Redskins: 3 tight ends to watch at the 2019 NFL Combine
T.J. Hockenson is likely to be the first player off the board at the tight end position. While some may prefer his collegiate teammate Noah Fant, Hockenson is truly a do-it-all player and already has the making of a terrific receiving option at the NFL level.
On tape, Hockenson demonstrates excellent catching ability, as he has soft hands and is a natural when he has the ball. He’s good at finding space and his route running is very solid. He was Iowa’s top target for a reason last year. That pass-catching ability should make him a target of many teams picking early in the first round of this draft.
Hockenson is also a pretty solid blocker, though he was occasionally beaten by stronger and faster players. He’ll need to get a bit stronger at the point of attack, but his technique is certainly there. That will make it easy for him to earn a starting role early in his NFL career.
All Hockenson has to do at the Combine is back up what many saw on tape. He needs to show solid athleticism and continue to stand out in the receiving drills. It wouldn’t hurt either to see him do well in blocking drills and in the bench press, just to show that his foundational strength is very much there.
Next. Scouting Redskins first-round option T.J. Hockenson. dark
Like it or not, the Redskins will and should consider Hockenson if he’s on the board with the 15th pick. They’ll need to keep a close eye on him as a result of that.