2019 NFL Draft: TJ Hockenson the first skill player off the board?

Iowa Hawkeyes tight end TJ Hockenson won the Mackey Award as a redshirt sophomore, and could now be the top skill player selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.

TJ Hockenson spent three years with the Iowa Hawkeyes football program, but only two where he got work on the field on Saturdays.

In those two years, he rapidly established himself as one of the most reliable pass catching threats on the team and one of the best and most complete tight end prospects in the entire country.

Hockenson’s game is well-rounded. He’s a phenomenal pass catcher but he’s more than just an outlet for the quarterback. He’s a mismatch with his length, route running ability, and athleticism.

Hockenson is also more than just a ‘capable’ blocker. This is a player who buries edge defenders and linebackers in the dirt. He’s not a gimmick and he’s not just the ‘latest’ to come out of Iowa, also known as ‘Tight End U’.

This player looks like a true star at the NFL level, especially after his sophomore season where he caught 49 passes for 760 yards (15.5 yards per catch) and six touchdowns.

Over the past two seasons, he has nine touchdown grabs and 73 catches in total while averaging 15 yards per catch.

Every time this guy touches the ball, it’s a big play. Every eighth time he touches the ball, it’s a touchdown.

It hasn’t been two years yet, but Hockenson is the most impressive all-around tight end I’ve scouted since OJ Howard at Alabama in 2017. Howard was more developed physically but didn’t have the efficiency on a per-catch basis as Hockenson, at least in terms of scoring the ball.

Hockenson’s ceiling is incredibly high at the next level, and as smart of a player as he is already, it would be fitting for him to be one of the top skill position players on offense selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. Dane Brugler of The Athletic seems to think there’s a chance he’s going to be picked before any other running back, wide receiver, or tight end, including his teammate Noah Fant.

If that were the case, Hockenson’s decision to declare early will prove to be an even smarter one than it initially appeared. Even a player with the experience, size, and athleticism of OJ Howard didn’t go until the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. To see Hockenson go in the top 10 would be a bit of a shock, but would also make some sense.

There are teams picking in and around the top 10 who need players who can help their young quarterbacks. Hockenson would be a fantastic selection for a team like Buffalo who needs help surrounding Josh Allen on that side of the ball, or even if the Jets move down in the order.