Top 5 Tight Ends 2022 NFL Draft

Lets look at the Top 5 Tight Ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. With the NFL becoming more of a passing league year after year we have seen legitimate superstars made at the tight end position. The likes of Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Mark Andrews have became household names. Gone are the days of inline tight ends who just get paid to block. Which of these youngsters can step up next?

 

1. Trey McBride, Colorado State

This one is so close that even as I write it I’m considering flipping number 1 and 2. McBride wins out, but narrowly for me. He may not be the athlete Wydermeyer is, but he continually produces. I think McBride can help in all facets of the game. He can run block and be counted on to move the chains. He rarely drops passes and will become a safety valve for one lucky quarterback. McBride edges out the competition with his consistency and production. I mean he did top 1,000 yards this season and win the John Mackey award for the nation’s best tight end.

 

2. Jalen Wydermeyer, Texas A&M

Jalen Wydermeyer is a stud tight end. One who is deserving of the number one ranking, but was hurt by a down year. Like McBride, he is a good run blocker and an efficient receiver who can move the chains. Wydermeyer may be slightly more athletic and may end up being the better of the two. As of now I’m willing to say he needs to prove why he is number one. A strong pro day or combine may just do that though.

 

3. Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina

A small school standout here. Likely had the most prolific statistic season out of this group. McBride may have gained more yards than him, but Likely produced 912 yards and 12 TD’s. The fact he wasn’t a finalist for the Mackey award is a dark spot on the voters. Likely is maybe the best deep threat of the bunch and the speediest of them as well. If you like more of the pure receiver at the position, he may be the guy for your team.

 

4. Charlie Kolar, Iowa State

Charlie Kolar was also a finalist for the John Mackey Award. He reminds me of the employee who just consistently shows up every day and does exactly what you ask of him. He’s the guy you can rely on in a pinch and look to when you have no one else. Yet, somehow this same guy never seems to win employee of the month, or get the raise he so deserves. Kolar had 756 yards and 6 touchdowns for an unimpressive Cyclones team this season. If consistency is what you like, he is your guy.

 

5. Cade Otton, Washington

Otton was put on my radar early this year by my fellow analyst Jonah. Jonah had Otton on his original preseason top 50. After seeing what he can do, Otton has secured a spot in my top 5 tight ends. Once again he isn’t a superior athlete, but he consistently produces. A down year for the Huskies offense hurt Otton statistically, but if you watch film you can see he has some serious ability that Washington failed to utilize. You may look back on this writing and say “That guy knows his stuff!” or you may say, “WTH?”