Why Albert Okwuegbunam Could Be the Best Tight End in the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft class is not tight end favorable, very few teams need a tight end right away. Even top tight end prospects like Cole Kmet (Notre Dame) or Adam Trautman (Dayton) may only hear their name at the end of the first round or early second round. I expect Okwuegbunam to go somewhere in-between the late second to early fifth rounds, but the unassuming Missouri prospect may be the best tight end of the draft class.

The first aspect is his ideal build for a tight end. He is 6’ 5” and weighs 255 pounds. That’s about the same size as Trautman and Kmet. Second, is his sheer athleticism. At the 2020 NFL combine, Okwuegbunam ran a 4.49 40-yard dash time, which was the best of any tight end this year, and the third-best since 2007. Lastly, there is his college production. Okwuebunam was used mainly as a blocker at Missouri, and he could not blossom into the pass-catching menace that he can be. He only averaged 2.88 catches per game, 11.8 yards per catch and six touchdowns last season. These numbers are significantly less than the other prospects, but Okwuegbunam did have an extremely hostile season compared to his fellow tight ends. Kmet was playing at Notre Dame, a top tier university with an excellent football program which makes it much easier to succeed. Trautman played at Dayton, which is in the Pioneer League. The Pioneer League is at the lower end of the Divison I conferences with weak colleges such as Stetson and Marist. Okwuegbunam played at Missouri, which is not a major football university but part of the extremely challenging SEC conference. When facing SEC teams such as LSU and Florida, which are some of the top teams in the nation, it is tough for any player to make an impact.

Okwuegbunam is not going to be a superstar instantly. He will need a seasoned quarterback and a knowledgeable coach who can help him learn as he goes. If Okwuegbunam is not granted time to grow or isn’t able to stay healthy, his career could flounder. Nevertheless, if Okwuegbunam is not thrown into the deep end of the pool and is allowed to mature fully, he could be a Pro-Bowl caliber tight end tantamount to George Kittle or Zach Ertz. The future looks promising for the young star, and his NFL career could be a legendary one.