If Rob Gronkowski proved anything during his Hall of Fame career, it's that tight ends are still incredibly important in today's NFL, perhaps just as much as wide receivers. With the added bonus of extra in-line blocking, teams are beginning to invest higher picks in the position, and there could be at least three TEs who go in the first round this year. Here are the five best prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft class.
5. Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
A willing blocker, Sternberger's lack of ideal size and strength will limit his effectiveness in the NFL, but his receiving ability should translate perfectly. He is not the fastest player, but he has good hands and runs very nice routes. His fluid athleticism makes him appear as an X receiver rather than a TE. His lack of blocking upside will hurt his stock, but whichever team that drafts him will find a very good pass catcher on Day 2.
4. Dawson Knox, Ole Miss
Knox is a late riser, as his athletic testing has boosted his stock. He caught a grand total of 39 passes for zero touchdowns at Ole Miss, so he will be drafted for his traits, not his production. Knox has many similarities to San Francisco 49ers All-Pro George Kittle; both had subpar production in college, have similar height and weight, and their athleticism is nearly identical, including a 4.51 40-yard dash for Knox compared to 4.52 for Kittle.
Knox is a solid blocker who has all the traits of a future star, but his lack of production is concerning. He is a lump of unrefined clay at this point, and it will take a lot of molding for him to reach his potential. But, that potential is higher than perhaps any other TE prospect this year.
3. Irv Smith Jr., Alabama
Irv Smith Sr. was selected in the first round back in 1993, and he could watch his son follow in his footsteps on April 25th. Smith Jr. isn't as highly regarded as O.J.Howard was in 2017, but he is still a solid prospect in his own right.
Smith is 6-foot-2, so he's shorter for a TE, but his stocky build allows him to block well both on the line and as a fullback/H-back. He plays with good speed and athleticism, and while his routes need to improve, he has the short-area quickness to do just that.
He presents a great option to replace Gronkowksi for the Patriots at pick 32, if he lasts that long.
2. Noah Fant, Iowa
If we're talking about Kittle comparisons, it's impossible to avoid them with Fant. The two pass-catchers attended the same college after all.
Fant is a top-tier athlete for the position, and it shows on film. He is fast, fluid, and a mismatch nightmare for linebackers and defensive backs alike. His route-running quickness allows him to get open against nearly any type of coverage and he has the long speed to be a deep threat.
His blocking needs quite a bit of work, and he struggles when challenged physically, but Fant's athleticism alone makes him a top 20 prospect, and he should hear his name called very early on in round one.
1. T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
Hockenson is not as freakishly athletic as his teammate Fant, but he is a more complete player. He is bigger and stronger, and an excellent blocker.
Hockenson is a fluid route runner with soft hands, and he is a great all-around TE prospect with no real weaknesses and plenty of room to improve. His ceiling may not be quite as high as Fant's, but his superior blocking makes him a better player right now. Because of that, he is likely to be the first tight end off the board this year.
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