This article is part of our NFL Draft series.
As with the QB, RB and WR pre-Combine dynasty rankings, the players are listed in descending order of their projected draft position.
1. Hunter Henry, Arkansas* (6-5, 253)
Henry is the consensus top tight end in the draft and is nearly a lock to be the first one selected, perhaps as soon as the second half of the first round. I don't think he's worth taking quite that high, but this is a very weak tight end class and Henry was smart to declare early and capitalize on the inflation.
As a fantasy prospect, Henry has a fine profile. A former blue chip recruit, he safely met expectations in his Arkansas career, showing a strong combination of size, athleticism, and innate skill to provide consistent standout production. Playing in 35 career games, Henry caught 116 passes for 1,661 yards (14.3 YPC) and nine touchdowns despite playing in an Arkansas passing game that was merely modest at its best.
Nearly all the indicators with Henry are positive, but one of the most encouraging parts of his profile is the fact that as a true sophomore he outproduced teammate and fellow tight end A.J. Derby, then a senior, and Derby went on to get picked in the sixth round of the 2015 draft. Henry was better than an NFL tight end at just 19 years old, in other words.
Henry's blocking evidently could use some work – Dallas Cowboys scout and media rep Bryan Broaddus said Henry's blocking is downright bad – but for fantasy football purposes we only need to care about that if it results in a reduced snap count. Given how high Henry will likely be drafted, the odds are that his team will look past such flaws in order to justify the team's investment, so long as Henry produces as a receiver, at least.
Birth date: 12/7/1994 (21)
Comparison: Zach Ertz
Projected round: 1-2
2. Tyler Higbee, Western Kentucky (6-5, 250)
People who follow college football closely are likely fans of Higbee, but more casual college football observers might have overlooked this standout prospect due to being a one-year starter at a school outside the Power Five.
In a weak tight end class lacking true upside, Higbee is probably my favorite prospect when you adjust for acquisition costs. Henry should be the first tight end selected in dynasty formats, but Higbee can likely be had much later despite possessing similar fantasy upside.
Higbee should check in around 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, giving him above average size and a reassuring red-zone projection as a receiver. When you start to factor in his production, it's hard to not get excited. Higbee was credited with 38 catches for 563 yards (14.8 YPC) and eight touchdowns in nine games in 2015, but he only really played in seven full games due to a knee injury that eventually ended his season. Higbee's more accurate box score from 2015 would be 36 catches for 551 yards and eight touchdowns in those seven games.
If Higbee shows good workout numbers at the Combine or pro day, I'll probably be very high on him.
Birth date: N/A
Comparison: Todd Heap
Projected round: 2-3
3. Jerell Adams, South Carolina (6-6, 231)
Adams is a tall tight end with a big wingspan and a fair amount of intrigue as an NFL prospect. He largely went under the radar at South Carolina, playing behind Rory Anderson for most of his career before dealing with injury and poor quarterback play in 2015, his first as a clear starter. For these anecdotal reasons, Adams' receiving production at South Carolina is not impressive at a glance – he finished his career with just 66 catches for 977 yards and seven touchdowns in four years.
Adams' film shows a player with the athletic traits and skill set to make more of a receiving impact in a more favorable setting, however, and a strong Combine showing could generate enough hype to get Adams into the second or third round.
He shows an intriguing amount of untapped upside as a receiver despite his unimpressive stats. Although he isn't a sudden athlete, Adams has a surprising amount of straight-line speed, which could make him an effective target down the seam, especially off playaction. Adams could earn a comparison as favorable as Martellus Bennett if he can test well at the Combine and weigh in around 250 pounds, though it would probably be best to keep expectations modest barring a strong Combine showing.
Birth date: 12/21/1992 (23)
Comparison: Kellen Davis
Projected round: 3-4
4. Thomas Duarte, UCLA* (6-3, 225)
I don't know why Duarte is listed as a tight end and I don't consider him one, but technicalities must be observed.
Duarte played a position at UCLA that looked curiously similar to what is normally referred to as 'wide receiver,' and he was quite good at it. Not only was he UCLA's best red-zone target, he was also the team's best big-play threat. On a team that threw for 3,748 yards and 23 touchdowns, Duarte reeled in 53 catches for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015.
And yet, even with those WR-like numbers and a WR-like frame, Duarte is evidently moving to tight end. If the TE designation sticks, Duarte could be a sneakily valuable dynasty target since it might be a chance to get TE eligibility on a player who's mostly used as a wide receiver.
It is worth noting that, despite his explosive production, Duarte doesn't look especially fast or quick by wide receiver standards. The Combine will help settle the question of how he specifically projects to the NFL.
Birth date: N/A
Comparison: Tim Wright
Projected round: 3-4
5. Jake McGee, Florida (6-6, 249)
McGee started his career at Virginia before heading to Florida as a graduate transfer. In his first game as a Gator he suffered a broken tibia and fibula, though, delaying his career by one year. He came back from the injury to enjoy a successful 2015 senior season, catching 41 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns. He caught 71 passes for 769 yards and seven touchdowns in two years at Virginia prior to heading to Florida.
