I only see three major tiers in this year's rookie tight-end class. The tier of Brock Bowers. Four tight ends that are good dart throws in the middle to later parts of your rookie drafts and then true desperation picks.
Tier 1
Brock Bowers, Georgia
- 1.13 to LV
- 6’3 243, 32 ¾ Arm, 9 ¾ Hand – Combine Official (Did not test at the combine)
- Age – 21 since December 2023
- Class – Junior – Early Declare
- Freshman Season – 882/13, Sophomore Season – 942/7, Junior Season – 714/6 (Also added almost 200 yards and 5 TDs rushing over three seasons)
Everyone knows this guy is a stud. Brock Bowers would be a good NFL wide receiver. He can get yards after the catch, as well as any tight end prospect. He runs his routes and gains separation like a wide receiver. Being able to slot him into the tight-end spot makes him that much more valuable. In standard tight-end leagues, I would rank Bowers after Marvin Harrison Jr, Rome Odunze, and Malik Nabers as far as skill positions go. In tight-end premium, you can put Bowers in the Odunze and Nabers tier and pick whoever you like the most.
His draft capital is elite, and he should slide in as the number two pass catcher immediately. Davante Adams is getting older and Bower’s path to the number one option could be fast approaching.
Brock Bowers, Georgia – Tight End 1
Tier 2
Ben Sinnott, KSU
- 2.21 to WAS
- 6’4 250, 4.68 40, 1.59 10, 4.23 20, 6.82 3 cone, 40 vert, 10’6 broad, 32 3/8 Arm, 9 ½ Hand – Combine Official
- Age - 22 in June 2024
- Class – Senior – 4 year player
- 3rd year – 447/4, 4th year – 676/6
Yards after the catch (YAC)
Ben Sinnott has burst and speed to gain yardage in the open field. He has some power to run straight through a tackle, making him a load to take down but he sometimes does get stuck fighting for 1-2 yards and not fully breaking the tackle before help arrives. He will fall forward though and grind out the extra yards.
Route Running
He has a decent tight-end route tree. He very much runs tight end routes but does them well. His best routes are quick outs, curls, long crossers, seams, and screens. He is efficient at what he attempts and works multiple levels of the field. He has decent cuts and burst. He plays in-line, slot, and in the backfield. He has a good feel for the zones and is decent enough against man. He works well to show for his quarterback when the play breaks down. He has some trouble breaking press coverage. He tries to power through it and is not usually very successful.
Hands
He has mostly reliable hands and is strong through contact. He has some issues catching away from his body.
Miscellaneous
250 pounds is a good tight-end size, especially at 6’4. He may play heavier if he lost weight for the combine. He looks like a tree stump. He is a good and tough blocker. He can take a defensive end one on 1one sometimes. He may be more heart than skill on some of his blocks.
Overall Thoughts
The Washington Commanders now have a semi-crowded pass-catching room and they will be catching passes from a running rookie quarterback with Jayden Daniels. This is not ideal, but there is a path for Sinnott to become the second option after Terry McLaurin.
Ben Sinnott, KSU – Tight End 2
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
- 4.01 to CAR
- 6’4 245, 4.69 40, 1.59 10, 4.32 20, 32 7/8 Arm, 10 1/8 Hand - Combine Official
- Age – 22 since March 2024
- Class – Junior – Early Declare
- Sophomore Season – 613/5, Junior Season – 682/2
YAC
Ja’Tavion Sanders has good vision when running in space. He sets up his blockers and can take good angles to get some extra chunks. He has a decent stiff arm one on one when he’s built up a head of steam. Besides that, he goes down easy on solid contact. He is not really powering through tackles or using any sort of agility and burst.
Route Running
He is good against zone coverage. He has a great feel for where to be. His man routes are lacking. He is not gaining much separation and looks a bit sluggish sometimes. He plays in-line and slot. He runs a pretty diverse route tree from those positions. Besides Bowers, Sanders is the only other tight end in this article who will run wide receiver-style routes, but he is not great at it versus man. Sanders could not cut it as a wide receiver like Bowers could.
Hands
He has great hands. He makes some tough catches. Contested, contact, bad throws, he has a good chance at making all the catches. Makes easy look easy. He possibly has the best hands in the class.
Miscellaneous
He looks like a good blocker and was a big part of the run game in college. He blocks on some pass plays too. This could end up making him a full-time player but could take away some pass-catching opportunities too if he’s too good. He tested a little slow at the combine. The way he runs man routes and lacks the YAC burst makes sense from the film. Good size for a tight-end.
Overall Thoughts
I can see Sanders being a valuable NFL player for a while and never being too meaningful for fantasy. A guy who teeters on the fringe of a top-12 tight end for years but never actually breaks out. His blocking and well-roundedness could make him an every-down guy quickly. His lack of YAC and lack of ability against man could limit his ceiling. The Carolina Panthers also have a crowded pass-catching room now with the additions of Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette. Sanders will likely not command a large target share in the short term.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas – Tight End 3
I did full film breakdowns for Bowers, Sinnott, and Sanders, but only did abbreviated film reviews on AJ Barner and Erick All.
AJ Barner, Michigan
- 4.21 to SEA
- 6’6 251, 33 3/8 Arm, 9 Hand
- Age - 22 in May 2024
- Class – Senior (4 year player)
- Senior season – 249/1
Barner played for a run-heavy scheme at Michigan and showed he can be a decent run blocker. He plays in line and in the slot. He runs a solid tight-end route tree and looks fluid while showing good awareness of how to beat defenders. He struggles to separate downfield. He has good hands, like pretty much every tight end in this class. His YAC is power-based, and he is a load to bring down. He has good vision when in the open field but lacks agility. He lacks college production, but this is not as worrisome as a college tight end on a run-heavy team.
AJ Barner, Michigan – Tight End 4
Erick All, Iowa
(Tight End University)
- 4.15 to CIN
- 6’4 252, 33 Arm, 10 1/8 Hand
- Age – Turns 24 in September
- Class – 5th year senior
- 5th year - 299/3 (Iowa), 3rd year – 437/2 (Michigan)
All’s best attributes are his downfield route running and the ability to make tough catches. His YAC is bursty with good vision and wiggle. He lacks the power element that Bowers, Sinnott, and Barner have. He goes down fairly easily on first contact. He’s a bit older than the other prospects as well.
Erick All, Iowa – Tight End 5
Darts You Probably Should Throw Elsewhere
These guys are probably not worth the investment even, late in rookie drafts. They all have serious holes in their games that make them being fantasy-relevant very unlikely.
Jared Wiley – KC
I see Jared Wiley as the Jody Fortson replacement as he gets schemed as a big mismatch wide receiver for 2-3 plays a game. He is basically a big wide receiver who brings nothing to the blocking game. As a pass catcher, he is mediocre and he brings no YAC to his game. I still see Noah Gray as the Travis Kelce handcuff. This would be my dart throw if you were out of options at other positions super late in rookie drafts.
Cade Stover – HOU
Cade Stover is a backup for Dalton Shultz and probably a blocker on 2 tight-end sets. The Houston Texans like to use a second tight end to block on pass plays. This is perfect for Stover. Stover is not a good route runner. He is slow and gains no YAC.
Jaheim Bell – NE
Hunter Henry is still on the New England Patriots. Jaheim Bell is massively undersized at 6’2, brings nothing to the blocking game, and is an average receiving tight end at best.
Theo Johnson - NYG
Theo Johnson gives shades of a smaller Darnell Washinton. He has no route running and no YAC. He is decently athletic and can block okay.
