Seahawks Draft: Ranking TE Prospects - Another Weapon for 3-Headed Attack?

The presence of three quality veterans makes tight end less of a short-term need, but the Seattle Seahawks may still want to capitalize on a strong class at the position. Reporter Corbin Smith ranks tight end prospects, including ascending talents in Iowa's Sam LaPorta and South Dakota State's Tucker Kraft.

With less than two weeks remaining until the 2023 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks will soon be on the clock with the fifth overall pick and hold 10 total selections, presenting a prime opportunity to bolster their roster with young talent.

In the present, few teams have better depth and overall talent at tight end than the Seahawks, who will welcome back starters Noah Fant and Will Dissly as well as rising fourth-year player Colby Parkinson from last year's playoff squad. But with Fant and Parkinson both scheduled to be free agents next March, the team may be proactive upgrading depth in the draft with an eye towards the future, taking advantage of a deep draft class at the position.

As part of my annual prospect rankings, here's where each of the top tight end prospects from the 2023 class falls on my top 300 with quick scouting reports and reported visits with the Seahawks if applicable.

*Players are listed in order by position with overall ranking in parenthesis.

Tier 1 - First-Round Talent

© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

1 (16). Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

Athletically, Mayer doesn't possess the same traits as previous top picks at the position such as Kyle Pitts. But while he may not have top-tier speed, he's a crisp route runner who moves well out of his breaks, allowing him to consistently get open whether working down the seam or dominating in the middle of the field with crossers, curls, and dig patterns. He's also the best pure blocker in this class, bringing a blue collar mentality to the trenches and functioning at times like an extra offensive linemen. Even if he wasn't flashy at the combine, he should be an immediate star.

Tier 2 - Second/Third-Round Talent

2 (39). Darnell Washington, Georgia

Offering rare size at 6-7, 264 pounds, Washington presents a unique athletic profile with elite change of direction skills and burst, though those traits didn't translate to much production as a pass catcher in college. He only caught 45 passes in college, but he has reliable hands and with improvements as a route runner, he could be much more effective in that capacity in the pros. An imposing presence at the line of scrimmage, his blocking will also appeal to teams that want to run the ball. While less refined than Mayer, he could have a higher ceiling as an early day two selection.

3 (48). Dalton Kincaid, Utah

The best move tight end from a deep class, Kincaid creates major matchup nightmares for opposing secondaries thanks to his excellent quickness and sharp route running proficiency. He can line up outside or in the slot, possessing too much speed for bigger safeties and presenting size problems for smaller cornerbacks while becoming a viable weapon after the catch. He won't be a good fit for teams seeking a quality inline blocker and he does have an injury history, but teams coveting a glorified third receiver and red zone dynamo will love him.

© George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

4 (52). Sam LaPorta, Iowa

Reported Visit: Virtual

While LaPorta rarely sniffed the end zone playing for a struggling offense, he caught over 100 passes in his final two seasons and averaged six yards after the catch per reception in 2022. Along with having enough athleticism to stress defenses down the seam, he's difficult to bring down with the ball in his hands and creates missed tackles in bunches. He will need to get a bit stronger in the run blocking department, but he plays with the right mentality to excel as an inline blocker and should vie for starting reps sooner rather than later.

5 (66). Luke Musgrave, Oregon State

An athletic Y-tight end who can make plays downfield as a receiver and hold up as a blocker in the trenches, Musgrave will be a bit more of a projection for teams than other top prospects at the position. He only started 13 games for the Beavers and caught just 11 passes in his final collegiate season. But in a limited sample size, the 250-pound tight end exhibited the ability to get open down the seam and on crossing routes and after testing well, he has a chance to hear his name called as early as the second round.

6 (78). Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State

A premier talent heralding from the FCS, Kraft checks off numerous boxes teams covet at tight end in today's NFL. At 254 pounds, he's build to handle the rigors of traditional Y tight end work at the line of scrimmage and he has quality athletic traits that should translate to being able to separate and get open at the next level. Like any FCS prospect, he will have a steeper learning curve going against NFL talent and will need to add a bit more muscle to hold up as a blocker, but the sky may be the limit for him in a 12-personnel heavy offense.

