2023 NFL Draft: Assessing the Tight Ends at the 2023 Senior Bowl
The 2023 Senior Bowl has come and gone, marking a major milestone in the lead-up to the 2023 NFL Draft. The bowl week and the big game in Mobile helped clarify a few important things in the lead-up to the draft, including what the tight end class might look like.
While Notre Dame superstar Michael Mayer remains the presumptive first tight end off the board, the seven tight ends at the Senior Bowl will merit some consideration in the selection process. This article analyzes how the 2023 Senior Bowl impacted the seven participating tight ends’ 2023 NFL Draft stocks.
National Team
The National Team featured three tight ends: Clemson’s Davis Allen, Purdue’s Payne Durham, and Cincinnati’s Josh Whyle. Allen and Whyle went into the week as potential fifth or sixth-rounders, while Durham was not on many analysts’ draft radars. Durham is now on those draft radars.
The Purdue standout began the week with tremendous reps as a blocker in the one-on-ones. Then, over the course of the practice sessions and into the game, Durham showcased his ability as a receiver—including a terrific touchdown catch in the game itself. Durham made himself some money in Mobile and now projects as at least a late-round tight end who will almost certainly make a preseason roster.
While Durham dominated, Allen and Whyle certainly did not tank their draft stocks. Both looked as good as expected. Allen was one of only two tight ends who checked in with over ten-inch hands, and Whyle demonstrated solid body control in his reps as a receiver. All three of Allen, Durham, and Whyle are six-foot-five or taller—at over six-foot-six, Whyle was the tallest tight end at the Senior Bowl.
American Team
Meanwhile, the American Team boasted the other four tight ends: Alabama’s Cameron Latu, Miami’s Will Mallory, Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave, and Oklahoma’s Brayden Willis. Musgrave was perhaps the top prospect among the tight ends going into the Senior Bowl (with some projecting him to go in the second round), while Latu looked like a possible middle-round pick. Mallory was in the mix for the later rounds, while some thought Willis might not get drafted.
Musgrave may have worked his way into the back end of the first round with his performance. Scouts at the Senior Bowl raved about Musgrave’s speed—Dane Brugler reported that Musgrave was among the top eight fastest players clocked at the Senior Bowl, posting an insane 20.05 miles-per-hour speed at over 250 pounds. He also had the biggest hands among the tight ends. Given Musgrave’s physical tools, some creative offensive coordinator will figure out a way to turn Musgrave into a lethal offensive weapon.
Latu performed about as well as many thought he would, with solid work in all areas of his game. He maintains his mid-round projection. Mallory was also fine; he was the lightest of all of the tight ends, but he showed a willingness to be a factor as a blocker in the run game, which had been a question mark going into the week. And on the subject of blocking, Willis was quite good as a lead blocker for the American Team and could certainly make an impact at the next level.
In the end, Durham and Musgrave are rising after a great week at the 2023 Senior Bowl. The event provides top NFL Draft prospects with an opportunity to improve their draft stock, which a few of the tight ends did.
