MOBILE, Ala. — The 49ers and Chiefs arrive at Sunday’s Super Bowl with distinct strengths.
San Francisco’s rock ’em sock ’em defense and potent rushing attack carried the NFC champions. Patrick Mahomes quarterbacking a devastating offense to video game-type production fueled Kansas City’s magic ride.
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The unique styles make for an intriguing and, according to the Las Vegas sharps, a near pick ’em matchup. There is, however, one obvious personnel similarity that separated these teams from the rest. The NFL’s top two tight ends — San Francisco’s George Kittle and Kansas City’s Travis Kelce — are still playing this season.
“That’s not a coincidence,” said Vanderbilt’s Jared Pinkney, one of the 2020 NFL Draft’s top TE prospects, during last week’s Senior Bowl festivities. “Tight end is the most undervalued position in sports.”
It’s also a position that underwent a radical adjustment in recent years.
“(Tight end) changed so much,” an NFL scout told The Athletic. “It used to be everyone had blockers, and it was a bonus if you could catch. Now everyone has bigger receivers, and if they’re kind of functional (blocking), that gets you excited.”
Ideally, teams find those excelling at blocking and receiving, and therefore could remain on the field for all offensive snaps. San Francisco and Kansas City did. Pro Football Focus named Kittle, a forceful presence in both aspects, the best player at any position this season. Kelce led all tight ends in receptions (97) and receiving yards (1,227).
Other teams, like the Redskins, remain wanting. After a dismal 3-13 season in which (unsurprising) injuries effectively eliminated instrumental play at tight end, Washington’s search for a fix intensified. Several positions on the roster require an influx of talent and bodies. Assuming new coach Ron Rivera recognizes the reality none more than tight end.
That’s what made the Senior Bowl a critical moment this offseason. Homework for April’s draft began long ago and continued throughout the college season, but accelerated with the annual game featuring many of the top four-year players. Unlike most other positions where underclassmen dominate rankings, most of the top tight ends were in Mobile.
The prospects can’t help but grasp the importance of Senior Bowl week. Three days’ worth of practices with numerous scouts, coaches and executives watching closely from the metal bleachers or along the sideline at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Formal interviews. Pyscololoical testing. The actual game.
Teams won’t overweight their findings, especially for prospects from Division I programs, considering the voluminous amount of data and insight collected over several months. For those from the subdivision level like Dayton’s Adam Trautman, performing in front of decision-makers makes for an outsized and needed opportunity.
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“I know my name on the scouting report has an asterisk next to it. LOC: Level of competition,” Trautman said. “I’m here to absolutely get rid of that.”
The scouting community took a shine to the 6-foot-5, 251-pounder before Mobile. Buzz existed even ahead of catching 70 passes for 916 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Trautman’s strong showing against top competition solidified the interest — and reinforced his pre-game belief of why he’s the best in the class.
“It’s open,” Trautman, a former quarterback, said to The Athletic of the position’s top spot. “There’s a lot of different dynamics (with the prospects), but there a lot of strictly pass-catching guys. My case to be the No. 1 (TE) drafted is I think I can do it all. That’s what I’m here to prove.”
Trautman spoke with confidence throughout the week. His self-assured responses to reporter’s questions sounded sincere rather than some Nuke Laloosh disciple with rehearsed lines.
On whether the electrical engineer major’s mental dexterity combined with athleticism offers significant potential: “Oh, absolutely. If you can couple those two together and you know what’s going on, you can get yourself open. When you’re as athletically talented as I am, you can succeed (on) any level.”
On suggesting his position switch to the Dayton coaches: “That was a bold move for me. I wasn’t scared of competition or anything. I moved into a position group where we had a solidified three-year starter. I knew going in it would be tough (transition), but from a dynamic standpoint, I could bring something new to the position, (something) entirely different than what we have not had at Dayton.”
Following Wednesday’s practice, a reporter asked Trautman if he grasped the growing buzz surrounding his potential. “I’m aware of that,” he said.
Things in life that aren't fair:
1) Cost of college
2) Growing old
3) Covering Adam Trautman on a blaze out in 1v1s. pic.twitter.com/UYH46gw4eK
— Dalton Miller (@DaltonBMiller) January 25, 2020
Trautman’s perceptiveness extends to those NFL teams lacking not just a Kittle or Kelce, but a viable starter. “I do have a good idea,” he said before offering one specific team. “I know (the Redskins) have their eye on me.”
