It’s no secret that the Tennessee Titans’ offense needs a lot of help at the moment. Most people focus on the obvious holes out wide and along the offensive line, but the tight end position can’t be forgotten completely.
Yes, the Titans already have a budding star in Chig Okonkwo, but the team also has to ensure it has someone who can adequately complement his explosive skill set.
The team signed Trevon Wesco earlier this offseason to help out with the blocking aspect of their offense, but that’s hardly the type of addition that would prevent Tennessee from drafting someone they’re interested in.
This article is going to discuss one realistic tight end for each round of the draft in which the Titans have a pick. Tennessee has a pick in every round except the fourth.
We already covered the wide receiver position on Wednesday, and we will be doing the same concept going forward for each major position of need until they have all been covered.
This tight end group is considered one of the best crops in quite some time, so let’s dive right into it and see which prospects could be potential targets for the Titans throughout draft weekend.
Round 1: Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
If the Titans want what is essentially a big slot receiver, Utah’s Dalton Kincaid is the guy to take here. However, if that is the team’s desire, then why not just take one of the actual slot receivers in this class instead?
If Tennessee wants the best all-around tight end in the class, Michael Mayer is undoubtedly the one to target. The former All-American is one of the most complete tight end prospects to enter the league in quite some time.
Mayer is a physical blocker in the run game who also possesses some of the best ball skills in this class regardless of position.
The Notre Dame product is a bona fide No. 1 tight end in any offense that selects him, which is why it’s hard to see a team like the Titans investing a premium pick on him, especially when you consider all of the other holes throughout the offense.
Nonetheless, if Tennessee decides to throw a curve ball and go tight end in Round 1, Mayer would be the most impactful three-down player of the bunch.
Round 2: Darnell Washington, Georgia
There is no denying that someone with Darnell Washington’s skill set would thrive in an offense like the Titans’; however, whether or not he’s worth being the No. 41 overall pick is certainly debatable.
Not because his talent doesn’t warrant it or anything of that nature, but because anyone who watched Titans football in 2022 knows Okonkwo is more than ready to carry the load atop the depth chart for the foreseeable future.
Yes, the Titans could undoubtedly use a dominant run-blocking tight end to complement Okonkwo, but they have holes all across their wide receivers room and at left guard/tackle.
Those areas should be the priority right now instead of taking what is essentially a luxury piece to an offense that isn’t in position for one.
Putting that aside for now, Washington would be the type of tight end who would immediately impact the run game the second he arrives. The massive 6-foot-7, 264-pound tight end is physical at the point of attack, and he imposes his will on the opposition every chance he gets.
He also provides sneaky upside as a pass-catcher, as he’s often too explosive for most linebackers and too big for most defensive backs.
Should the Titans add Washington to their offense, their 12-personnel package has the potential to be among the best in the league.
Therefore, if the board doesn’t work out in their favor when it comes to their main priorities, you can’t blame them if they decide to take the physically imposing tight end out of Georgia.
Round 3: Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
The third round is where I personally believe tight end becomes a realistic option, and Tucker Kraft would be a fantastic prospect to bet on at this point in the draft.
Kraft dominated his level of competition, often looking like the most physical and talented player on the football field. The athletic tight end broke 25 tackles on 102 catches across the past two seasons, totaling 1,118 yards and nine touchdowns in the process.
The South Dakota State product would likely go through some expected growing pains early on in his career, but he has tons of untapped potential and long-term upside.
Round 5: Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion
Zack Kuntz is one of the most athletic tight end prospects to ever enter the draft. According to his Relative Athletic Score, Kuntz is one of four tight ends since 1987 to receive a perfect 10 for his athletic profile.
Despite being very raw, that type of profile is the type of project that teams love to work on. Kuntz offers some real upside as a pass-catcher, he’s 6-foot-7, weighs 255 pounds, and runs a 4.55 40-yard dash, while also having a 40-inch vertical.
The Old Dominion product’s overall game needs a lot of fine-tuning at the moment, but there is a lot to work with if you’re patient with his development.
Round 6: Payne Durham, Purdue
Payne Durham is an underrated tight end prospect in this draft class who could ultimately get pushed down to the later rounds due to the talent at the top of this position group.
The Purdue product would be a fantastic complement to a true alpha atop the depth chart.
Durham has the size and willingness to be an impactful blocker in the run game, but he will have to improve his overall play strength in order to reach his full potential. He’s also been a relatively reliable pass-catcher when targeted and is capable of playing through contact.
Once Durham gets physically stronger and more technically sound, he has the potential to be an integral piece to any offense.
Round 7: Brayden Willis, Oklahoma
Brayden Willis is one of my personal favorite late-round options for the Titans.
There’s a chance that Tennessee could get him as an undrafted free agent, but rather than dealing with the UDFA madness, the Titans could avoid all that by selecting him in Round 7.
Willis is consistently impressive in the run game, finishing the last two seasons with an average run-blocking grade of 82.25, per Pro Football Focus. He’s also experienced in zone and gap schemes, totaling 439 gap-blocking snaps and 373 zone-blocking snaps over his entire college career.
The Oklahoma product would likely compete for the third tight end spot, but he could provide some sneaky No. 2 upside in the run game if he ends up developing faster than expected.
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