NFL Draft season is here, baby!
The flagship event that signals the kickoff for prospect season is back. The Reese’s Senior Bowl cranks up with practice sessions starting on Jan. 30. We’ll be bringing you a TON of content all week at FantasyPros with daily practice recap live streams on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus written content here on the website.
NFL Draft season is here, baby!
The flagship event that signals the kickoff for prospect season is back. The Reese’s Senior Bowl cranks up with practice sessions starting on Jan. 30. We’ll be bringing you a TON of content all week at FantasyPros with daily practice recap live streams on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus written content here on the website.
Welcome to the TE Primer, which covers every tight end prospect who will be at this year’s Senior Bowl. Dynasty rookie draft season is here. Let’s dive into these prospects.
2024 NFL Draft Senior Bowl Primer: Tight Ends
Stats:
- 2023 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 13th
- PFF receiving grade: 18th
- 2022 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 28th
- PFF receiving grade: 16th
- 2021 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 1st
- PFF receiving grade: 8th
Scouting report:
- Tough to tackle in the open field. Jaheim Bell is a quarterback’s best friend with his abilities after the catch. He has the speed to turn a short check-down into a big gain at any time. Over the last three seasons (minimum 20 targets), he has ranked inside the top 12 in both YAC per reception (11th, 10th and first) and missed tackles forced (seventh, eighth and fourth).
- Bell is a smooth operator in routes. He has easy acceleration in and out of his breaks. He is also tough to push off his routes with his thick, muscular frame. Bell will be a matchup problem in the NFL. He’s too physical for nickel corners to handle and too quick for linebackers to hang with at times on crossers.
Player Comp: Chigoziem Oknokwo
Ben Sinnott (Kansas State)
Stats:
- 2023 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 10th
- PFF receiving grade: 9th
- 2022 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 48th
- PFF receiving grade: 36th
Scouting report: (only one game of all-22 available)
- Ben Sinnott has a strong lower half that serves him well as a blocker and a receiving option. Sinnott can push defenders off their mark as a blocker and utilize his legs to break tackles as a receiver. He forced the third-most missed tackles among tight ends last year.
- Sinnott is an underrated athlete. He uncovers quickly in routes with smooth hips while having decent speed and strong tackle-breaking ability. Sinnott was mostly utilized as an underneath receiving option but was given the occasional seam shot. He has the speed to threaten down the seam. Sinnott is talented enough as a receiving option to develop into a trusted third option in an NFL passing game.
- Kansas State used him as a fullback at times or as a pulling option on rushing plays. Sinnott had no issues clearing the road. He’s a solid blocking option across the board, with at least a 71.4 PFF grade in both pass pro and run blocking last season.
Player Comp: Dalton Schultz
Stats:
- 2023 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 104th
- PFF receiving grade: 135th
- 2022 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 6th
- PFF receiving grade: 7th
- 2021 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 17th
- PFF receiving grade: 24th
Scouting report:
- Brevyn Spann-FOrd was a much-improved blocker from 2021 to 2023. He still has a propensity to drop his eyes and look lax when chipping, but his first punch and anchor improved. He can drive defenders back and hold his area well when locked in. Blocking is how he will make his mark in the NFL.
- Spann-Ford will be an inline tight end in the NFL and an underneath receiving option. He can be utilized against zone coverage, but he doesn’t have the juice or route-running chops to beat man coverage or win on the perimeter. He rounds his routes and isn’t crisp or sudden out of his breaks. He is a station-to-station receiving option. Across 95 collegiate receptions, he only forced 11 missed tackles.
Player Comp: Darren Fells
A.J. Barner (Michigan)
Stats:
- 2023 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 79th
- PFF receiving grade: 45th
- 2022 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 139th
- PFF receiving grade: 114th
Scouting report: (only one game of all-22 available)
- A.J. Barner is a tenacious run blocker. His hands are like vice grips. Once Barner has you in his grasp, good luck getting out. He can plow the road as a run blocker. Michigan used him as a puller at times to lead the way. His blocking contributions will define his NFL career.
- Barner is a tertiary option in the passing game only. He will leak out or run shallow crossers and out routes. With only 4.2 yards after the catch per reception and 0.99 YPRR in college, he won’t be a priority option in any passing game. He will be a catch-and-fall down receiver.
Player Comp: Anthony Auclair
Jared Wiley (TCU)
Stats:
- 2023 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 19th
- PFF receiving grade: 31st
- 2022 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 48th
- PFF receiving grade: 8th
Scouting report: (no all-22 available)
Player Comp: N/A
Stats:
- 2023 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 64th
- PFF receiving grade: 53rd
- 2022 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 30th
- PFF receiving grade: 29th
Scouting report: (no all-22 available)
Player Comp: N/A
Tanner McLachlan (Arizona)
Stats:
- 2023 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 52nd
- PFF receiving grade: 21st
- 2022 (minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 78th
- PFF receiving grade: 96th
Scouting report: (no all-22 available)
Player Comp: N/A
