Will Mallory NFL Draft Overview
Position: Tight End
Height: 6′-4″
Weight: 239 pounds
School: Miami
2023 NFL Draft: Will Mallory Scouting Report
After spending the past five seasons with the Miami Hurricanes, Will Mallory has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. The tight end enters the league fresh off of what is probably the best season of his career. Appearing in 12 games, Mallory finished the year with 42 receptions for 538 yards and three touchdowns.
Will Mallory originally joined Miami prior to the 2018 season but didn’t earn a notable role until 2019. While he only hauled in 16 receptions during that campaign, he averaged 18.3 yards per catch, demonstrating impressive ability after the catch en route to that impressive figure. Mallory’s receiving stats steadily improved each year of his college career, and he finished with 115 receptions for 1,544 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Strengths
- Legitimate game-breaking speed – 4.54 40-yard dash is absurd for a tight end;
- Impressive catch radius;
- Stronger than his playing weight suggests;
- Versatile player that can move all around the formation;
- Dangerous when schemed into space – linebackers and even some safeties can’t catch him.
Weaknesses
- Owes a lot of his production to schemed plays – struggles to get open on his own;
- Physical defenders can knock him off his route in press;
- Needs to add more strength to make it as an in-line blocker;
- Never earned a large target share – projects as a complementary part of the offense, not a featured one;
- Gets outmuscled in contested situations.
NFL Comparison: Jonnu Smith
Teams With Need at Position: Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars
Projection: Rounds 5-6
Bottom Line on Will Mallory
Will Mallory is a jack of all trades, master of none that could’ve been a late Day 2 pick in most NFL Drafts, but will likely slip in 2023 thanks to the abundance of talent at the position. There is definitely a place for Mallory in the NFL, as tight ends with his ability after the catch do not grow on trees. The Miami product is insanely fast for the position and can be lethal on screen or when given a clear path downfield.
One of the most important things a backup can do is fill in at multiple roles, and Mallory should be able to do that at the next level. While he is small for the position, he’s a good enough blocker to handle linebackers in space and he can line up in the slot and out wide when required. Again, he doesn’t excel in any of those roles, but he’s not an active liability.
If Mallory were just a little bit better as either a blocker or a receiver, he could be a starter. However, he has shortcomings in both departments that make him fit for a depth role. As a blocker, Mallory’s fifth-percentile weight shows up any time he lines up in the trenches and has to block a legitimate edge defender. He has the strength for linebackers, but he’ll need to add some more muscle before he’s ready to handle defensive linemen.
As a receiver, Mallory’s route running leaves something to be desired. Yes, he’s dangerous after the catch, but what good is that if you can’t get the ball in the first place? A good portion of Mallory’s collegiate production came on screens and play action, and he has yet to prove he can get open without schematic assistance.
Basically, Will Mallory is the ideal backup tight end, capable of doing everything at an adequate level, but nothing at a great level. His relative lack of polish will keep him on the board late into the NFL Draft, but he should still receive a call at some point in the fifth or sixth round.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
