2023 Mock Draft Thread

[Boltjolt]

I was adamantly opposed to drafting a tight end early: but i'm starting to warm up to Washington.

I see some Gronk in him: can he track the football as well as Gronk? That's what I want to know.
He seems somewhat capable

He's very raw, but will learn how to use his body more effectively to control defenders and create space, instead of just outmuscling dbs for the ball in the air.
Then he'll get open more readily on deeper patterns. He's never going to be a precise route runner, accelerating out of cuts, etc.
He's no Antonio Gates, he's a Gronk type. He's of course an exceptional blocker.

They could use Kincaid, but he just doesn't offer enough for me.

His 4.71 speed won't get him behind anyone in the NFL (unlike college),
and I don't see much from him other than getting to open spots behind linebackers .... which is nice, and important for tight ends, but not enough.

Nice hands, and nice anticipation of where the ball is going to be,
but his actual route running, beating dbs at the top of his route,
or using his body to create space before the throw - i'm not seeing it.
He's a yac guy in college, but won't be in the pros.

He's 6' 3.5", with 32.5" arms; he's a smaller target than Mwub; he's much slower than Mdub.
He didn't do any vertical test: one would assume it is not very good.
Some NFL corners are actually longer than him and far more explosive to the catch point: he doesn't have a ghost of a chance against them.
He has one year of very good production in college.
How would Pac 10 coordinators prepare to take away what Utah likes doing with him: we'll never know.
He has no experience adjusting to teams taking that stuff away.

Yeah, he can learn how to block adequately by the time of his 2nd contract. But he's inadequate now and a 5th year senior to boot
- so he's had 1 - 2 years more of physical development than other draftees.
He'll always be limited due to his size and straight line speed.
He's not a 1rst rounder to me. He has a solid floor.

Hard pass.

Disagree with nearly all of this.

Gronk ran a 4.68, got by many DBs and LBs. Isn't twitchy in his movements just knows how to run a route and get open.
You don't need blazing speed to get open on seam routes.

Kincaid has very good body control and excellent hands. I don't know what you are looking at.
Did you really watch his tape?
I don't know where you got that 4.71 from either.

He didn't do any run drills because he had a back injury that he played with in the PAC 12 championship game, then had minor surgery. Obviously you didn't know that.

Gronk also had a back injury coming out so don't say that's a red flag. It was reported to be minor.

Kincaid is a ok blocker, won't knock your socks off but he can improve like Gates did who wasn't that great a blocker but improved to average.

One of Kincaids college seasons was during the COVID pandemic where he played 1 game and shut er down.
Slater didn't play even 1 game that year.
He also played 2 season at USD before he went to Utah.

Sorry, I'm throwing your eval in the trashcan.

BTW, Jeremiah moved Kincaid up 2 spots to #9 in his newest top 50, which even I wonder about that.
Sure you can say he is perhaps over valuing him but I'd say he knows what he is looking at better than us.

[SAY OW 55]

Right now, I wouldn't want Washington at #21.
However, i feel he is a better fit with what the Chargers currently have,
and i think he has a higher upside than Kincaid.

On my more dour side, he might be little more than a first rate blocking tight end,
and a reliable safety valve guy.

Kincaid is Everett's replacement.
Two tight ends on the field who can't block next year? All right, let's roll!

Washington is going to be more than a blocking tight end. I’m looking at more upside then Bowers. He can run routes and make plays.when you have a Quarterback like Herbert. This can be special. I’m talking All pro levels. Gronk only played with Brady. But Brady knew where to find him.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

you thought Winslow was a decent blocker? I'd beg to differ, respectfully. he was below average as a blocker. i didnt care.

unless you were talking about blocking PKs in playoff games

'Decent' isn't exactly high praise.

[powderblueboy]

Right now, I wouldn't want Washington at #21.
However, i feel he is a better fit with what the Chargers currently have,
and i think he has a higher upside than Kincaid.

On my more dour side, he might be little more than a first rate blocking tight end,
and a reliable safety valve guy.

Kincaid is Everett's replacement.
Two tight ends on the field who can't block next year? All right, let's roll!

[powderblueboy]

There are about 4/5 TEs in this draft that already do all that.

I only see one who is close to being as physical as Gronk and who can get down field as a threat.
People were pushing Mayer as the next Gronk, i just don't see it.
Not anywhere close to being the physical monster that Gronk was .... Mayer is a completely different animal.

BTW, I'd take a healthy Gronk over Kelce any day.

[powderblueboy]

He just doesn't get enough separation for me. I know he's big and strong and wins more of those contested passes than most but in the first round I want a guy that gets open. If Beachcomber is right and Addison will be there at 21, I'm taking him.

Almost any other year, I'd be taking O'Cyrus but I see more need for playmakers this year. But, I do like O'Cyrus, he's the hard nosed tough guy I like in my Guards.

No he doesn't, but he only needs a bit of space given his enormous size.

He's like a pitcher with a great fastball: he needs to learn to throw one off speed pitch, like a change up.
Washington needs to run routes underneath using his size to pivot and then wall defenders off; he needs to learn how to push off (legally) to create space underneath,
forcing defenders to get closer up in tight quarters. Right now, he just seems to run to spots on underneath or medium routes and turn around.

Once (or if) he learns this and defenders need to work closer to him instead of off him, he'll get more separation, more readily.

[dmac_bolt]

Further... as long as you're bringing Winslow into the conversation...

IMO..... Kellen Winslow was a decent blocker, but not a guy who relished that part of the game. Kellen was probably a better blocker than Gates worked himself up to be, but Winslow is that rare Hall of Famer who didn't possess the Love of Contact that you see in most of the 'greats'.

All of this is a build up to saying that Washington is a WILLING blocker who is already at a level above where either Gates or Winslow ever got. He'd instantly be the best blocking TE the Bolts have had since Brandon Manumaleuna, and a far greater receiving threat and coverage nightmare.

I believe Washington is likely to be there at #21, and than Bijan is NOT. So that's why *EYE* am honking for Washington at #21.

Washington would be an instant 'plus' in the run blocking game, where Dalton Kincaid simply would not be.

I'm casting my ballot early.

you thought Winslow was a decent blocker? I'd beg to differ, respectfully. he was below average as a blocker. i didnt care.

unless you were talking about blocking PKs in playoff games

[La Costa Boy]

Further... as long as you're bringing Winslow into the conversation...

IMO..... Kellen Winslow was a decent blocker, but not a guy who relished that part of the game. Kellen was probably a better blocker than Gates worked himself up to be, but Winslow is that rare Hall of Famer who didn't possess the Love of Contact that you see in most of the 'greats'.

All of this is a build up to saying that Washington is a WILLING blocker who is already at a level above where either Gates or Winslow ever got. He'd instantly be the best blocking TE the Bolts have had since Brandon Manumaleuna, and a far greater receiving threat and coverage nightmare.

I believe Washington is likely to be there at #21, and than Bijan is NOT. So that's why *EYE* am honking for Washington at #21.

Washington would be an instant 'plus' in the run blocking game, where Dalton Kincaid simply would not be.

I'm casting my ballot early.

I was talking about Kellen Moore our new OC!!!!