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2022 NFL draft: Trey McBride scouting report

An ultra-productive weapon who exploded onto the scene last season, Colorado State’s Trey McBride will look to make that same impact at the next level as he enters the 2022 NFL draft.

Here is everything you need to know about the Rams’ talented tight end prospect:

Vitals

Height: 6-4

Weight: 246

Class: Senior

Strengths

McBride is excels in route running, getting in and out of his breaks quickly and with fluid technique, creating great separation for a tight end. His ability to separate made him a serious matchup problem in the Mountain West, as he racked up over 1,100 yards on 90 catches last year. McBride has strong hands that power through contested catches, and he never seemed to have an issue with focus drops.

After the catch is where McBride shines the brightest. A physical and punishing runner, he refuses to go down on first contact, keeping his feet churning and bursting through tackles. CSU used him in a variety of ways to take advantage of his physical running style, with screens and short outs to showcase his YAC ability.

As a blocker, McBride shows a natural feel, more so in the run game as he seems to thoroughly enjoy sticking his face into a blocker and driving the defender backwards. He clearly takes pride in his blocking, though his technique still needs some refinement.

Weaknesses

While being a willing and physical blocker, McBride needs to work on the fundamentals of that role. He let a few too many defenders slip past him on outside runs going his way, and he needs to focus on keeping his hands inside the defender and leveraging them instead of driving them blindly.

McBride only had one touchdown in 2021, and that certainly jumps out in a confusing way. His length is not ideal for a tight end either, and could partially explain the lack of red-zone production. NFL teams will have to work around those physical limitations, and hope his scoring production can change at the next level.

Projection

McBride will be viewed by many as the top tight end in this class, with enough experience and production to trust right away in the starting lineup, regardless of scheme. He’ll need to improve his blocking, but his receiving ability and grit will be tempting early in the draft. He may not crack the first round, but he won’t last long on Day 2.

Projection: Top 50

Story originally appeared on Draft Wire