Positional ranking: #2
Big Board ranking: #35
Overview
Position: TE
College: Iowa
Class: Junior (RS)
Age: 21
Measurables
Height: 6’4 3/4″
Weight: 251 lbs.
Arm length: 32 1/4″
Hand size: 9 1/2″
Athletic testing
40-yard dash: 4.70 sec.
Vertical jump: 37.5”
Broad jump: 123.0”
Bench press: 17 reps
3-cone drill: 7.02 sec.
Short shuttle: 4.18 sec.
Strengths
All-around tight end with a throwback play style. Solid frame. Devastating in-line blocker. Excellent on-field demeanor. Tries to drive defenders into oblivion. Gets a good release and stays low at the start of his route. Smooth in space. Can accelerate to create space on corners, crosses, and wheels. Uses physicality at the top of the route. Soft hands. Great focus and body control with the ball in the air. Secures the ball in traffic. Can go to the ground to make grabs. Very patient. Sells his block on play-action passes before running his route. Tough to bring down with the ball in his hands. Played all over the formation for Iowa.
Weaknesses
Doesn’t have a dominant trait as a receiver. Mostly a simple route runner. Could struggle to create consistent separation against NFL defenders. Benefitted from teammate Noah Fant’s presence as a field-stretcher and red-zone threat. Can be overaggressive as a blocker.
NFL comparison
Jeremy Shockey – I don’t think T.J. Hockenson has the rare athleticism/freakiness to be compared to Rob Gronkowski or Travis Kelce, but similar to Shockey, he’s a physical, well-rounded weapon that can make plays in the passing game and move people in the running game.
Conclusion
Overall, T.J. Hockenson’s blocking ability and football character could get him drafted in the top 15, but I’m not sure he will be enough of an impact receiver and/or focal-point to warrant such a selection. That said, Hockenson—who should be a relatively safe prospect—has the potential to be an awesome complimentary piece for an NFL passing attack.
Interesting, I’ve seen in top 15 elsewhere.
I don’t understand why he played over Noah Fant.
Tough player.