The first week of the Felger & Mazz Big Board entered its second week on Monday. The guys began NFL Draft week by throwing for tight ends.
Heading into the offseason it seemed like tight end would be a major need for the Patriots. La’Michael Pettway was the only player at the position scheduled to be under contract, with Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki, and Pharaoh Brown all on expiring contracts.
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However, the Patriots ended up bringing back Henry and added Austin Hooper in free agency as well. That stabilized the top of the depth chart.
Where does that leave the Patriots at tight end heading into the draft? If they’re looking for an immediate contributor it’s most likely as a blocker, to complement the more outright receiving skillsets of Henry and Hooper. Any receiving tight end would more likely be a project player who they’d work to develop into Henry’s successor.
The Big Board hit players mainly falling into that second category. Here’s a breakdown…
Jaheim Bell, Florida State
Sep 16, 2023; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Florida State Seminoles tight end Jaheim Bell (6) breaks a tackle by Boston College Eagles defensive back John Pupel (35) and runs for a touchdown during the first half at Alumni Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Bell’s draft stock is tough to pin down because nobody is really sure what position he’ll play in the NFL. At 6-foot-2, 241 pounds with good but not great athleticism and lack of blocking ability, he could pass as an in-line tight end, move tight end, fullback, big slot receiver or even passing-down running back depending on the system.
For a Patriots team that is re-working its offense and could build in a role for him, that could make him an intriguing pick on Day 3. If that’s the plan though, they’ll need to have a specific development plan in place. If they’re looking for a more traditional tight end, they should look elsewhere.
Erick All, Iowa
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 30: Tight end Erick All #83 of the Iowa Hawkeyes breaks a tackle on a touchdown run during the first half against linebacker Jordan Hall #5 of the Michigan State Spartans at Kinnick Stadium on September 30, 2023 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
How teams view All will come down to how far back they’re willing to look at the tape. He broke out as a junior at Michigan in 2021, catching 38 passes for 437 yards and two touchdowns as he was named the team’s co-offensive skill player of the year.
Coming off of that season, many expected All to be a top-100 pick the following year. He began the 2022 season as a team captain, but only ended up playing three games before undergoing spinal surgery that ended his season. Prior to the 2023 season he transferred to Iowa, and led the team in receiving through seven games before tearing his ACL.
If teams look at his 2021 tape, they’ll see a chain-moving tight end with good size (6-foot-4, 252 pounds) and an expansive route tree who can create after the catch. Yet that has to be weighed against the fact that since then All has had spinal surgery, suffered a significant knee injury, and will be a 24-year-old rookie.
So the question is, is All a value pick on Day 3 whose talent was masked by injuries? For teams that believe so, they may think they’re getting a steal later in the draft. Others may not want to take the risk at all.
Dallin Holker, Colorado State
Sep 30, 2023; Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Colorado State Rams tight end Dallin Holker (5) breaks into the open field for an 18-yard carrie in the second quarter Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium. Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
On the older side entering his age 24 season, Holker is relatively one-dimensional as a receiver at 6-foot-3, 241 pounds. He has reliable hands and can get himself open, as he did as a high-volume target for the Rams last year (64 catches for 767 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games).
That all adds up to Holker likely being a later Day 3 draft pick, who certainly will have a chance to earn an NFL roster spot as a depth tight end and special teams player as a pro. He must have done something personal to one of the scouts at Lindy’s though, because while he’s not a perfect prospect he certainly wasn’t deserving of what may have been the most unfavorable write-up I’ve heard in four years of doing these reactions.
