen Davis

The thing that is intriguing about Jelani Woods is that he often was used as a blocker in college. While that means his passing game upside is completely unrefined, it also means that he brings a floor if that area is untapped.

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Still, of all the top blocking tight ends in the class, he obviously has the most athleticism and therefore a strong case to be made that he has the most receiving upside, If that athleticism can be untapped in the passing game, he may end up being too low, despite his raw projection.

4. Charlie Kolar, Iowa State

NFL Comparison for Tyler Eifert

Charlie Kolar is probably not as dynamic as Tyler Eifert was during his prime days. Still, the athleticism makes a case that the two are pretty similar.

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Kolar is not as dominant in the air, and at the catch point, but he is reliable as a pass catcher, and is much more trusted as a tall slot than he is trusted as in-line blocker. A role like Tyler Eifert had during some of his later years could be exactly how Charlie Kolar is used.

3. Cade Otton, Washington

NFL Comparison for Hunter Henry

Cade Otton did not test this offseason due to an injury, which may impact his draft stock. Still, he may be one of the most complete tight ends of this group.

As a blocker, he spent most of his time in-line at Washington and is likely the most pro-ready blocker of the top five. While he was not highlighted in the passing game, he was reliable in the passing game with the possibility of upside in a more pass-friendly offense.

The floor is high and Otton is a safe player. The question is whether his receiving upside is more like a tight end two, or if he could be a trusted leading receiver on a tight end depth chart.

2. Greg Dulcich, UCLA

NFL Comparison for Gerald Everett 

Greg Dulcich was used the most in the passing game of this top five. This is where having a coach like Chip Kelly really helps because he flashed the ability to put Dulcich in different spots on the field and let him thrive.

As a blocker, he can impact the game, but his most impactful area will be in the passing game. In that regard, along with athleticism, he compares favorably to Gerald Everett.

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Dulcich was used to motion across the field and catch flare routes, he caught drags in-line and from the slot, and also ran seam routes out of the slot. His usage can be seen similarly to what Everett does.

It is hard to say what his upside will be as a blocker, but as a chess piece, he can impact offenses.

1. Trey McBride, Colorado State

NFL Comparison for Jonnu Smith

Trey McBride gets the nod over Cade Otton and Greg Dulcich because he can bring a bit of both of what they bring to the table. Dulcich was used in the passing game more, but McBride is a better blocker. McBride was not used in-line as often as Otton, but he was more effective as a receiver.

Two things going against McBride are that he is a bit smaller, both in height, and length. Still, you can see that Jonnu Smith is a bit shorter, with a bit longer arms, but both are under 6’4″, and under 33″ which is preferred for a tight end.

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You cannot rely on McBride to win in line with his size, but he can win in the same way that Smith is used in the blocking game. Often it is detached and gives him a chance to pull or get into the second level.

Still, he is also effective with the ball in his hands like Smith, and while neither have the most diverse route tree, both are tough to bring down once they find open space.

The team that drafts McBride should have similar usage plans to Jonnu Smith in the NFL and if that is the case then he should hit his upside.