The value of the tight end position in the NFL has skyrocketed over the years. Travis Kelce, Darren Waller and Kyle Pitts are some of the best pass-catching weapons in the league right now. They are matchup nightmares for defenses.
There isn't a Pitts in this year's draft class, but it's a solid group overall.
Top 5 tight ends to watch at the Combine:
1. Trey McBride, Colorado State, 6-3, 249
McBride is a good two-way player with strength and soft hands. He had a good week down at the Senior Bowl, where he showed he's a willing and capable in-line blocker. He caught 90 passes for 1,121 yards in 12 games this past season, though he did have just one touchdown. McBride has shown an ability to make tough catches in a crowd. He's a complete player at the position.
2. Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State, 6-5, 250
Ruckert was more of a blocker at Ohio State because of their weapons on the outside at receiver, but there were some down in Mobile who thought Ruckert was the best tight end at the Senior Bowl for the week. He showed some fluidness in his route running and an ability to separate and make plays in the passing game. He caught 26 passes for 309 yards and three scores for the Buckeyes this past season.
View photos of the tight end prospects who were invited to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine.
Colorado State tight end Trey McBride (85) looks to run with the ball after making a catch during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Darryl Oumi)
Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert plays against Oregon during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Virginia tight end Jelani Woods (0) dives for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday Nov 27, 2021, in Charlottesville, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Wisconsin's Jake Ferguson gets past Northwestern's Brandon Joseph for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Oklahoma tight end Jeremiah Hall (27) during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Nebraska tight end Austin Allen (11) catches a pass against Iowa during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. Iowa defeated Nebraska 28-21. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
National Team tight end Cole Turner of Nevada runs through drills during practice for the Reese's Senior Bowl Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
San Diego State Aztecs tight end Daniel Bellinger (88) in an offensive stance during the NCAA college football game against the Nevada Wolf Pack, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 in Carson, Calif. (Ric Tapia via AP)
UCLA Bruins tight end Greg Dulcich (85) runs a route during the an NCAA college football game against the Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2021 in Pasadena, Calif. Oregon won, 34-31. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Maryland tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo (9) carries during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Iowa State's Chase Allen (11) runs with the ball around Texas Tech's Eric Monroe (11) during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)
Michigan State's Jalen Nailor, right, runs as Connor Heyward (11) blocks during an NCAA college football game against Western Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
SMU tight end Grant Calcaterra runs a route against Navy during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Annapolis, Md. SMU won 31-24. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Washington tight end Cade Otton warms up before the team's NCAA football game against Stanford in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
Coastal Carolina tight end Isaiah Likely (4) blocks against Arkansas State during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Jonesboro, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Indiana tight end Peyton Hendershot (86) in action during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Bloomington, Ind. Michigan State won 20-15. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Oregon State tight end Teagan Quitoriano (84) runs during an NCAA college football game against Southern California Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Arizona State tight end Curtis Hodges (86) during an NCAA football game against Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Virginia Tech's James Mitchell #82 is seen pre-game against West Virginia during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Morgantown,W. Va. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Iowa State tight end Charlie Kolar (88) plays against UNLV during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Texas A&M tight end Jalen Wydermyer (85) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Denver. Texas A&M won 10-7. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
3. Cade Otton, Washington, 6-5, 250
A four-year starter with a ton of experience, Otton is a really good route runner and above average run blocker. He's got a complete game and will likely hear his named called Day 2 of the draft. He played high school ball for his grandpa Sid Otton, the winningest coach in Washington state high school history, so he's got a football pedigree. Otton also has a good basketball background, which serves him well on the football field.
4. Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina, 6-4, 240
Likely had a propensity for the big play at Coastal Carolina, recording five career touchdown receptions of 50-plus yards. He needs to add strength and improve his technique as a blocker, but the team that selects Likely can use him as a pass-catching weapon who can stretch the field from the position early on. He caught 59 passes for 912 yards and 12 scores in 13 games this past season.
5. Greg Dulcich, UCLA, 6-4, 250
Dulcich has a big frame and large catch radius, and was a big-play pass catcher from the position for the Bruins the last couple seasons. He averaged 17.3 and 19.9 yards per reception the last two seasons with 10 total touchdowns. He's a respectable blocker, but that part of his game needs to continue to develop.
Combine sleeper to watch: Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M, 6-5, 255
Wydermyer is a big, physical tight end with an NFL-ready frame. He caught 118 passes with 16 touchdowns over the course of the last three seasons as a starter for the Aggies. He's got a huge catch radius and knows how to use his big frame to his advantage. If he tests well at the Combine, he could be a solid Day 2 pick.
Lions need at the position: Low
T.J. Hockenson was on his way to breaking his Pro Bowl numbers from 2020, if not for season-ending thumb injury that required surgery and knocked him out of the last five games. Still, Hockenson caught 61 passes for 583 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games. He's one of the bright young tight ends in the league.
Undrafted rookie free agent Brock Wright filled in for Hockenson at the end of the season and played pretty well. He wasn't used much as a receiving option at Notre Dame, but he showed an ability to make plays down the field in the passing game with the Lions recording two long touchdowns at the end of the year. He's an ascending player and a solid No. 2 behind Hockenson.
The Lions would probably like to add a third player to the mix to round out that group, whether that be a veteran free agent or a young player in Day 2 or 3 of the draft.
Key stat: Hockenson joined Ravens tight end Mark Andrews as the only tight ends to have four-or-more games with at least eight receptions this season. Hockenson is the only Lions tight end to do so in a season in franchise history.
