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Redskins: First-round prospects the team is most likely to select at each position

By Jacob Camenker

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 8: D.K. Metcalf #14 of the Mississippi Rebels catches a pass for a touchdown during a game against the Southern Illinois Salukis at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Salukis 76-41. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 8: D.K. Metcalf #14 of the Mississippi Rebels catches a pass for a touchdown during a game against the Southern Illinois Salukis at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Salukis 76-41. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 13: T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs for a touchdown against the Indiana Hossiers at Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 13: T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs for a touchdown against the Indiana Hossiers at Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa

Taking a tight end at the 15th spot may seem like a bit of a reach, but there is a lot of talent at the position in this draft class. The position has excellent depth but also has a few top-end talents who could emerge as true playmakers and matchup nightmares at the NFL level.

One of those players is T.J. Hockenson. The Iowa tight ends in this draft will certainly be jockeying for draft position in 2019, but it seems possible that Hockenson and his teammate Noah Fant will be the top two off the board at the position. That said, I slightly prefer Hockenson’s skill set, and he appears to be a player on the rise.

Hockenson is a very good blocker with a well-built 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame. He also had a great season at Iowa last year, catching 49 passes for 760 yards and six scores. He’s simply a well-rounded player that comes from a school that has produced some successful tight ends in the past 20 years. For that reason, he should definitely be considered one of the strongest tight end options in the class.

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For the NFL, Hockenson has upside in the mold of Rob Gronkowski. He’s not nearly as polished as Gronk was coming out of school, but Hockenson has the potential to be a top player at his position. So, grabbing him in the top-15 wouldn’t be considered a reach.

Taking a TE might seem like a bit of a luxury for Washington, but the fact is that Jordan Reed is injury prone and the team needs to add more receiving talent anyway. Hockenson would be a starter along with Reed and the duo could become a couple of matchup nightmares over the middle of the field. Plus, Hockenson would be a versatile weapon as a run blocker, too.

In short, if you’re comfortable with the ‘Skins taking a wide receiver in Round 1, you should be comfortable with them taking a tight end as well. If the value is there, adding another receiving weapon wouldn’t be a bad thing for the offense.

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