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MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2019 Draft Kit
It's hard to not get excited about 6-foot-4, 251-pound Jace Sternberger. The tight end from Texas A&M dominated defenses in 2018, playing like a man among boys en route to 832 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 48 receptions. Would you believe over 40 percent of his catches went for at least 20 yards? It's true! The Packers must have been delighted to draft someone with this much upside, but he's got work to do to become a complete tight end. He's not a refined blocker at all and his route-running isn't crisp. But anyone who catches passes from Aaron Rodgers and can match up favorably against slow linebackers is worth a look. A good preseason will put Sternberger on the seasonal Fantasy map, but until then he won't go in those. Instead, expect Sternberger to find a home with a late-round pick in dynasty start-ups and long-term keeper leagues, as well as with a top-20 pick in rookie-only drafts.
At 6-foot-8 and 265 pounds, Steelers draftee Zach Gentry looks more like a power forward than a tight end. But the Michigan product is viewed as a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, making him a dicey Fantasy prospect. He looked okay catching passes for the Wolverines (32 grabs last year) but he's not a tackle-breaker and is unrefined as a route-runner. Worse yet, he's not a strong blocker, which is crazy considering how big he is. This is a project player for the Steelers to develop - if they're successful, he could be insanely good for Fantasy. Target him with one of your final picks in rookie-only drafts and the deepest of long-term formats.
The Bills selected rookie tight end Dawson Knox in the third round of the NFL Draft from Ole Miss, and he could compete for a starting job right away. Tyler Kroft suffered a broken foot in May, and his availability for Week 1 could be in doubt. Knox could start ahead of Jason Croom or Lee Smith, and he has plenty of potential to emerge as a playmaker for Buffalo. That said, Kroft has not been ruled out for the season, so when he returns, he will cut into Knox's playing time. Knox, even as a starter, is not worth drafting in most re-draft leagues. In rookie-only drafts, we like Knox with a late-round pick.
The Texans haven't had an impactful tight end in a while, but San Diego State's Kahale Warring could be it. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds, Warring is a raw but talented prospect. He's fast and good at blocking, but his route-running needs work. Frankly, his whole game needs a lot of coaching, but with basketball-player size and moves and a willingness to learn, he could eventually be a helpful option for the Texans and Fantasy managers. Look for him starting in Round 4 in rookie-only drafts and with a very late pick in long-term formats.
Not only does Josh Oliver offer long-term appeal, but the tight end has a glimmer of hope to produce as soon as 2019 for the Jaguars. At nearly 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Oliver was a reliable target at San Jose State, catching 56 passes as a senior for 709 yards with four scores. His big size meshed with startling speed for a dude as big as he is makes for an intriguing combination. He's unfinished as a blocker and needs to add some nuance in his route-running, but given the lack of competition at tight end in Jacksonville, he could find playing time as soon as this season. Until it's obvious he's the starter, Oliver should only get picked late in long-term formats and in Round 4 of rookie-only drafts.
The Lions needed a versatile tight end in the worst way. They got one in T.J. Hockenson. A two-year starter at Iowa, Hockenson mowed down defenses to the tune of 14.8 yards per catch with nine scores in 26 games while splitting tight end targets with teammate Noah Fant. Among the best all-around skill-position players in the class, Hockenson is a mismatch with his big size and smooth, quick feet. He's got a nice set of hands and is a legitimate blocker. Expect him to start from day one for the Lions and eventually show up in some Pro Bowls. Rookie tight ends tend to disappoint in Fantasy, but if he nets 650 yards and six scores, he'll finish in the top 12. With plenty of targets headed his way, Hockenson can help your team as an early-week streamer (he plays the Cardinals in Week 1), making him an enticing pick in seasonal leagues beginning in Round 10. He'll go about then in long-term formats and will be a top-10 pick in rookie-only drafts.
Drew Sample might have been the second-best blocking tight end in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Bengals wouldn't come out and say he was one-dimensional, but the way they waxed poetic about him after choosing him suggests he's going to come along slowly as a receiver. In 51 games at Washington, he had just 46 catches, 487 yards and five touchdowns. Fantasy owners shouldn't want Sample anywhere near their teams.
The Raiders selected rookie tight end Foster Moreau from LSU in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, and he could compete for a starting job right away. With Jared Cook (New Orleans) gone, Oakland has a need at tight end, with Moreau's main competition expected to come from guys like Darren Waller and Derek Carrier. While we don't expect Moreau to have a prominent role right away, he could be someone to monitor during the season. Don't draft him in most seasonal leagues, and he's only a late-round flier at best in deep rookie-only drafts.
The Broncos selected rookie tight end Noah Fant from Iowa in the first-round of the NFL Draft, and he's expected to be a key contributor on offense right away. Fant is more of a move tight end, but he will likely line up all over the field. And given Joe Flacco's tendency to lean on his tight ends, Fant could have landed in a great situation. We expect Fant to excel even when Drew Lock takes over at quarterback, and Fant is one of the rare rookie tight ends to covet in seasonal leagues. We would only draft him with a late-round pick in most formats - after his Iowa teammate, T.J. Hockenson - but he's worth a first-round pick in rookie-only drafts.
Caleb Wilson was Mr. Irrevelant in this year's NFL Draft from UCLA, and we'll see if he can be the No. 3 tight end in Arizona behind Ricky Seals-Jones and Charles Clay. Don't count on Wilson making many plays as a rookie if he makes the final roster, and he's not worth drafting in any leagues this season.