2024 NFL Draft Predictions: Who Will Be The First Tight End Selected After Brock Bowers?

April 24, 2024

Brock Bowers is a lock to be TE1 off the board on draft night. Who will be the second tight end picked in the 2024 NFL Draft class?

We finally made it. The 2024 NFL Draft is tomorrow, and at long last us hungry fantasy football enthusiasts will learn where this talented crop of incoming rookies will be starting their professional careers.

It’s no secret that Georgia’s Brock Bowers is labeled as a “generational” tight end prospect. He has been in the eyes of NFL scouts since his true freshman season in Athens, when he led the national championship team with 882 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Bowers will be the first tight end off the board on Thursday, and it would be unsurprising to see him selected in the top 10 picks.

Behind Bowers, there are a number of intriguing tight end prospects but no clear-cut TE2. It’s extremely unlikely that another tight end comes off of the board on Thursday, but Round 2 could see one to three guys selected. Let’s examine three potential TE2 options.

Ben Sinnott – Kansas State

My personal preference in this class is Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott. Sinnott started his career as a walk-on and fought his way up the depth chart en route to a team-best 676-yard, six-touchdown senior season. After being Will Howard’s go-to target in the passing game, Sinnott has risen up draft boards with a solid combine showing.

Ben Sinnott compared himself to Sam LaPorta & I don’t think that’s totally unfair.

LaPorta’s two biggest strengths were tackle-breaking ability (broke PFF’s record with 20 MTF in a season) & athleticism (4.59 40).

Sinnott broke a whopping 14 tackles on just 49 receptions last… pic.twitter.com/8ikqKQJeDB

— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) April 18, 2024

He is commonly compared to Sam LaPorta due to his playstyle and size and could have a LaPorta-esque impact for his new team if he lands in the right situation. Sinnott is my favorite pick as the TE2 off the board, although he’s far from a lock to even go in Round 2.

Ja'Tavion Sanders – Texas

Ja’Tavion Sanders was the early favorite to be the TE2 off the board in this class. His athletic profile and size are intriguing for NFL teams, but his blocking has a long way to go. Steve Sarkisian got a lot out of him at Texas, as he combined for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns over just two seasons.

It’s very unlikely that Sanders falls past day 2 and he can be a part of a tight-end by-committee-rotation right away with the upside to develop into a full-on starter. The Texas product grades right behind Sinnott on my draft board as the TE3.

Jaheim Bell – South Carolina

Jaheim Bell does not have prototypical tight end size, standing at 6-foot-2, 241 pounds. He was very successful in a gadget role at both South Carolina and Florida State, even playing some running back at times as a Gamecock. While his size may not be big enough to play the traditional tight-end role, he can be a very effective player in the right system. 

Scouting Report for Jaheim Bell, TE Florida State

Overview: Jaheim Bell has emerged as a standout player with notable versatility and athleticism. His transition from South Carolina to Florida State showcased his adaptability and skill enhancement in a new system. Bell's… pic.twitter.com/iy2hPHpJyB

— Next Pro Scouting (@NextProScouts) April 19, 2024

It is very possible that a team falls in love with his versatility and grabs him as the second tight end off the board, despite projecting as more of a Swiss army knife at the next level. A coach like Kyle Shanahan or Sean Payton may be licking their chops at the idea of adding Bell into their offense, and he could come off the board as early as Round 2 and as late as Round 6.

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