Age and durability are the main questions with McGee, but if he tests adequately in workout settings he should project as an NFL tight end well worth a roster spot. Whether he'll ever emerge as a fantasy factor is less obvious. McGee appears to be a functional athlete, but not an explosive one, and his career receiving numbers generally imply a tight end who will move the chains rather than find the end zone.
Birth date: N/A
Comparison: John Phillips
Projected round: 3-4
6. Nick Vannett, Ohio State (6-5, 256)
Vannett didn't produce as a pass catcher at Ohio State – he had just 55 catches for 585 yards and six touchdowns in four years – but the thinking is he might have the size and athleticism to project as more visible in an NFL offense than he did a Buckeyes offense loaded with other playmakers whose skills demanded high usage.
Vannett at the very least impressed as a blocker. He showed the ability to stand out as a backfield blocker, an in-line blocker, and even a pull blocker. If a team selects him in the second or third round, that level of investment combined with Vannett's blocking skill could earn him playing time earlier than most of the other tight ends in this draft. It's hard to see him possessing much fantasy upside, though.
Birth date: 2/23/1993 (23)
Comparison: Rhett Ellison
Projected round: 3-4
7. Austin Hooper, Stanford* (6-4, 248)
Hooper is usually ranked as the second tight end in this draft, but I'm skeptical that he's worth a selection before the fourth round. He doesn't show standout athleticism on tape, and his size probably will check in just below the average, too.
Hooper was reliable at Stanford and should safely make and stick with an NFL roster, but I just don't see the starter traits here.
Birth date: N/A
Comparison: Garrett Graham
Projected round: 3-4
8. David Grinnage, North Carolina State* (6-5, 267)
Grinnage is a player who's completely off the radar for most people, but I suspect he's being overlooked a bit. I don't mean to imply Grinnage has elite upside or anything close, but I do think he shows the traits necessary to turn into a solid NFL tight end.
Along with Adams and Vannett, Grinnage is one of the draft's best tight ends when it comes to projected blocking ability. Despite his size, Grinnage shows smooth athleticism on film, showing better suddenness and flexibility than Adams. He's not explosive enough to really pressure the seam, but he should be coordinated enough to create quick openings.
Grinnage was largely invisible in 2015 due to scheme and playcalling decisions made by North Carolina State, but when utilized as a pass catcher Grinnage has been consistently successful. He finished his 31 career games at N.C. State with 67 catches for 798 yards (11.9 YPC) and nine touchdowns
Birth date: N/A
Comparison: Larry Donnell
Projected round: 5-7
9. David Morgan, UTSA (6-4, 260)
Morgan was one of college football's most productive pass catchers at tight end in 2015, leading UTSA with 566 yards and five touchdowns as a receiver. That he did it at a listed weight of 260 is encouraging – his production indicates a favorable receiving skill set, but a 260-pound frame is an above average weight for a tight end with as much pass-catching activity as Morgan.
Still, he hails from a small, struggling program, and it's fair to wonder if Morgan's production was 'cheap,' the by-default result of playing on a team where there simply weren't other capable contributors. Similarly concerning is the fact that he doesn't appear all that athletic.
Despite a lack of obvious athleticism, Morgan's skill set as a pass catcher is convincing. He's comfortable running routes out wide, and he shows uncommon coordination for a tight end. If he surprises with encouraging Combine workouts, he could project as a real pass-catching asset.
Birth date: 5/19/1993 (23)
Comparison: Nick O'Leary
Projected round: 5-7
10. Beau Sandland, Montana State (6-5, 250)
Sandland was at one point a four-star junior college recruit for the Miami Hurricanes, but he transferred to Montana State after just one season in Miami. Although he caught only nine passes for 94 yards and a touchdown with the Hurricanes, Sandland was very productive for Montana State in 2015, catching 37 passes for 632 yards and nine touchdowns.
That kind of pass-catching production combined with an above-average frame makes Sandland a player to monitor at the Combine. If he shows encouraging athleticism in workouts, there's reason to think he could make a strong push up the board in a weak class.
Birth date: N/A
Comparison: James O'Shaughnessy
Projected round: 5-7
11. Ben Braunecker, Harvard (6-4, 240)
Birth date: N/A
Comparison: Rob Blanchflower
Projected round: 6-7
12. Bryce Williams, East Carolina
Birth date: 2/24/1993 (23)
Comparison: Nick Boyle
Projected round: 6-7
13. Stephen Anderson, California (6-3, 230)
Birth date: 1/30/1993 (23)
Comparison: Evan Rodriguez
Projected round: 7-UDFA
14. Temarrick Hemingway, South Carolina State (6-5, 210)
Birth date: N/A
Comparison: Ernest Wilford
Projected round: UDFA
15. Kivon Cartwright, Colorado State (6-4, 245)
Birth date: 3/3/1992 (24)
Comparison: Dante Rosario
Projected round: UDFA
