Blake's Big Board: Ranking the Top 10 Tight Ends in the 2023 NFL Draft

This is one of the deepest tight end classes in recent history.

Author:
Parker Blake
Publish date:
Apr 18, 2023 12:17 PM EDT

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Tight end is one of the Bengals' biggest needs going into the 2023 NFL Draft.

They did stabilize the position by signing Irv Smith Jr. and Drew Sample to one-year contracts, but adding a young, talented player in the draft at that spot is certainly a priority.

Here are my top 10 tight ends in the 2023 NFL Draft:

1. Dalton Kincaid, Utah

Oct 15, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) runs after a catch against the USC Trojans in the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports — Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Kincaid is a long tight end that flashes athletically on film (though he didn't test due to a back injury) and has natural traits that make him a highly effective route runner. He has a leaner frame which causes him to struggle as a blocker. Though he lacks high level play strength, Kincaid is an impressive receiver for the position and is the best tight end in the class.

2. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

Mayer has a strong build and is a tough player. His ability to fight his way through contact before and after the catch jumps out when watching his film. He's not the most athletic player and can look sluggish at times, but once he becomes more consistent as a blocker, he should have a very solid NFL career. Mayer should be a day one starter and I expect him to find a home early in the draft.

3. Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State

South Dakota State s Tucker Kraft uses the existing layer of snow to slide into the end zone for the first touchdown of the FCS semifinal game against Montana State on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, SD. Fcs Semifinals 001 — USA Today Images

Kraft is built like the stereotypical NFL tight end. He moves smoothly and can be surprisingly quick at times. His ability to break tackles stands out and he has some of the most reliable hands of the class.

Kraft is a quality blocker, but has room to improve as a receiver. I would've also liked to see him work more in pass protection, but overall, he's a solid, all-around tight end. If you like Mayer, Kraft is a guy that should be able to deliver in a similar style on day two of the draft.

4. Luke Musgrave, Oregon State

Musgrave is a big target at nearly 6-6, 250 pounds and just over a 79.5-inch wingspan. Even with his larger frame, he moves well and accelerates the best out of this tight end class (1.54 10-yard split). He does struggle with drops and can be moved around easily at times in the run game.

Musgrave needs to become a more consistent player overall, but his upside as a receiver with his frame after some development is too high to pass up. He should get picked early on day two.

5. Darnell Washington, Georgia

Washington is a massive player at 6-7, 270 pounds. His length (83.5-inch wingspan) and strength (21 reps on the bench press) means he should make an immediate impact player as a blocker in the NFL. His 11-inch hands are more than helpful when projecting his ability to grow as a receiver throughout his career.

He doesn't have the best rate of acceleration, but is quicker than you'd expect in short bursts and can be a bit over aggressive when blocking. While Washington's size could allow him to sneak into the first round, his best value comes early on day two.

6. Sam LaPorta, Iowa

LaPorta is a quick player who was able to generate more than his fair share of missed tackles in space. Without above average size, he needs to work into space to be successful. I would like to see him improve as a blocker in order to have long term success in the NFL, but overall LaPorta will be a good developmental player that has potential to contribute in year one.

7. Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion

Mar 4, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Old Dominion tight end Zack Kuntz (TE06) participates in drills at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports — Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kuntz could be one of the most polarizing prospects of this tight end group. Measuring in at nearly 6-8, 255 pounds and an 83-inch wingspan, Kuntz tested like the most athletic tight end in NFL history.

He doesn't shy away from contact over the middle, didn't seem to have many drops and shows upside as a run blocker. However, his lack of high level competition is his first big knock. Along with that, he is quite lean and needs to add muscle to his long frame. This would help with his less than impressive play strength and injury history.

Kuntz is a very low floor prospect, but has extremely high developmental potential. He won't contribute much early in his career, but teams shouldn't be surprised if he turns into a mid to late day 3 diamond by the end of his first contract.

8. Brenton Strange, Penn State

Strange is an interesting prospect in this year's class. He is a smaller player as far as height, arm length and hand size are concerned and his limited catch radius is painfully obvious at times.

However, Strange's athletic build, competitive nature and impressive balance make him a quality option as a receiver. He's able to separate well and shows impressive instincts when it comes to finding and settling into space. While he's smaller, he has a high motor and quality technique as a run blocker. His floor may be on the lower end, but I will be watching his development closely as I project a high ceiling for him in the NFL.

9. Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan

Schoonmaker is a quality athlete for his build. His athleticism may allow him to get open, but there's a significant drop off as a ball carrier. He struggles to force missed tackles and seems to play slower through traffic.

Schoonmaker has elite body control when it comes to fitting into space and getting open and has shown that he can be a decent blocker in the run game. He is an average tight, but has a decent NFL floor and could develop into a quality starter.

10. Davis Allen, Clemson

Allen is a large, lean, prospect that is dependable as a receiver. He's able to find the ball well through contact or in open space and had a staggeringly low drop rate throughout his collegiate career.

I wish he was able to break away from defenders better and he doesn't seem to break many tackles. He struggles as a pass protector, but he is a decent run blocker and has the ability to get leverage on defenders and create lanes. Allen has the most to gain from early development in the league as a high ceiling prospect and most teams should have him high on their boards on day three.

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