After a 2023 draft that had a host of top-end tight ends littering the class, things are much different in 2024.
As WWL's Mike Detiller broke down in his pre-draft TE rankings, there are only two players at the position that even rank inside of his top two rounds.
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"This year is not going to be nearly kind of early packed with tight ends," though it does boast Brock Bowers, who profiles higher than any from the 2023 class and will likely be the lone player at his position to go off the board on Day 1.
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MORE POSITION BREAKDOWNS: quarterback | running back | wide receiver | offensive tackle | safety | cornerback | defensive tackle
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So who are those players, and in what order? Scroll below for Detillier's WR rankings, his takes on several and a draft projection for each of the top 13.
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1. Brock Bowers, Georgia
- Mike's take: We all saw him at Georgia, just a dynamic pass-catcher, a guy that finds that nook and cranny downfield to get open. He is athletic, catches the ball so clean, and then once he catches it, man, he can kick it into gear and he’s out into the open field. He’s a big-time threat on third down, red zone, that’s what Brock Bowers really excels at, and if you’re playing against Georgia, you’ve got to stop the run first, that’s first and foremost. You’ve got to stop it, but if you’re trying to line up somebody in the passing game to stop, man, it was all built around Brock Bowers of trying to slow him down. Good luck, he seemingly. always found a way to get open. I have him as my 10th overall player, I don’t think he'll go in the top 10. I think he’ll be more of a 15-16 type pick. ...
“It would be tough to pass on him [at 14 for the Saints], because you don’t have a tight end that’s that talented on your team. But, man, you need a big man. I don’t care if it’s an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman, Brock Bowers has a lot of Travis Kelce in him as a receiver. You can see it. He’s got a lot of that in him as a pass-catcher downfield, and we see just how good Kelce’s been with the Chiefs, because even when he’s covered, he’s open.”
- Draft projection: mid first round
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2. Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas
- Mike's take: "A guy that is a great athlete, can get up the field. He is a nightmare to cover 1-on-1. He gives you a lot of issues downfield because of his athleticism, and I think he’s a guy that in Round 2, if you’re looking to fill that bill of that pass-catcher, that’s what college football is all about today. Very few guys can do both really well. Sanders can catch the ball and again, he scares the bejesus out of you every time he’s downfield with the ball in his hand.”
- Draft projection: 2nd round
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3. Cade Stover, Ohio State
- Mike's take: “You think about Ohio State tight ends, you think about their blocking skills. That’s not Stover’s main value, it’s as a receiver, and he’s also got a way of finding that little open spot downfield, making the catch. He’s solid as a blocker, but he’s no slam-bang type of guy, but he is a really good receiver and I think people will like what he can bring to the table as a solid blocker and a really dependable guy downfield, and he’s more athletic than people think.”
- Draft projection: early to mid 3rd round
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4. Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota
- Mike's take: “He’s all of 6-6.5, 270 pounds. ... He’s like another tackle. He’s the best blocking tight end in this group, and when you see him ... you’re not gonna question that, just how big — he is a massive guy, and you saw a lot of times if Minnesota ran the football, short-yardage situations, red zone, they ran it right behind Spann-Ford because of his size. Again, he brings you that element as a blocker. He’s a solid receiver. He’s not gonna overwhelm you there, and that’s the scenario where he’s got to get better. He’s a bit of a body-snatcher, all those passes that I’ve seen him up against the body. He’s got to learn how to catch it out front with his hands, but he’s a great in-line blocker.”
- Draft projection: early to mid Day 3
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5. Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
- Mike's take: I think [Sinnott is] the most intriguing of all the tight ends once you get past Bowers. ... He won the Lowland award, which is given to the best fullback in America. But he’s played wide receiver, fullback, H-back and tight end at Kansas State. He can catch the football. He’s a really good athlete. He’s smooth into and out of his cuts and breaks, catches the ball real clean, and then after the catch, man, he’s tough to bring down in the open field, but he gives you so much versatility. If you’re gonna play power football, that he can line up in the backfield as a blocking fullback, you can use him as an H-back, as a tight end. Ben Sinnott is a name to watch. I think maybe a little bit later in the third round, if you’re looking for that versatility, Ben Sinnott would be that type of player.”
- Draft projection: early to mid Day 3
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6. Theo Johnson, Penn State
- Mike's take: "He played in the Senior Bowl, he’s a big tight end, solid run-blocker, a really good receiver downfield. He needs to work as a route-runner, but Theo is another guy that I think some team is going to overdraft based off of potential, because he’s got a lot of athletic skills.”
- Draft projection: early to mid Day 3
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7. Erick All, Iowa
- Mike's take: "If it’s not for the medicals, he may be the [No. 3] guy, and I think it's close, but he’s got a lot of ... medical issues and a spinal injury that he had surgery on and a lot of people will say, why did somebody last so long, like Tyjae Spears. You know why? It’s not that the general manager and the head coach passed on him, they got a medical deal on him, a medical flag. It’s where you pick him at, Erick All can play.”
- Draft projection: mid Day 3
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8. Jaheim Bell, Florida State
- Mike's take: "Great athlete who has run back punts and kicks. He’s played running back, wide receiver and tight end, so he’s been a jack of all trades for FSU. He catches the ball and he’s tough to bring down in the open field."
- Draft projection: mid to late Day 3
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9. Johnny Wilson, Florida State
- Mike's take: "They’re going to convert him back to tight end. That’s what he was recruited at at one time. I don’t know about his quickness to get off the line of scrimmage as a wide receiver, but at tight end, he brings you a big man element who can catch the football over the middle and I think Johnny Wilson will eventually be a tight end in the NFL.”
- Draft projection: mid to late Day 3
This article is the fourth in a draft preview series with WWL analyst Mike Detillier, check back for breakdowns of other positions leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft.