2019 NFL Combine Iowa Tight Ends Both Stand Out

Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson & Noah Fant Dominate at Combine

Following their glowing showings at the Combine, it looks like history could be made this year at the Draft. Never before have two Tight Ends (TE) from the same college been drafted in the first round in the same season, however, after this showing both look likely to be snapped up early and one of them going in the top 10 is a distinct possibility.

Their overall performances at the seven main events were as follows:

40 Yard Dash

Fant 4.50 (1st) Hockenson 4.70 (7th). The historical average time for a TE is 4.7.

225lb Bench Press

Fant 20 (6th) Hockenson 17 (11th) Not the best event for either but the top performer Trevon Wesco who pushed out 24 is over a stone heavier than them and that is a big help in this event.

Vertical Jump

Fant 39.5 (1st) Hockenson 37.5 (2nd) well above average and to put this into perspective Georgia’s Issac Nauta who many (myself included) expect to be an NFL starter managed 28 inches.

Broad Jump

Fant 127 (1st) Hockenson 123 (2nd) The average is around 115 and only five players made it over 120.

3 Cone Drill

Fant 6.81 (1st) Hockenson 7.02 (2nd) Agan both looked head and shoulders the best in class. Stanford’s Kaden Smith was the only person near them at 7.08.

20-yard Shuttle

Hockenson 4.18 (2nd) Fant 4.22 (3rd) only beaten by Foster Moreau who was named one of the standout players during the Senior Bowl and has quietly put together a solid combine (our No 3 Tight end in the combine and potentuial riser in the Draft).

60-yard Shuttle

Fant 11.49 (1st) Hockenson 11.55 (2nd) solid 1& 2 again cementing their position as the best two TEs in the Draft.

So where do they go?

Well the most obvious landing spot for at least one of them is Green Bay, who have tried various veterans at the position of late with limited success. They are likely to bring Jimmy Graham back but he is only a stop gap. They have two first-round picks and although one of the Edge Rushers will be in play here depending on how the picks pan out (i.e. no silly moves for QB’s) they might just view one of them as the best still available. If either is still around at pick 30 it’s near impossible to see them passing on them.

New England will need to replace Gronk and with picks to play with thanks to getting 4 compensatory ones including two 3rd rounders they are well placed to trade up from 32 if they see either drift lower. This is likely if the Packers go Edge at 12.

Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to lose Jesse James in free agency, which would leave Vance McDonald as number one – but who is behind him? Picking 20 they may see value in either although the more aggressive blocking style of Hockenson may be more to their liking.

Others possibles:

The Jaguars have sorted their QB situation thanks to the Nick Foles acquisition and although OL is a priority, the superior blocking skills of Hockenson may appeal given they like to run the ball. However, they may view pick 7 as too high.

The other obvious destination is Detroit who sorely missed Eric Ebron last year. They may make a move in Free Agency (calling Jesse James) but taking the plunge at 8 is a strong possibility, given they took Ebron at 10 back in 2014.

Right now in our too early draft thoughts, we have The Packers trading up from 30 to take Fant and the Lions taking Hockinson. The NFC North would be fun to watch this season if that comes true.

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