Rob Rang’s Top 5 Tight Ends
While Drew Lock understandably has generated most of the attention among the three veterans brought to Seattle as compensation in the Russell Wilson trade, 24-year-old Noah Fant is the freakish talent of the bunch, boasting a blend of size, speed and soft hands that would easily make him the top tight end prospect in this year’s class and among the most gifted players the Seahawks have ever employed at the position. With Fant, Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson all under contract, Seattle may skip this tight end group entirely. That would not be a bad strategy as this year’s class reminds me of the one we saw in 2015 – when the first tight end off the board did not come until No. 55 overall – the longest wait in modern league history at this position.
1. Trey McBride, Colorado State, 4.75 (est.), Second-Third Round
The reigning Mackey Award winner as the nation’s top tight end, McBride was the clear-cut focal point of Colorado State’s offense in 2021, hauling in twice as many passes as his closest teammate with a staggering 90 grabs for 1,121 yards, albeit for just one score. Like most of the rest of this class, McBride lacks eye-popping athleticism, but he’s a savvy, snappy route-runner with soft mitts.
2. Jelani Woods, Virginia, 6-7, 253, 4.61, Third Round
Boasting the most exciting combination of size, strength and speed of this position group, Woods’ perceived upside could push him past McBride as the top tight end in this class. He signed with Oklahoma State as a quarterback and has made exciting improvement as a blocker and receiver since, transferring to Virginia this past year with just 23 career receptions to explode for 44 receptions for 598 yards and eight scores in 11 games, earning All-ACC honors. Woods turned heads at the East-West Shrine Bowl and Combine.
3. Charlie Kolar, Iowa State, 6-7, 252, 4.75 (est.), Third/Fourth Round
If the Cyclones’ star running back, Breece Hall, wasn’t running in touchdowns, Kolar was catching…