Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn has made it very clear that upgrading the tight end position is important to him this offseason.
"Yeah, the tight ends are definitely a priority for us," he told season ticket members last week.
The Lions are looking this offseason to add playmakers at the position, and could look to both free agency and a good draft class in their attempts to upgrade. Former fourth-round pick Michael Roberts and veteran Jerome Cunningham are the only tight ends currently under contract for next season.
This is nice draft class of tight ends, and those prospects will try to impress later this month at the NFL Scouting Combine:
T.J. HOCKENSON
School: Iowa
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 250
Best trait: Overall game. He's fluid in the passing game and might be the best blocking tight end to come into the league in a long time. He's a plug and play tight end in all phases of the game and in all schemes.
Concern: He'll continue to fill out in an NFL weight program, but there are few holes in his game.
Skinny: Hockenson won the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end with 49 catches for 760 yards (15.5 average) and six touchdowns this past season. He's good.
View photos of tight ends that will participate at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine.
Michigan tight end Zach Gentry (83) rushes past Indiana defensive back Jonathan Crawford (9) after making a 42-yard reception in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Georgia tight end Isaac Nauta (18) makes the catch against Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses (32) during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Missouri's Kendall Blanton, left, catches a touchdown pass in front of Florida's Jeawon Taylor, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (38) gets tripped up by Mississippi State safety C.J. Morgan (29) during the second half of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Mississippi tight end Dawson Knox (9) pulls in a pass past the defense of LSU safety Grant Delpit (9) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. No. 24 LSU won 40-24. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
South tight end Dax Raymond of Utah State (87) catches a pass as South safety Jaquan Johnson of Miami (4) defends during practice for Saturday's Senior Bowl college football game, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. (82) runs the ball as Oklahoma cornerback Tre Norwood (13) attempts to tackle, during the second half of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2018, file photo, Iowa tight end Noah Fant, left, catches a 5-yard touchdown pass ahead of Northern Iowa defensive back Korby Sander, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) has won nine straight when scoring 20 or more points, and the combo of QB Nate Stanley and TE Noah Fant will be a big chore for Minnesota’s defense.(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
San Diego State tight end Kahale Warring (87) catches a pass in front of Stanford linebacker Sean Barton (27) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Duke tight end Daniel Helm (80) makes the catch over Northern Illinois linebacker Bobby Jones IV (6) during the second half of the Quick Lane Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, in Detroit. The Blue Devils defeated the Huskies 36-14. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Washington tight end Drew Sample, left, runs for a touchdown after a pass reception against Brigham Young during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington State linebacker Peyton Pelluer (47) and safety Skyler Thomas, left, tackle San Jose State tight end Josh Oliver during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. Washington State won 31-0. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Oklahoma cornerback Tre Brown (6) attempts to tackle West Virginia tight end Trevon Wesco (88) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)
Stanford's Kaden Smith, center, pulls down a pass against Oregon's Nick Pickett, right, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)
UCLA tight end Caleb Wilson, right, breaks a tackle by Arizona safety Tristan Cooper during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA won 31-30. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Notre Dame tight end Alize Mack makes a reception for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Kentucky tight end C.J. Conrad (87) catches a pass for a touchdown as he's defended by Tennessee defensive back Baylen Buchanan (28) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee won 24-7. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Oklahoma State tight end Keenen Brown (6) carries during an NCAA college football game between Texas and Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., Monday, Oct. 3, 2016. Texas defender Dylan Haines is at left. Oklahoma State won 49-31. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Boston College tight end Tommy Sweeney (89) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown as North Carolina State safety Josh Jones (11) chases during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. Boston College won 21-14. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Texas A&M tight end Jace Sternberger (81) breaks a tackle-attempt by Kentucky safety Jordan Griffin (3) as wide receiver Camron Buckley (14) looks on after Sternberger caught the pass intended for Buckley that he ran in for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
LSU tight end Foster Moreau (18) leaps between Florida defensive back Brad Stewart Jr. (2) and defensive back CJ Henderson, lower right, after a reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
IRV SMITH JR.
School: Alabama
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 241
Best trait: Athleticism. He can stretch the field and be a big-time receiving threat after catching 44 passes for 710 yards (16.1 average) and seven touchdowns for the Tide last season.
Concern: He's still a bit raw as a full-time starter for just one year.
Skinny: He's not the all-around player Hockenson is, but can step in right away and be a nice weapon in the pass game and a plus blocker in the run game.
NOAH FANT
School: Iowa
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 241
Best trait: Versatility. Iowa lined him up inline, out wide and in the wing. He has terrific acceleration and speed to create separation. He's a big-play threat at the position.
Concern: Fant needs to get stronger and work on his technique as a run blocker.
Skinny: He's going to contribute more in the passing game than he will as a blocker early on. He tracks the ball well down the field and can wear a lot of hats in the passing game.
DAWSON KNOX
School: Ole Miss
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 257
Best trait: Size. He has an NFL frame, though he's a bit of a raw prospect. He can stretch the field, averaging 18.9 yards per reception this past season.
Concern: There isn't a ton of production with Knox. He caught 24 passes in 2017, but had just 15 this past season with no touchdowns.
Skinny: He could test very well at the Combine, which will make teams go back to the tape and wonder why he wasn't more productive in college. Part of it could have been the system at Ole Miss. Teams will do their homework on Knox. He could have a high ceiling.
JACE STERNBERGER
School: Texas A&M
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 250
Best trait: Production. Sternberger is a consensus All-American and First-Team All-SEC selection with 48 catches for 832 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games.
Concern: He'll have some work to do in the run-blocking department. He'll have to add strength to his frame to compete better. He was also a one-year wonder. Why?
Skinny: He was a threat all year for the Aggies down the seam. He has good speed and made a ton of plays down the field. He's also very good as a runner after the catch. He can step in and make plays in the passing game.
TOMMY SWEENEY
School: Boston College
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 259
Best trait: Consistency. Sweeney had three straight years of steady production, catching at least 28 passes for 350 yards and three scores in each of the last three seasons.
Concern: The testing will be important for Sweeney. Does he have the speed and ability to separate from defenders at the NFL level?
Skinny: Sweeney had a pretty good week at the Senior Bowl, showing an ability to make plays down the field. It was good for him to showcase that. He caught 36 passes for 512 yards and four scores as a junior. He's a plus run blocker and should find a role on a team.
