NFL Analysis
2/16/24
8 min read
2024 NFL Draft: Player Comparisons For Top 5 TEs
One of the more interesting position groups in the 2024 NFL Draft is the tight end.
>>READ MORE: Latest Draft Player Rankings
Having one blue-chip prospect expected to go in the top half of the first round and one prospect expected to go somewhat early on Day 2 are the only two things we feel good about with this group. Beyond that, anything could happen.
While this class is by no means loaded, there are some interesting athletes who compare to some quality NFL tight ends. Today, we bring you our top five comparisons for the upcoming draft's best tight ends.
TIGHT END COMPARISONS
Brock Bowers, Georgia - George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Coming up with an NFL comparison for Brock Bowers is extremely difficult. Listed at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Bowers is undersized but plays well above his weight class. That makes finding an NFL comparison difficult.
If you close your eyes and remove the names from the back of the jerseys, it would be difficult to see the difference between Bowers and George Kittle. Both players are dynamic pass catchers and blockers and move all over the field for their respective offenses.
That versatility is one of the main reasons Bowers could be drafted in the top 12 picks. Bowers' immediate impact as a blocker, receiver and overall playmaker for an NFL offense will quickly justify the use of a premium pick on a player who plays a non-premium position.
While the NFL, in general, is shying away from drafting tight ends early, Bowers' impact on the game is much bigger than what we have seen coming out in the draft in recent years.
>>READ: Latest Mock Draft
Kittle’s impact on Super Bowl LVIII was less than we expected, but he is one of the key reasons the San Francisco offense can do what it does. Bowers can do those same things and maybe even a little more because he is a higher-ceiling receiver and better athlete than Kittle coming into April's draft.
Brock Bowers: Man of Steel 🗡️pic.twitter.com/t5lELbK3u0
— Snoog’s Dynasty Society (@FFSnoog) February 8, 2024
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas - Tre McBride, Colorado State
One of the easier comparisons in this tight end group is Texas TE Ja’Tavion Sanders to Arizona Cardinals TE Trey McBride. McBride had a monster year in Arizona because the new coaching staff gave him an opportunity to play.
Sanders and McBride are listed right around 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, and play the position with fluid athleticism as pass catchers and run blockers. Despite lacking the size of some of the other tight ends in this class, Sanders plays physically through contact at the catch point. He loves getting involved in the running game, using good hand placement and pad level to win reps.
While it’s exciting to see Sanders work as a blocker, his biggest impact will come as a receiver. That is also why McBride was so impactful for Arizona down the stretch in 2023.
Sanders' route running is one of his best traits, showing efficient movement patterns coming in and out of breaks and the ability to vary speeds throughout his route stems.
Sanders can separate at all three levels of the field, making him a defensive coordinator's nightmare matchup. Along with his athleticism, blocking and route running, Sanders enters the draft with some of the most reliable hands we’ve seen from a tight end prospect.
Hard to pick just one @Jatavionsanders highlight… so we’ll show you all of them from his BIG game against Alabama.
— Brad Kellner (Texas Sports Unfiltered) (@BradKellner) January 7, 2024
Sanders had 5 catches for 114 yards in @TexasFootball’s win in Tuscaloosa.
Go be great, Jatavion! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/NgLJAopcGl
Theo Johnson, Penn State - Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears
When you think of big, athletic, but underdeveloped tight ends, Martellus Bennett is one of the first guys that comes to mind.
After being drafted in the second round in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, Bennett had his first season with more than 300 receiving yards in 2012 with the New York Giants. Bennett’s size and athleticism were among the main reasons he was drafted so early by the Cowboys, and that’s also one of the main reasons we could see Theo Johnson go earlier than expected this April.
From a pure athleticism standpoint, not too many players in the upcoming draft are more impressive than Johnson. Listed at 6-foot-6, 257 pounds, Johnson is expected to run in the 4.5s and test well in the explosive and short area quickness drills.
It's easy to get excited about Johnson's traits translating to an NFL offense. However, he needs a lot of development in some areas that could slow down his impact early in his career.
For such a big tight end, Johnson is overwhelmed with power and physicality far too often as a blocker and receiver. He saw limited work as an in-line blocker, whether as a blocker or receiver.
While Johnson showed some positive signs of improvements in his blocking and in-line ability at the Senior Bowl, any team drafting him will need to ease him into in-line duties early into his career. If used right, Johnson could have a TE2 impact in a draft class that lacks depth behind Bowers.
Bennett developed quite quickly as a blocker coming into the NFL. Many expect that to be an easy transition for Johnson because of his size, length and athleticism.
#PSU TE Theo Johnson is entering the 2024 NFL Draft. Moves extremely well for his size, soft hands, a vertical seam threat in the passing game and willing blocker in the trenches.
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) December 8, 2023
Could very well continue the trend of Day 2 Nittany Lions tight ends.pic.twitter.com/Ul6AqxkQKu https://t.co/7o6u5mZ91f
Cade Stover, Ohio State - Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Size and athleticism are not the only two traits that Ohio State TE Cade Stover and Seattle Seahawks TE Noah Fant have in common.
The players share similar play styles as pass catchers and blockers. Coming out of Iowa, Fant was regarded as the better passing game weapon than T.J. Hockenson, while Hockenson was expected to be the far superior blocker.
Those pros and cons fit Stover's profile. The work he does as a receiver is much more developed than his work as a blocker, though he shows plenty of willingness in that area.
Stover, listed at 6-foot-4, 251 pounds, has an eerily similar build to Fant, listed at 6-foot-4, 249 pounds. Both players are high-end athletes who can find plenty of success as pass catchers in all three levels of the field. However, both can struggle when playing in-line as blockers and, at times, receivers as space shrinks.
Both Stover and Fant entered as high-ceiling but relatively low-floor style of players coming out of college. We’ve yet to see Fant hit his NFL ceiling. Stover could hit his ceiling if he's drafted into the right situation, allowing him some time to develop.
Kyle McCord to Cade Stover for a 18-yard TD. Ohio State up 35-3. (2nd quarter) pic.twitter.com/3YynTJJoEb
— The Buckeye Nut (@TheBuckeyeNut) November 12, 2023
AJ Barner, Michigan - Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys
Michigan tight ends entering the NFL Draft have two things in common. They are normally good run blockers and athletes. Those traits are a few of the ones AJ Barner and 2023 NFL Draft prospect Luke Schoonmaker have in common.
Barner and Schoonmaker come in right around 6-foot-6, 250 pounds. Both players have big, physical frames but have fluid athleticism to develop as pass catchers. Barner and Schoonmaker entered the NFL needing some time to develop as pass catchers, but were NFL-ready blockers.
Schoonmaker had an underwhelming rookie year catching passes, but was the Dallas Cowboys' best run-blocking tight end, which showed as the season went on. Look for Barner to follow a similar route into the NFL, meaning he could break out two to three years into his rookie contract.
The ultimate Man Ball formation: 8 offensive linemen (5 to the left of the center)
— Due# (@JDue51) November 12, 2023
PSU counters with 7 on the line + 2 backers.
Can’t say enough about AJ Barner’s blocking. So many plays work because he’s putting in work.
Corum for 42. pic.twitter.com/mTjV5z17iR
