Simply who’s the highest tight finish within the 2022 NFL Draft class?

It says one thing about this class that you just would possibly get a totally completely different reply to that query relying on which evaluator you ask. That isn’t to say that this can be a weak tight finish class — it has the potential to supply a number of good tight ends. However fairly, there isn’t a consensus “TE-1” who clearly dominates the rankings and particular person evaluators will worth completely different traits.

There are athletic receiving tight ends, highly effective blocking tight ends, and some “full” tight ends who can do every thing fairly effectively.

Washington’s Cade Otton is a kind of “full” tight ends, and he has an opportunity to be the primary tight finish drafted. Otton has good dimension, good athleticism, receiving upside, and is an skilled blocker.

Contemplating we don’t know simply how the New York Giants plan on utilizing their tight finish place, may a “full” tight finish like Otton enchantment? In spite of everything, they’ve a particular want on the place after parting methods with their prime three from a yr in the past.

Prospect: Cade Otton (87)
Video games Watched: vs. Montana (2021), vs. Michigan (2021), vs. UCLA (2021), vs. Oregon (2021)
Pink Flags: Foot (2021)

Measurables

Profession Stats

Video games Performed: 31

Receptions: 91
Yards (YPC): 1,026 (11.3 per catch)
Complete Touchdowns: 9

2021 Stats

Video games Performed: 8

Receptions: 28
Yards (YPC): 250 (8.9 per catch)
Complete Touchdowns: 1

Fast Abstract

Finest: Measurement, blocking, go catching, versatility, toughness
Worst: Prime-level athleticism, consistency
Projection: A quantity two tight finish with the upside to be a starter with improvement.

Sport Tape

Full Report

Washington’s Cade Otton has a very good mix of dimension, athleticism, and flexibility to play the tight finish place on the NFL stage.

Otton possesses a prototypical body for a “full” tight finish at 6-foot-5, 247 kilos with 32 ¾ inch arms and 9 ½ inch arms. That body, mixed with good athleticism and nice play energy enable Otton to be a dependable contributor as a blocker and receiver in Washington’s offense. He lined up as each an in-line tight finish in a three-point stance, a indifferent tight finish, and flexed out to the slot place.

Otton was additionally sometimes flexed out huge as a large receiver, although that was normally to be a blocker for receiver screens out of bunch units.

Otton is a usually dependable receiving possibility. He will get into his routes with little wasted movement and is efficient when requested to chip earlier than releasing. Whereas Otton wasn’t requested to run a very various route tree, he ran his routes effectively. He understands coverages effectively sufficient to bend his routes away from defenders downfield and did a very good job of discovering voids in protection. Otton has an enormous body and a equally giant catch radius, which he used to good impact. He’s bodily on the catch level and is ready to use his body to field out defenders.

Otton was primarily used as a blocker in Washington’s offense and appeared to relish the function. He performs with nice toughness and aggression as a blocker, no matter whether or not it was a operating or passing play. He blocks with good leverage and method, usually holding low hips and pads whereas making an attempt to realize defenders’ chest plates. Otton is able to creating motion on the line of scrimmage and understands angles effectively sufficient to make use of his body to seal off operating lanes.

Washington often requested Otton to match up in opposition to EDGE defenders and he was in a position to mirror their pace and anchor well-enough in opposition to energy. He’s a really robust blocker who works to maintain his blocks via the echo of the whistle and appears for work when he doesn’t have anybody to dam.

Otton is a succesful pull blocker and has sufficient athleticism to be an efficient blocker in house – each on the second stage and on display screen passes.

Whereas Otton is a stable athlete, he lacks elite athletic traits. He’s fast in a brief space and has satisfactory lengthy pace, however isn’t going to be operating away from defenses. Likewise, he struggles to create separation as a receiver when matched up in man protection. Otton may also lack consistency when catching the ball. He usually has good mechanics, however can see the ball look off his arms for seemingly no cause. Otton’s route tree was additionally restricted by NFL requirements and will use some improvement.

General Grade: 7.6

Projection

Washington tight finish Cade Otton initiatives as a very good quantity 2 tight finish early in his profession, and has the potential to grow to be a beginning tight finish with some improvement.

Otton has the traits and talent set to be a “full” tight finish on the NFL stage who by no means wants to return off the sector. Each group within the NFL needs to be focused on Otton, contemplating that 11-personnel is the de facto “base” offense for the NFL. He has the flexibility to dam like an additional offensive lineman whereas additionally contributing as a receiving possibility.

Otton is a extra superior blocker than receiver proper now – one thing of an anomaly for a extremely graded tight finish prospect at the moment. That stated, his go catching ought to come alongside properly with some improvement. Otton might by no means grow to be an enormous play risk as a receiver, however creating a extra various route tree and larger consistency as a go catcher ought to make him a stable “starter”.

Even when Otton doesn’t develop as a receiver, he’s adequate that he generally is a prime quality “quantity two” tight finish who isn’t strictly a blocker in a 12-personnel set.