Overview
Position: Tight End
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 255 pounds
School: Dayton Flyers
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.80 seconds
Bench press: 18 reps
Vertical jump: 34.5 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 6 inches
Three-cone drill: 6.78 seconds (best among tight ends)
20-yard shuttle: 4.27 seconds (tied for second-best among tight ends)
Adam Trautman 2020 NFL Draft Profile
In high school, Adam Trautman distinguished himself behind center at the quarterback position. He set the single-season and career passing records at Elk Rapids High in Williamsburgh, MI. But at the college level, a position switch ensued as he transitioned to tight end. That entailed a redshirt year in 2015 but during that season, he earned scout team offensive player of the year honors from Dayton.
A year later, he showcased how quickly he had evolved as a pass-catcher. He appeared in all 11 games for the Flyers, starting seven, while accounting for 238 yards and three touchdowns. Over his next three seasons with Dayton, he would start 33 straight games and become one of the greatest tight ends in school history. He was named a team captain during his senior year and he repaid that faith with an impressive final collegiate campaign. His 70 receptions and 916 receiving yards both led the team, with the former being a single-season school record.
Strengths
- big-bodied target with plus physical traits;
- capable of making catches in traffic;
- should be an asset as a Y-tight end;
- executes sharp route transitions;
- regularly lined up in the slot;
- has potential as a Taysom Hill-style Swiss army knife;
- exudes relentless effort as a blocker;
- highly athletic for a player of his size;
- a consistent contributor in college with 40 career starts.
Weaknesses
- legit questions about being able to separate from physical coverage;
- tends to cradle the ball rather than plucking it out of the air;
- route tree needs serious expansion;
- generally gets brought down on initial contact;
- needs to match willingness as a blocker with actual effectiveness;
- obvious concerns regarding level of competition.
NFL Comparison: Dennis Pitta
Teams With Need at Position: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins
Projection: second round
Bottom Line
Trautman boasts a great deal of collegiate experience and should be one of the first non-FBS prospects off the board. It can’t be denied that he boasts the physical characteristics teams at the next level look for in a tight end. And what he does on the field is impressive as well. He’s capable of reeling in catches under duress, makes crisp route transitions, and is a ready and willing blocker. And given his quarterback background from high school, teams will certainly consider using him as part of their trick play arsenal.
But concerns abound. He certainly wasn’t exposed to elite-level defenses at Dayton. We’ve seen a tight end from a non-FBS school, Adam Shaheen, not exactly make the most marked impact despite praise from scouts which culminated in him getting drafted in the second round. Trautman also projects as a day two pick. He certainly needs to polish his route-running. But if his Combine testing is any indication, he has the lateral athleticism to do so. He’ll also need to bring proper technique as a blocker to the effort he clearly showcases on tape. If he can put this all together, he has the makings of a player that can certainly be productive and garner starter-level reps on a consistent basis in the NFL.
