2019 Scouting Combine Top Performers: Tight end

For our next look at the top performers from the 2019 Scouting Combine, we’ll jump back to the offensive side of the ball and look at the tight ends. Kyle Rudolph has been a fixture at the position for the Minnesota Vikings for years now, but the team could be looking for his replacement and/or someone to complement him in the Vikings’ offense.

The tight end position is becoming more and more important in the NFL, as teams look to create mismatches while spreading out defenses. A lot of the players we saw in Indianapolis this weekend have the ability to do just that. Does that mean that the Vikings will be in the market for one early? It’s hard to tell, but it wouldn’t be that surprising.

Here are the top ten performers at the tight end position for each of the Combine drills. Once again, our numbers come from the NFL.com Workout Tracker.

40-yard dash

• Noah Fant, Iowa - 4.50 seconds
• Caleb Wilson, UCLA - 4.56
• Josh Oliver, San Jose State - 4.63
• Irv Smith, Alabama - 4.63
• Foster Moreau, LSU - 4.66
• Kahale Warring, San Diego State - 4.67
• T.J. Hockenson, Iowa - 4.70
• Alize Mack, Notre Dame - 4.70
• Drew Sample, Washington - 4.71
• Dax Raymond, Utah State - 4.73

Bench press

• Trevon Wesco, West Virginia - 24
• Kendall Blanton, Missouri - 22
• Mack - 22
• Moreau - 22
• Oliver - 22
• Fant - 20
• Isaac Nauta, Georgia - 19
• I. Smith - 19
• Warring - 19
• Keenen Brown, Texas State - 17
• Hockenson - 17
• Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M - 17
• Tommy Sweney, Boston College - 17

Vertical jump

• Fant - 39.5”
• Hockenson - 37.5”
• Moreau - 36.5”
• Warring - 36.5”
• Mack - 36”
• Dawson Knox, Mississippi - 34.5”
• Oliver - 34”
• Sample - 33.5”
• Brown - 33”
• I. Smith - 32.5”

Broad jump

• Fant - 127”
• Hockenson - 123”
• Warring - 122”
• Moreau - 121”
• Mack - 120”
• Brown - 117”
• Oliver - 117”
• Wesco - 117”
• Sample - 115”
• Blanton - 113”
• Sternberger - 113”
• Wilson - 113”

3-cone drill

• Fant - 6.81 seconds
• Hockenson - 7.02
• Kaden Smith, Stanford - 7.08
• Knox - 7.12
• Raymond - 7.15
• Sample - 7.15
• Moreau - 7.16
• Wesco - 7.18
• Sternberger - 7.19
• Wilson - 7.20

20-yard shuttle

• Moreau - 4.11 seconds
• Hockenson - 4.18
• Fant - 4.22
• Warring - 4.25
• Knox - 4.27
• Sample - 4.31
• Sternberger - 4.31
• I. Smith - 4.33
• Mack - 4.34
• Wesco - 4.38

Obviously, the two Iowa guys are going to be at the top of everyone’s list, and at this point I’m not sure which of the two is going to go higher. I’m not sure if either of them would be the best pick for the Vikings at #18, but they certainly would add something to the offense, that’s for sure.

What did everyone think of the tight ends at this year’s Scouting Combine?