Trey McBride Scouting Report: 2022 NFL Draft Prospect

 

Tight End, Colorado State Rams, #85

 

Measurements

6’4, 260 lbs.

40-time: 4.7

 

Trey McBride NFL Draft Player Profile

When you think about a naturally gifted athlete, Trey McBride fits the bill. At Fort Morgan High School in Colorado, McBride was a three-sport athlete that dominated every competition he faced. He scored the most points in the school’s basketball history. On the baseball diamond, he hit the most home runs and had the most RBIs. However, basketball and baseball weren’t even his best sports. He was a star on both sides of the ball for the football team, earning varsity all-conference honors all four of his years.

His totals at the tight end position over his four-year career were 89 catches for 1,737 yards and 23 touchdowns. On the ground, he totaled 361 yards and three touchdowns. His defensive statistics were even more impressive: 310 tackles, 60 TFL, 14 sacks, seven interceptions, and six blocked punts. After seeing those defensive numbers, it is hard to believe this is the best tight end prospect in this year’s class.

McBride made enough of an impression on coaches to make solid contributions as a true freshman, playing in all 12 games with five starts. As a sophomore, McBride earned all-conference honors with 45 catches for 560 yards and four touchdowns. In a Covid-19 shortened junior season, McBride was named team captain and a PFF All-American, totaling 330 yards and four touchdowns in four games.

In his breakout senior campaign, McBride had one of the most impressive individual seasons by a tight end in recent memory. McBride totaled 90 catches for 1,121 yards and a single touchdown. His elite production made him the Mackey Award winner and CSU’s first unanimous all-American. The final play of his collegiate career summed up his success perfectly: a 69-yard touchdown run on a fake punt.

 

Trey McBride Strengths

 

Yards after catch

McBride is a threat with the ball in his hands because of the physical style of running he displays. He consistently looks to run over defenders and is always lowering his shoulder to gain additional yards. It doesn’t always look aesthetically pleasing watching him methodically barrel through defenders, but it is certainly effective. Screen calls and forward pitches to McBride are popular occurrences because of his YAC abilities. McBride runs extremely hard and has impressive straight-line speed. One of the more impressive plays of his career was his 69-yard catch and run score against Fresno State in just his sophomore season in which he avoided and broke through multiple arm tackles. Once he has the ball in his hands, he is reminiscent of a slightly less-athletic George Kittle.

 

Willing and strong run blocker

McBride’s physicality also shows up in his strong run blocking ability. He plays with incredibly strong effort in the run game and is consistently willing to throw his body around. A lot of tight ends today play with more finesse than physicality, but McBride isn’t one of them. At 260 lbs., he shows impressive strength and the ability to engage and keep defenders locked up. He has a strong upper and lower half and his ability to block allows him to stay on the field at all times. He is technically sound which allows him to stick to defenders and avoid holding calls.

 

Soft and strong hands

Trey is extremely reliable catching the ball, whether it be in traffic or catching a pass that isn’t exactly perfectly thrown. He has often shown his ability to take a tough hit and hang onto the ball. McBride makes a lot of catches in traffic which is an important asset at the next level when windows are smaller, and coverage is stickier. He is also excellent at catching the ball away from his body and snagging throws that are a little out of reach and bringing them into his body.

 

Versatility

Being able to line up out in the slot and in-line next to the tackle is important for an NFL tight end nowadays. McBride has shown he can do both of these things, with the potential to even line up outside the numbers in the red zone. He is a strong blocker and an excellent pass catcher. He is a bruiser with the ball in his hands. On top of that, he can be put into motion and lined up in the backfield as a full-back. McBride offers a lot of versatility and projects as a three-down player.

 

Catch Radius

McBride’s adequate height, impressive length, and solid instincts provide quarterbacks with a large target to throw to. He can go up above defenders and high point the ball, as well as securing lower throws around the shoes. McBride’s film shows how he can make tough catches on the sidelines and in the middle of the field. If the ball is put on his body, it is highly unlikely he is dropping it, and he can also reach and extend to make a grab.

 

Trey McBride Weaknesses

 

Lack of top-end athleticism

While McBride flashes strong straight-line speed and is impressive after the catch, he lacks upper-tier athleticism that is becoming increasingly desired in NFL tight ends. He isn’t explosive and is more of a lumbering runner than a smooth runner. There is often a struggle to get in and out of breaks smoothly which results in some separation issues. The cause for concern is more in his suddenness and agility rather than pure speed, which he has enough of to stretch a defense.

 

Route running

Playing in a Steve Addazio offense likely didn’t help, but crisper route running is something McBride needs to work on to reach his full potential. On out-breaking routes, there was a common tendency to round the route out rather than cutting with precision. On in-breaking routes, learning to fake a step outside could help set defenders up. A lot of his catches were a result of quick five-yard actions and securing the ball in traffic rather than purely beating a coverage.

 

Beating man coverage

The play style of McBride is certainly more effective against zone rather than man. His knack for finding the soft spot in the defense, big catch radius, and strong hands are reasons why he should have no issues beating zone coverages. However, his lack of elite athleticism and crisp route running mean there are times when he can’t separate against quicker players. He shouldn’t have trouble getting off press coverage because of his physicality and strong hands. The question is whether he can leave trailing defenders behind and beat his man to provide an open target.

 

Trey McBride NFL Draft Stock

Being named to the Mackey Award watchlist, and being a surefire top-five tight end prospect entering his senior season, doesn’t exactly represent a sleeper prospect. However, playing in the Mountain West for four seasons doesn’t come with national attention all the time. Nevertheless, McBride’s performance this season has increased his stock dramatically from a late Day Two pick to a potential Day One pick. Even if he doesn’t go in the first round, the odds are strong that he will be the first tight end off the board. At this point, it appears to be a two-man race between he and Texas A&M’s Jalen Wydermyer for that distinction.

 

Trey McBride Scouting Report Final Thoughts

McBride is a fun player to watch on tape. He plays with an admirable fire and physicality that is certain to translate to the next level. His three-sport background shows up in the way that he plays in terms of his instincts, hand-eye coordinator, and compete level. A smart player that is a willing run blocker and two-year team captain, he will impress a lot of scouts and coaches. To succeed at the tight end position in the NFL, you don’t have to be an elite athlete. McBride probably never will be and that is fine. If he improves his route running to become more purposeful with his cuts, there is a strong chance he is a pro-bowl level performer with all the impressive attributes he possesses.

Trey McBride NFL Comparison

Dallas Goedert

Trey McBride Scouting Report by Justin Trevisani