2020 NFL Draft: Top 20 tight end prospect rankings and analysis

The final grouping of tight end prospects for the 2020 NFL Draft are a little lower on my board for a variety of reasons. Whether they are very limited in what they bring to the table, are a questionable fit as a true tight end or they are extremely time and will need a lot of time to develop, these guys I would take in the later rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft, if they are selected at all.

11. Stephen Sullivan, LSU

There isn’t a whole lot of tape out there of Stephen Sullivan because he didn’t really play that much for a very talented LSU team. But from what I did watch, there is a lot of potential for Sullivan as a flex tight end and big slot receiver.

If he wants to be an every-down tight end, he will still need to bulk up a bit, but he is an effective blocker already. Even lining up at tight end, Sullivan can hold his own as a run blocker. He engages well and holds his own. Out in space, Sullivan is a very effective blocker, opening up screens and other short plays for bigger results.

With a background as a receiver, that is clearly where Sullivan excels. He still lined up a lot both outside and in the slot, especially with so many LSU blowouts this year. He isn’t the greatest route runner but he has great ball skills. Sullivan is worth a selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, especially if a team can afford to give him some time to continue to develop into his new role.

12. Jacob Breeland, Oregon

Jacob Breeland is a very good receiving tight end, who is effective out of the slot as well. Breeland has very good ball skills and appears to have good speed for a tight end, but was unable to back up his play speed with a fast 40 yard dash at the combine due to a season-ending injury suffered in October.

He is a great target in the red zone and has great hands (you have to in order to catch the rockets thrown by Justin Herbert). He is a good route runner with a solid release and impressive burst into space. He’s very effective on wheel/fade routes that allow him to break towards the sideline and then turn upfield to make a play.

As a blocker, Breeland’s play is more effort-based than effective. He is usually able to get his hands on his defender, but he is very stagnant, often allowing his guy to break through and make the tackle. If he can prove he’s healthy and improve as a run blocker, Breeland could develop into a starting tight end in the NFL.

13. Charlie Taumoepeau, Portland State

Charlie Taumopeau is fantastic with the ball in his hands. He isn’t overly fast but he is shifty, elusive and arm tackles by small defensive backs will not bring him down. Lining up outside as a receiver frequently at Portland State, Taumoepeau has a good release off the line of scrimmage and decent suddenness at the stem of his routes.

But he is also a capable run blocker when he does line up inside and could play at multiple spots across the field. There isn’t a whole lot of tape out there of Charlie Taumoepeau, but from what I was able to find I saw a lot of potential. He has dealt with some injuries that past couple seasons, so he will have to prove that he is and can stay healthy, but with some time to grow and develop he could be a solid contributor at the next level.

14. Mitchell Wilcox, USF

Unlike most “tight ends” in the 2020 NFL Draft, Mitchell Wilcox actually lined up as a tight end on the end of the line the majority of the time. He was actually used rather frequently as a blocker, where he proved to be very capable.

He is good at getting a clean release out of his tight end spot and has good wiggle at the stem of his route to come open. His production was a bit iffy throughout his time at USF, but he suffered from some poor quarterback play, definitely not getting the ball as much as he was open.

Down the field, Wilcox tracks the ball fairly well and has decent, but not great, ball skills. He doesn’t do a whole lot with the ball in his hands, but makes up for it with most of his receptions coming farther down the field than most tight ends. Wilcox has a high floor as a reliable back-up tight end who is a solid blocker and a capable target down the field.

15. Colby Parkinson, Stanford

Colby Parkinson is not a tight end. He very, very rarely put his hand in the ground and stayed attached to the line. Parkinson primarily lined up as an outside receiver and often in the slot. He made nearly all of his big plays and scored nearly all his touchdowns lined up outside against a smaller corner, allowing him to use his 6-foot-7 height to go up and grab the “rebound” above his shorter defender or his 250 lb frame to shield the smaller defender away from the ball.

Now I’m certainly not saying that Parkinson can’t be used in a similar way and have similar success at the next level. He has great ball skills and knows how to use his size to his advantage. He just is not a true tight end or really an every-down player, at least early in his pro career. Parkinson has a role as a mismatch on the outside in the red zone or down the field against smaller defensive backs.

16. Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech

Dalton Keene is a block-first swiss army knife who lines up in multiple positions across the field. Whether he is lined up on the end of the line or somewhere in the backfield, Keene hangs his hat on his run blocking ability. He is a very willful blocker regardless of his opponent, churning his legs and running his feet to drive them back. He is even more effective when in the backfield as a fullback, allowing him to get a bit of a running start into the hole.

As a receiver, Keene isn’t really a downfield threat, mostly making an impact on check and release flat routes. He is very effective with the ball in his hands with good contact balance and toughness that he uses as a blocker. Keene is a versatile tight end/H-back type of player who should be able to contribute early in his career if he is drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.

17. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt

Jared Pinkney is a very solid tight end prospect. He is a very effective run blocker and excels in a check and release role in the pass game. He is very slow and isn’t a great route runner, so he isn’t overly effective down the field. But he has solid hands and is a tough runner with the ball in his hands.

His production has been up and down in his time at Vanderbilt with his numbers being best his junior year. Pinkney isn’t really anything special but is a reliable depth option at tight end at the next level.

18. Giovanni Ricci, Western Michigan

Giovanni Ricci has a history at wide receiver, and it shows on tape. He lines up in the slot a lot, even after his switch to tight end, and is a very talented route runner. He usually gets a very good release and has impressive shiftiness at the top of his routes. He has good hands with speed to be a mismatch against linebackers and the size to be a mismatch against defensive backs.

He is willing to throw his hat into the run blocking ring, and doesn’t do half bad. But he will need to continue to bulk up if he wants to be a tight end at the next level and would benefit from some time to fully develop into his new role coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft.

19. Joey Magnifico, Memphis

Joey Magnifico is a very fiery player with a very high motor. As a blocker, he is more willing than effective, but he gives his all every snap which is always a plus. He really excels as a blocker when he is out in space, often lining up in trips and blocking on screens.

He has pretty good ball skills and is decent with the ball in his hands after the catch. He is a good route runner with some suddenness at the stem of his route to get himself some space.

He was not super productive at Memphis so he will likely have to prove himself on special teams before earning a significant role on offense, but he is a player that should thrive in that sort of situation with his toughness and competitiveness.

20. Charlie Woerner, Georgia

Charlie Woerner’s incredible lack of production as a receiver leads me to believe that he is destined for a blocking tight end/special teamer role in the NFL, should he make it. But that is a role that he may excel in, with a very high motor and competitive toughness exuded play after play.

He is always taking it to defenders in the run game, often pulling and becoming a lead blocker for his back. That grit is always something that works well on special teams, so Woerner will have to work his way onto an NFL roster, but is more than capable of doing so in that capacity.