The 2023 NFL Draft is nearly upon us. And with that comes the final edition of the PFF NFL Draft Guide, which comes loaded with scouting reports and advanced data on the class' top draft prospects.
Here are the top 10 tight ends in this year's draft class, per PFF's NFL Draft Guide and big board.
1. Dalton Kincaid, Utah
BIG BOARD RANK: 10
At 240 pounds, Kincaid bridges the gap between tight end and wide receiver. You’re not going to draft him for his blocking ability, but he’s at least serviceable in that regard. No, Kincaid can be a focal point of an offense with his route-running ability after recording 70 catches for 890 yards at Utah last season.
2. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
BIG BOARD RANK: 19
Mayer is as polished a tight end as you’ll see in the draft. And he’s only a true junior. He racked up 2,099 yards and 18 scores in his Notre Dame career.
3. Darnell Washington, Georgia
BIG BOARD RANK: 37
Washington is a unique 6-foot-7, 270-pound tight end. His height and weight don’t do justice to just how massive he is. If your offense wants an offensive tackle who can also run routes and make guys miss after the catch, Washington is your man.
4. Sam LaPorta, Iowa
BIG BOARD RANK: 43
LaPorta is outstanding with the ball in his hands. He can not only run away from defenders (4.59-second 40-yard dash), but he can also make them miss (20 broken tackles on 58 catches in 2022).
5. Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
BIG BOARD RANK: 49
It’s a shame we saw only two games of Musgrave before an undisclosed knee injury cost him the rest of the 2022 season. The senior tight end was balling with 11 catches for 169 yards and a score over that span. He’s the best athlete at the position in the class, boasting the kind of speed and agility to separate from defensive backs.
6. Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
BIG BOARD RANK: 74
Kraft looked like a man among boys in the FCS. They weren’t ready for a 254-pound tight end who moves as gracefully as he does. As a result, he broke 25 tackles on 102 catches across the past two seasons.
7. Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan
BIG BOARD RANK: 92
Schoonmaker is an NFL-ready inline tight end with a gear that makes him capable of running away from linebackers. He caught 35 balls for 418 yards and three scores in 2022.
8. Brenton Strange, Penn State
BIG BOARD RANK: 120
I'd look elsewhere in a deep class if you want a run-blocker, but if the tight end is a receiver first in your offense, Strange is your man.
9. Davis Allen, Clemson
BIG BOARD RANK: 155
Allen has some of the best ball skills in the draft class, catching 17 of his 20 contested targets across the past two seasons. He’s just limited from a downfield perspective, evidenced by his 4.84-second 40-yard dash.
10. Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion
BIG BOARD RANK: 160
The NFL Combine wonder, Kuntz is an elite athlete at a position where a ton of developmental projects in such a mold have succeeded. That’s worth a flier.
© 2023 PFF - all rights reserved.