The 2024 NFL draft boasts plenty of receiving talent, whether it is a guy like Brock Bowers who can really eat the face of a defense, or a guy like Jaheim Bell who can line up anywhere from the tight end position. Continuing Nate Gosney’s “my guys” list, who are some of the top tight ends in the 2024 NFL draft.
This list is curated as more of a favorites list; or a “my guys” list. This is not exactly the absolute best players from each position.
Tight Ends
Brock Bowers
Where do I start with Brock Bowers? He is genuinely a different level of prospect in comparison to anyone in this class, and anyone in recent memory. The only prospect in the realm of Bowers would be Falcons tight end, Kyle Pitts. Pitts has not panned out as planned in the NFL, to no real fault of his own. His lack of production is used against Bowers. Fans/media alike argue that drafting a tight end early never works out, because “just look at what happened to Kyle Pitts”. My response to that is simply to say it’s comparing apples to oranges.
The Georgia tight end is my #1 guy overall on my 2024 NFL Draft “my guys” lists. Bowers possesses top-end wide receiver-like athleticism, route running, and yards-after-catch ability. He couples this above-average blocking in the run game, especially as a guy blocking at the second and third levels.
The main knocks with Bowers relate to his size- or lack thereof. He stands 6’3″, 243 pounds. This size does make him quite small for the position, which brings up concerns about his ability to dig out five techniques in the run game. This is not a big deal, as a coach should easily recognize this and use Bowers as the space blocker, not the hand-in-the-dirt Mercedes Lewis type of run-blocker.
The Chargers should be in the market for a guy of his caliber, even with their signings in free agency.
Jaheim Bell
To continue the theme, 2024 NFL draft prospect, Jaheim Bell is another undersized tight end. Bell is even smaller than the aforementioned Bowers, standing at 6’2 241.
Coming out of Florida State, the 22-year-old has shown major versatility and toughness throughout his college career. He can catch anything over the middle, whilst being able to use his athleticism to yield yards after catch, even through contact. His 4.61 is T-3rd at the 2024 NFL draft combine, and it shows up on the field. His ability to stretch the field, make tough catches, and create extra yardage will give him a large market for any team in need of a receiving option at tight end.
The verbage of “in need of a receiving option at tight end” was used because though he has versatility, Bell struggles mightily as a blocker. He is quoted from draft expert, Lance Zierlein that he “Struggles with instincts and feel as a run blocker.” Even with the struggles in the run game, I would believe to see Bell as a productive player at the next level.
Tanner McLachlan
I am usually a fan of younger draft prospects. This is because it usually yields longer, more productive careers in the NFL. McLachlan broke my usual likings, as he is 24 years old.
The 6’5 245 pound tight end ran a 4.61 40-yard dash. He has a 9.41 RAS score, and this most definitely shows up on film. A super fun watch, McLachlan creates great yards after catch. He does so by what seems like spamming every button on the controller and using a plethora of moves to do anything to gain yardage.
Lastly, his “want” to gain yardage shows up in all aspects of his game. The 2024 NFL draft prospect is not the most polished blocker, but competes snap-in, and snap-out. The Arizona tight end is severely underrated this draft cycle and should find a home pretty quickly into day three. He has the makeup of a starting tight end at the next level.
Main Photo: Joshua L. Jones-USA TODAY NETWORK
