5 Mid-Round Tight End Options for the Lions
By Matt Urben
The 2017 NFL Draft is finally just a day away and by now, fans have a pretty decent idea of how the first round will go. With that in mind, I decided to look at some positions of need that Detroit could address in the middle rounds. Today, I will examine five potential options at tight end that could be considered on days two and three of the draft.
5). Jordan Leggett – Clemson
Size: 6-foot-6, 258 lbs
Projection: 3rd-4th Round
Analysis: The Clemson product is certainly more Jimmy Graham than Jason Witten, but offers rare athleticism for the position. He’s not known for his blocking, despite having great size. Fans may think of current Lions tight end, Eric Ebron.
However, Leggett is more of a touchdown threat, with seven last season for the National Champion Tigers. Leggett would be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses over the middle. If Detroit doesn’t pick up Ebron’s option, Leggett could be a nice replacement without using a high pick.
4). Jake Butt – Michigan
Size: 6-foot-5, 246 lbs
Projection: 3rd-4th Round
Analysis: Jake Butt has developed into one of the most complete tight ends in the NCAA over the past two seasons. He suffered a knee injury in Michigan’s bowl game, but is reportedly making good progress in his rehab. The injury will certainly cause him to fall a little bit, however, Butt may still end up being the most pro-ready tight end in this entire draft (outside of O.J. Howard).
While he doesn’t have elite size or speed, Butt is solid across the board. He could stand to add some muscle mass and still needs to improve as a run-blocker. Local fans would without a doubt be excited to see Butt in a Lions uniform.
3). Bucky Hodges – Virginia Tech
Size: 6-foot-6, 257 lbs
Projection: 3rd-4th Round
Analysis: Bucky Hodges has been putting up nice numbers since arriving at Virginia Tech. He’s another receiving tight end that leaves something to be desired in the blocking department. However, like Leggett, he was a monster in the red zone (seven touchdowns last season).
Hodges ran an impressive 4.57 40-yard-dash time, which even surprised some scouts. Good size, but a lean frame makes him somewhat one-dimensional. Whatever team lands him, they could be getting a very productive player for years to come. He reminds me a little bit of Martellus Bennett before he added bulk.
2). George Kittle – Iowa
Size: 6-foot-4, 247 lbs
Projection: 4th-6th Round
Analysis: Kittle is one of my favorite tight ends in this draft. He’s deceptively quick, but still extremely strong. The production isn’t there compared to some of the other guys on this list, but he’s a more well-rounded player and Iowa has a run-first offense.
Kittle is one of the better run-blockers on this list. His pedestrian stats, though, may cause him to fall to the fifth or sixth round. He could be a great value if Detroit decides to wait and grab a project-type tight end late. A guy that can block and run as well as Kittle has value in the NFL.
1). Jeremy Sprinkle – Arkansas
Size: 6-foot-5, 252 lbs
Projection: 4th-6th Round
Analysis: Sprinkle is a more traditional tight end. His biggest strength coming from his blocking ability. Sprinkle’s stock isn’t exactly hot, after a mediocre performance at the Senior Bowl and reportedly poor interviews. Yet, the Lions could use another effective pass-blocking tight end.
As a late-round projection, he could be a great value in the sixth round. Sprinkle ran a 4.69 40-yard-dash, which is decent but not great for a tight end. Still, as I mentioned, he’s more of a blocking tight end than a receiving threat. Lions fans would likely be happy with any of these guys over using a first-round pick on David Njoku.
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