Tyler Kroft at 6’6″ and 240 pounds may look like a larger wideout, but he is developing into a new prototypical NFL Tight End in the mold of Jimmy Graham or Jason Witten. In the video below, Kroft is playing in the 2013 season bowl game versus Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium.
Strengths:
Has good acceleration off the line and hurts of quickness out of breaks. He has the ability to create separation and when the ball arrives he can extend and pluck the ball out of the air. After the catch, he immediately turns and pushes upfield with no wasted movements. With the ball in his hands he is difficult to bring down.
Weaknesses:
Still needs some fine tuning in the rout running department. He has the frame to add bulk and with that bulk he should be able to develop into a more physical blocker. At the moment, he is most often lined up wide or in the slot and isn’t asked to block any more than a corner or to chip on a linebacker.
Draft Prognosis:
2013 was definitely a breakout season for Tyler Kroft, but 2014 has been a disappointment. He has battled smaller, nagging injuries and has only put up 13 receptions for 135 yards and no touchdowns. In comparison, in 2013 he amassed 43 catches for 573 yards and 4 touchdowns. Despite the down season, Kroft still has the potential to be selected somewhere in the 3rd or 4th rounds if he decides to declare as a Junior and not return to Rutgers for his Senior season.
