2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tight Ends
Hunter Henry
Height: 6-4
Weight: 250 lbs
College: Arkansas
Class: Junior
Hunter played for the Arkansas Razorbacks in his 2015 college season and he had 51 receptions, 739 yards, and 3 touchdowns. He is projected to be drafted in the 2nd round and is ranked 51. He earned All-SEC honors and won the Mackey Award for the nation’s top tight end. His strengths potentially for the Browns are he rarely drops the ball, is a pass catcher with flexible body control to get open downfield and adjusts to throws. His weaknesses are he lacks muscle tone and is still growing into his body, he has trouble in establishing body position and goes where the defender wants, and struggles with control blocks.
The advantages the Browns can use from him are that he adjusts to throws, is a natural hands catcher, and a high effect blocker that’s able to get down field. Also, 93 of his 116 catches were 1st downs or touchdowns. Experienced lining up on the line and in the slot. He could be valuable to the Browns since he did not drop the ball once in his 2015 season. If the Browns go with him he has more reliable hands and greater route running than any tight end in this year’s draft class.
Austin Hooper
Height: 6-3
Weight: 254 lbs
College: Stanford
Class: Junior
In the 2015 college season he had 34 receptions, 438 yards, and 6 touchdowns. He is projected to go in the 2nd or 3rd round, he is ranked #2 in his position and ranked 75 overall. His strengths potentially for the Browns are that he has good balance and agility to generate as a route runner, catches ball easily with good hand eye coordination, and has long limbs and broad shoulders which can withstand 10 to 15 pounds of muscle. His weaknesses are that he swings his arms to maintain balance while running down a seam and may need to work out for a year before putting him on the field.
As a prospect for the Browns he can sustain blocks and adjusts to moving targets while making defenders turn. Determined runner while catching, by lowering his shoulder through would-be tacklers for additional yardage. Hooper can be best as a move tight end or H-back while gathering strength and experience to handle in line blocking duties.
Jerrell Adams
Height: 6-5
Weight: 257 lbs
College: South Carolina
Class: Senior
He is projected to be drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round and is ranked 4th in his position and 75 overall. His strengths are that he takes long strides making him faster, moves his feet well and uses his body to steer defenders away to create a running lane. His weaknesses are that he needs to sharpen his route running skills, looks stiff at times and needs more bulk to compete in the NFL. In 2015, Adams was his team’s second-leading receiver with 28 receptions for 421 yards and three touchdowns.
As a draft prospect for the Browns he can move fast due to his long strides and has good route running since he can create separation out of his breaks. He uses his size to his advantage, by showing a large catch radius. He may not be a powerful drive blocker but he can move fast to steer defenders away creating his own running lane.
Nick Vannett
Height: 6-6
Weight: 257 lbs
College: Ohio State
Class: Senior
Last year in the 2015 college football season he had 19 receptions and 162 yards. He is #3 in his position and 93rd overall and is expected to be drafted in the 3rd round. He was a redshirt freshman in 2011, after that he played in 40 games, caught 36 passes for 423 yards and scored 6 touchdowns while also scoring a touchdown in the 2014 National Championship game. Vannett started in every game in 2015 and caught 19 passes for 162 yards but did not score a touchdown. His strengths are that you can line him up on the line, in the slot or make him an H- back. He is also a good run blocker in tight quarters and open space; he has good feet and creates great leverage against opponents. He can stay in front of defenders and become effective in blocking. He has strong hands and can finish catches, while he also runs well creating separation. Some of his weaknesses are that he wasn’t utilized in the passing game last year for Ohio State so it may take some time for him to get use to the NFL style of play.
The Browns can use him to line him up anywhere to help many holes in the Browns offense. He can also be used in the Browns run game to open a lane and is able to catch the ball and secure when given the opportunities. Though this may not be the strongest draft class for tight ends Vannett is the standout senior to pick when it comes to senior tight ends.
Tyler Higbee
Height: 6-6
Weight: 249lbs
College: Western Kentucky
Class: Senior
Higbee signed on as a wide receiver in 2011 with Western Kentucky and left in 2015 as a first team all-conference USA pick who tied for the nation’s best among the tight end class with 8 touchdowns. In 2014 he had 15 receptions for 230 yards and four scores as a backup. In his senior year he played in 9 games and caught 38 passes for 563 yards. His strengths are that he has great frame and good size for the position. He can catch anything thrown his way especially in traffic. He specializes in being a great route runner since he was a former wide receiver and is good at breaking tackles and gaining yardage. His weaknesses are that he could be more dominate in the run game and that he is a one year starter and is still learning the position.
The Browns can utilize him in the run game and make him into a tight end that can work the middle of the field, especially in the passing game. The Browns could also utilize him for his wide receiver skills since he can catch many passes and is a great route runner. It isn’t such a bad idea if the Browns try to make him into a wide receiver since he is still learning the tight end position. It’s the fact that he has a good frame and size for the position to be a tight end which can go a long way for the Browns if he’s coached correctly.