Lions 2023 draft: A tight end prospect for every round
Up next in the series of “a prospect for every round” is a position group where Lions fans absolutely want nothing to do with a first-round talent, even though the current roster might reflect tight end as a big need. Detroit’s rather inglorious history of drafting first-round TEs and not having those players finish their rookie contracts with the team. That list includes Brandon Pettigrew, Eric Ebron and T.J. Hockenson, who was traded for a second-round pick in the middle of last season.
The Lions bring back their top three TEs from the end of the 2022 season. Brock Wright, James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra performed well in a more limited usage in the passing game. Mitchell, the Lions’ fifth-round pick a year ago, is a player widely viewed as someone who could take a big step forward with a healthy offseason.
Here is one tight end prospect that fits the Lions from each round of the draft. Detroit doesn’t currently have any picks in the fourth or seventh rounds, but players from those ranges are included because trades happen all the time during the draft weekend.
The purpose here isn’t to advocate for any one player but to give a better idea of the type of talent available at each level of the 2023 NFL draft.
1st round: Dalton Kincaid, Utah
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Kincaid is in the mold of a “supersized wide receiver” as much as he’s a traditional tight end. He’s a very good target in the passing game with a wide catch radius, soft hands and good strength through contact. His route running is NFL-ready, too. It’s easy to mistake him for a top-end wide receiver prospect in watching Kincaid’s game film.
The blocking? Yeah, that’s not what Kincaid does well. Also, he’ll be a 24-year-old rookie and has had some injuries in his five college seasons (two at San Diego, three at Utah).
2nd round: Darnell Washington, Georgia
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Washington is a very large tight end with outstanding athleticism. At 6-foot-7 and nearly 270 pounds, he almost looks like an offensive tackle.
Georgia didn’t use him a lot in the passing game, not with superstar TE Brock Bowers also on the roster. But when given chances, Washington proved fairly capable as a receiver. He’s a monster after the catch, too.
Georgia TE Darnell Washington lights up the Scouting Combine
Washington has all the physical tools to be an excellent in-line blocking TE. Alas, he’s only a sporadically good blocker right now. His technique and balance need considerable work to fulfill his sky-high potential.
3rd round: Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
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Musgrave earns high marks for his athleticism, length and potential as a receiving specialist. It’s almost entirely theoretical, however; he’s played just games of college football and caught only 47 passes for 603 yards in his Beavers career. That’s a below-average NFL season for Eric Ebron.
He’s not a powerful blocker. Like, not at all. He was unimpressive in route running and contested catches during Senior Bowl week, too. So why is Musgrave projected to go in the second or third rounds by just about everyone?
Potential. He’s an impressive athlete with body control, open-field speed and wiggle. When healthy, Musgrave at least gave strong effort as a blocker. He’s the type of prospect that a team with a strong developmental track record on the coaching staff will covet. That makes him fit the Lions’ profile, if they so choose to take the risk.
4th round: Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan
Schoonmaker is a do-it-all kind of tight end that might remind head coach Dan Campbell or TE coach Steve Heiden of their own playing careers. At 6-foot-6, he’s a big target that can reliably chip block and release into a short route or settle in the zone.
Schoonmaker’s blocking strength got a lot better in 2022, a season at Michigan where he also assumed a more prominent role in the passing game. He’s capable of playing inline but also as a move TE or even a giant H-back. The athleticism and dynamism won’t ever wow anyone. Schoonmaker compares favorably to Brock Wright as a similar type of prospect.
5th round: Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion
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Kuntz transferred from Penn State to spend his final two years at Old Dominion and he made a great decision. The 6-foot-7 Kuntz is an impressive receiver capable of making tough catches away from his body. While he doesn’t play to his outstanding Scouting Combine testing, there is some sizzle to his get-off at the line and ability to run away from LBs.
More experience is needed. Kuntz is still a work in progress as both a route-runner and a blocker. He fits the profile that made Shane Zylstra appeal to the Lions, only Kuntz is a higher-end athlete. Worth noting he turns 24 in June, too.
6th round: Payne Durham, Purdue
Durham showed he can perform the tasks the Lions asked of their TEs after the Hockenson trade very well. He’s strong enough to align tight, explode into a chip block and release into a safety valve receiver. Durham has good-not-great feet and uses his body well to present a target in the red zone. He can engage second-level blocking targets and hold his ground.
A fantastic Senior Bowl week hinted at a higher ceiling than Durham showed at Purdue. He’s not a guy who will ever run past a linebacker or safety in coverage, but Durham understands his own game very well.
7th round: Blake Whiteheart, Wake Forest
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Whiteheart is a gritty, try-hard type of tight end who maximizes his limited size and athleticism. He didn’t get a lot of chances to show what he could do as a receiver for the Demon Deacons, but what we saw indicated soft hands and savvy feet.
Whiteheart’s blocking in space is better than inline, but he’s solid at firing off the ball and sealing open a hole long enough for a RB to press through. He has all the trappings of a special teams fixture, too.
