Former Iowa Hawkeyes tight end and 2019 NFL Draft prospect TJ Hockenson, as expected, has become the first tight end off the board. With the Detroit Lions quickly selecting the former Iowa pass catcher, Hockenson will attempt to make a seamless transition to the professional ranks.
Throughout the spring, Hockenson and former Hawkeyes teammate and fellow tight end Noah Fant received the majority of the praise at this position — rightly so.
“In a draft that feels light on high-end talent, Hockenson is an ascending talent with a chance to become one of the best all-around tight ends in the game,” reads his 2019 NFL Draft profile on NFL.com.
“He should continue to fill out his athletic frame, but he's already a sound in-line blocker with the toughness to sustain and finish. His above-average athleticism and separation burst will help him win against linebackers while his body control and hands give him an advantage over safeties. Hockenson has standout talent and fits any scheme, but he could be coveted early by teams looking to delve more heavily in 12-personnel (two TE packages).”
While widely thought of as the top tight end in the 2019 NFL Draft class, TJ Hockenson received a vast amount of praise due to his performance in 2018. At the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, his numbers did not really jump off the paper. TJ Hockenson ran a 4.7 40-yard dash while putting up just 17 reps on the bench press.
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