The NFL combine is less than a week away, and one position that isn’t being discussed much is tight end. We will likely see some surprise performances among this group, but it’s important to understand how different the 2024 Tight End class is from what we saw in 2023.

• 2024 NFL Mock Drafts
• Expert Consensus 2024 NFL Mock Draft
• 2024 NFL Draft Guide
• 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Profiles

2024 NFL Draft Prospects: Overvalued Tight Ends

2023 gave us some immediate impact players at the position in Sam LaPorta and Dalton Kincaid. But it also provided three to five others who are likely to be long-term players for their respective teams in:

Starter Level

• Michael Mayer (TE – LV)
• Luke Musgrave (TE – GB)
• Tucker Kraft (TE – GB)

Key Role Player

• Brenton Strange (TE – JAC)
• Darnell Washington (TE – PIT)

When diving into this year’s class, there is a marked difference in top-level talent and depth. It’s difficult to find five players at the position with the skill set and potential to be long-term answers at the next level. Pre-Combine: this is how my top five TEs of the class rank. (Note: The top two or three aren’t likely to change even post-NFL draft).

Tier 1

• Brock Bowers (TE – Georgia)

Tier 2

• Ja’Tavion Sanders (TE – Texas)

Tier 3

• Cade Stover (TE – Ohio State)
• Theo Johnson (TE – Penn State)
• Jaheim Bell (TE – Florida State)

Using the “Overvalued” tag lightly when evaluating this group, one player stands out based on projected draft capital: Cade Stover.

Cade Stover

In his final two seasons for Ohio State, Stover posted 76 receptions, 982 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Stover projects to be a round-three draft pick. The positives for Stover heavily lean on his potential to develop at the next level. He has only been a full-time player at the position for two seasons at Ohio State. One essential part of his profile is that he has displayed a high IQ as a blocker. That will help him gain reps on Sundays. He is also one of the most athletically gifted tight ends in 2024. He should wreak havoc at the NFL combine, which will help boost his draft stock. His versatility is the primary reason he should land in the top three rounds.

Despite these traits, Stover still presents as a project at the NFL level. His lack of experience means he would benefit from sitting behind an established starter for his first season or two. Some of his most productive moments at Ohio State were due to him being schemed open and rarely were due to him being an impressive route runner or receiver.

• Current Draft Projection: Top 100 Pick
• Where He Should Go: 5th Round
• Ideal Landing Spot: San Franciso 49ers.

The 49ers would be a perfect fit for a player like Cade Stover. The Niners have a more violent version of Stover already leading the way at the position in George Kittle. Stover can be viewed as a less refined George Kittle at his ceiling player comparison. If he realizes that potential at the NFL, he will be largely landing spot-dependent early in his career.

Stover would benefit tremendously from learning from a player with a similar frame and skillset. He would also not be relied on as a primary option in the offense, which he wasn’t asked to do in college. He would also be paired with a young, accurate Quarterback for the early parts of his career.

2024 NFL Mock Drafts

Here are a few early predictions for the 2024 NFL Draft. We’ll continue to add our 2024 NFL Mock Drafts leading up to the start of Round 1.

• 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Matthew Jones (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0)
• 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Russell Brown (1.0 | 2.0)
• 2024 NFL Mock Draft: PJ Moran (1.0 | 2.0)
• 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Andrew Erickson (1.0)
• 2024 NFL Mock Draft With Trades: Mike Fanelli (1.0)
• 2024 NFL Mock Draft With Trades: Dennis Sosic
• 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Two-Round Writer Collaborative
• 2024 NFL Mock Draft: First Round Picks & Predictions
• 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Top 20 Picks & Predictions
• 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Top 10 Picks & Predictions
• 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Early Picks & Predictions
• Early 2024 NFL Mock Draft with Trades: Picks & Predictions

2024 NFL Draft Coverage

• 12 Perfect NFL Draft Landing Spots
• Overvalued Quarterbacks
• Undervalued Quarterbacks
• Overvalued Running Backs
• Undervalued Running Backs
• Undervalued Tight Ends
• 2024 NFL Draft Risers & Fallers: Feb
• Burning Questions: Feb

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