The 2023 NFL Draft is here! After months of waiting, we finally know where the 2023 NFL Draft class will land. This information shapes the outlook for rookies in 2023 and beyond. We’re going to have you covered throughout and following the 2023 NFL Draft to help you prepare for your fantasy football leagues. Next up for many will be dynasty rookie drafts. To help you prepare to make your dynasty rookie draft picks, let’s dive into Matthew Jones’s 2023 NFL Draft profile as well as Pat Fitzmaurice’s dynasty rookie draft outlook for Luke Schoonmaker.
Dynasty Rookie Picks & Predictions: Cowboys Draft Luke Schoonmaker
Let’s first see what NFL Draft expert Matthew Jones says about Luke Schoonmaker.
Matthew Jones’s 2023 NFL Draft Outlook
Background:
Played very sparingly in his first three seasons with the Wolverines, totaling 120 snaps between 2018-2020, then started all but four of the team’s games the following year, playing the vast majority of his snaps as an inline tight end but also working out of the slot at times en route to a 17-165-3 (9.7) line. Played roughly the same number of snaps this past year, but saw his role in the passing game expand to 35-418-3 (11.9).
Positives:
Two-year starter for a major program, taking a big step forward this past year. Big tight end with a solid build; primarily lines up as an inline option, but takes some snaps as more of a flex tight end or from the slot. Plays the game with toughness and physicality, with good functional strength. Comes off his stance relatively low for a big tight end. Blocks from a wide base and shows impressive contact balance. Shows a solid understanding of positioning. Overall hand placement is good and can reset effectively. Works hard to stick with opponents through the whistle. Able to line up opponents in space when blocking on outside rushing attempts. Doesn’t overrun his spots, showing patience when blocking in space. Wasn’t asked to pass protect very often, but looked solid over a handful of snaps. Does a nice job of selling routes. Uses a little swim move to slip by second-level defenders. Doesn’t get knocked off-course by contact. Shows some ability to adjust to throws away from his frame. Has a solid pair of hands, with three drops versus 54 receptions.
Negatives:
Could conceivably be asked to add a little bit of bulk at the next level. May not be a major threat down the seams due to average speed. Doesn’t have a lot of suddenness to his game. There isn’t much snap at the top of his routes, tending to round off and glide through stems. More of a safety valve than a primary target, with a lot of his catches coming on shallow crosses off of delayed releases, hitches, and other patterns of that nature; route tree was relatively limited. Only caught three of twelve contested catch opportunities over the course of his career. Not quite as physical after the catch as you’d think given his size.
Summary:
A solid inline tight end with the size, toughness, functional strength, and work rate teams look for in a “Y”, but who doesn’t have many explosive elements to his game and will probably continue to be limited to more of a safety valve role at the next level. Primary value will likely come as a blocker, where he has the physical tools, temperament, and technique to successfully execute a variety of different assignments.
2023 Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook: Luke Schoonmaker
The NFL Draft was kind to Schoonmaker, whose dynasty stock is on the rise after being selected by the Cowboys in the second round. Dallas is looking for a replacement for TE Dalton Schultz, who left for Houston in free agency. Schoonmaker was a well-regarded TE prospect, but second-round draft capital was a pleasant surprise.
An overaged prospect who’ll turn 25 in September, Schoonmaker was a late bloomer at Michigan who didn’t really factor into the Wolverines’ passing game until his fifth and final year in Ann Arbor. Schoonmaker has NFL size (6-5, 251), speed (4.63) and athleticism (9.85 RAS). However, Schoonmaker had only 54-637-7 over 44 career games at Michigan and might need time to gain traction at the next level.
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