Tier 3 - Day Three/Undrafted Talent

7 (106). Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan

In the run blocking department, the 251-pound Schoonmaker exhibits excellent footwork, hand usage, and physicality at the point of attack and played a key role in opening up run lanes last season for Blake Corum in Ann Arbor. From that standpoint, he's ready to contribute on day one. But despite having intriguing athleticism, he will be a project as a receiver who needs to learn to better utilize his size and length to win contested catches and be a factor in the middle of the field. If he shores up that issue, he could be a quality No. 1 tight end for years to come.

8 (148). Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion

A former high jump and hurdles state champion in high school, Kuntz stands 6-7 with room to add mass to his frame without compromising his immense athletic gifts. He wasn't asked to block as an in-line tight end often in college and when he did, opponents consistently bullied him and he will need to hit the weight room hard to develop in that regard. Still, his off the charts athleticism and receiving potential would make him an intriguing day three flier with starter upside as a move tight end.

9 (166). Brenton Strange, Penn State

Unpolished fundamentally, Strange can let his hands slip outside as a blocker and play with a narrow base, setting himself up for potential penalty issues at the next level. But those are correctable flaws and he plays with ferocity when tasked with blocking bigger defensive ends or quicker linebackers, a redeeming quality teams will love. He's also a steadily improving receiver and while he didn't test well at the combine, he moves sufficiently enough at 253 pounds to develop into a good No. 2 tight end.

© Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

10 (176). Payne Durham, Purdue

One of the fastest risers in the 2023 draft class, Payne proved to be a pain for opponents to cover in the Big Ten, breaking out with 54 receptions for 550 yards and eight touchdowns, tied for the second-most by a tight end in the country. Providing reliable hands, he blocked better than expected at the Senior Bowl, a positive sign for his prospects. Subpar athletic testing may put a limit on his potential as a receiver, but he could be a mid-day three pick ready to contribute immediately.

11 (203). Josh Whyle, Cincinnati

A plus-athlete at 6-6, 248 pounds, Whyle uses his size to his advantage high-pointing the football versus smaller defenders, particularly in the red zone. He's not stout at the point of attack as an inline blocker, but he consistently brings maximum effort and performs better as a blocker in space as an H-back or slot. He will need to add muscle to his frame to become an all-around tight end in the league, but with proper development, he could be a quality No. 2 option.

12 (212). Davis Allen, Clemson

Putting up modest production as a receiver for the Tigers, the 6-6 Allen has a propensity for making dazzling highlight reel grabs on jump balls and dominates in contested catch situations. But his overall numbers weren't great in part because he has persistent issues separating from defenders and his average athletic profile suggests he will continue to have that problem at the next level. He puts in a decent effort as a blocker and could help on special teams as a third tight end in the NFL.

13 (232). Cameron Latu, Alabama

While lacking the sand in his britches to be a regular inline blocker at 242 pounds, Latu offsets that deficiency with sound technique blocking as an H-back or out of the backfield, giving him some formational flexibility in certain schemes. He surprises with his ability to occasionally win downfield as a receiver and generated more chunk plays than expected, but he's likely to be only a chain mover in the intermediate game without any redeeming athletic qualities as a reserve tight end in the league.

14 (242). Daniel Barker, Michigan State

Seldomly used in the pass game for most of his college career, Barker showed marked improvements as a route runner and receiver during his senior season, exhibiting intriguing movement skills and understanding for getting open against different coverages. At 241 pounds, he's not strong enough currently to count on as an inline blocker who can sustain blocks, but with added mass, he could develop into a quality third tight end with some special teams value.

15 (261). Will Mallory, Miami

A standout at the Senior Bowl, Mallory's smooth athleticism and flashes as receiver with after-the-catch capabilities will stand out to some teams as a move tight end. With that said, he struggled reeling in contested catches and doesn't offer much versatility with major strength and technique limitations as a run blocker whether inline or as an H-back. In the right scheme, he may find work as a situational pass catcher, but run blocking and lack of flexibility could hurt him trying to stick around.

Previous Positional Rankings

Defensive Tackle | Quarterback | EDGE/Defensive End | Center | Linebacker | Receiver | Cornerback | Running Back | Safety

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