-2023 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2023 Draft Kit
It's important to note that the best bets at tight end are the prospects who carry over elite athletic traits to the NFL versus production. Woods fits that billing with 4.61 speed, elite size (6-foot-7, 265 pounds) and a massive catch radius (98th percentile). Add that to a few flashes as a rookie, including a 98-yard performance in Week 12, and you have the profile of a tight end worth gambling on with your last-round pick if you don't invest early in the position.
Otton has some sleeper appeal in 2023 after the Buccaneers got rid of Cameron Brate this offseason. Otton had a quietly productive rookie season with 391 yards and two touchdowns on 42 receptions. The quarterback situation and passing game overall is risky, but Otton could have weekly streamer appeal if he takes a step forward in his development.
McBride started the final eight games of the season and struggled like most rookie tight ends do. He only averaged 30 yards per game, though he did flash in Week 17 with seven catches for 78 yards and a score. McBride was a truly elite producer in college with a rare 1,100-yard season in his final year at Colorado State. So he is a strong hold in Dynasty leagues, with the expectation he will eventually be a starter. But it will be hard to roster him in redraft leagues as long Zach Ertz is ahead of him on the depth chart. If something happens to move McBride atop the depth chart, expect him to move into our top 15.
After three injury-plagued seasons in Minnesota, Smith will get a shot to put up big numbers in the Bengals offense. He's underwhelmed over his career, averaging a meek 9.4 yards per catch with nine touchdowns in 37 games. He's seen five or more targets just nine times, and he's never had more than 64 yards in a game. The bottom line is that Smith is a touchdown-or-bust tight end in an offense with a number of quality targets at Joe Burrow's disposal. Smith isn't worth a draft pick but could be worth a look off waivers when faced with a good matchup this year.
A second-round pick, LaPorta is expected to start right away in the Lions offense and contribute much in the same way T.J. Hockenson did. In seven games before he was traded last year, Hockenson averaged 6.1 targets per game, but caught only 3.7 per for 56.4 yards on average and three scores. That came out to an average of 12.2 PPR points per game, which isn't far off from Hockenson's 11.7 PPR points per game in 2021. Unfortunately, LaPorta isn't a replica of Hockenson -- he was a strong tight end for Iowa but only scored once over 58 receptions in 2022 and totaled five touchdowns while averaging 11.7 yards per catch over 46 career games. LaPorta is agile, but not fast, so he'll need really good volume to make an impact. Typically rookie tight ends do not make an impact, plus the Lions offense will be more explosive than ever this year. Don't get too excited about LaPorta -- he's worth a late-round flier at best in seasonal leagues but does have long-term appeal in rookie-only drafts after 15th overall.
The Bills traded up in the first round of the NFL Draft to select Kincaid from Utah at No. 25 overall. While he's listed as a tight end, the expectation is the Bills will use Kincaid as a big slot receiver. He's worth drafting in all redraft leagues with a late-round pick as a low-end starting option. In rookie-only drafts for Dynasty leagues, Kincaid is worth a first-round pick. He will likely be a big part of Buffalo's passing game along with Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis and Dawson Knox, and that's a good thing since Kincaid is associated with Josh Allen. At Utah, Kincaid finished 2022 with 70 catches, 890 yards and eight touchdowns, and he could be a standout playmaker in the NFL. While he might struggle as a rookie tight end given the history of the position, he still has the potential to succeed in a big way given his expected role and his quarterback.