With good reason. The Athletic’s NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler left Alabama stating Trautman “has a legitimate case to be the first tight end drafted in April” along with Notre Dame junior Cole Kmet.
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The leap from Dayton to the NFL is significant. That the Flyers played a pro-style offense offers hope for a smoother mental transition for Trautman. Observers see a prospect who finishes blocks with force and gets in and out of his breaks smoothly for a big man.
Trautman recognizes these traits in his favorite tight end, Kittle (“Relentless style of play. He’s (also) athletic, but his overall style of play.”), and Kelce.
“(Tight end is) a premium position now,” Trautman said. “You can put them all over the field. It’s what makes those two offenses so special.”
Two tight ends were selected in the first round of the 2019 draft with the Lions taking T.J. Hockenson eighth overall. There’s no lock any TE lands among the top 32 selection this year, but the group offers several viable options after Trautman and others impressed in Mobile.
That’s crucial for Washington. Its first-round selection, second overall, seems set with Ohio State pass rusher Chase Young. The Redskins lack a second-round pick following last year’s trade for Montez Sweat.
Whether in the draft or free agency, the Redskins must add help for rising second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins — and to keep up.
Using Football Outsiders Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement statistic, nine of the top 13 tight ends this season played on playoff teams, including Kelce (3) and Kittle (4). Only one (Hayden Hurst) was selected in the first round with Kelce headlining three second-round picks.
Peak Jordan Reed probably falls somewhere within those 13 slots. We haven’t witnessed that version since 2016. Reed shined during the latest training camp, but a concussion, the seventh of his career, suffered during the preseason ultimately ended his season.
When a Week 4 concussion sidelined Vernon Davis, Washington’s tight end production capsized. The Redskins didn’t often throw to their remaining TE options, and those plays lacked efficiency.
Jeremy Sprinkle, Washington’s default starter following the injuries, ranked 36th of 49 qualified players in DVAR. Despite playing all 16 games, he finished with only 118 more receiving yards than Davis. Rookie Hale Hentges showed growth during the final month but remains a development player.
Washington’s offense labored throughout the season for a variety of reasons, including the hole at tight end.
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“It helps your quarterback having a big guy to throw the ball too,” one scout said. “The league is all about matchups. If you can get big dudes in isolation on smaller dudes, you’re going to like that.”
Reed, when healthy, caused mismatch chaos for defenses because of his size and speed combination. One source close to Reed told The Athletic during the final week of the season that he wouldn’t rule out the seven-year veteran attempting a return despite the high number of concussions.
There’s no way the Redskins realistically enter the season relying on him as the starter. Washington saves $8.5 million toward the salary cap by releasing Reed and his $10.3 million 2020 salary.
Another source recently told The Athletic that Davis recognizes his future probably lies outside of playing football, but the 36-year-old had yet to make a final decision.
Even with those two available former Washington coach Jay Gruden lamented their blocking limitations curtailed his formation options.
Rivera rarely had such concerns during his nine years with Carolina. Three-time Pro Bowler Greg Olsen played all 16 regular-season games annually from 2011-16 and 14 last year following back-to-back injury-plagued campaigns. Ian Thomas and Chris Manhertz rounded out the Panthers’ TE unit previous season.
Scout: “Olsen was a do-everything (tight end). Manhertz the blocker and Thomson more of the receiver. As the Redskins are finishing plans, it will be interesting (to see) what they want. Maybe it’s a mix of guys they want or all the same type of guys, and that’s just what they had available (in Carolina).”
Expect viable tight ends available when Washington selects in the third (66) and early fourth (98).
That includes Pinkney, a prospect who avoids caffeine, politely called a reporter he only just met by his first name following the initial question and astutely offered how any rookie TE likely helps initially.
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“The physicality of the NFL (means) you’re probably going to contribute more as a pass-catcher as a tight end before you contribute as a blocker. You have to physically adjust hitting grown men, 30-year-olds with mortgages as opposed to the 19-year-old who was just late to study hall,” Pinkney told The Athletic. “It’s a different mentality for the guy you’re going up against. The routes and the pass scheme is an easier transition because it’s a little more mental and less physical.”
The Norcross, Ga. native answered questions at Tuesday’s media day with the ease of a seasoned pro. That seems in line with Pinkney’s sweet-natured first impression though any hint of nerves would make sense.
The 6-5 pass-catcher with three-down potential needed a good showing coming off a bizarre season in the SEC. Pinkney entered round 1-2 conversation as a junior with a 50-774-7 stat line. Following the graduation of quarterback Kyle Shurmur, those numbers plummeted to 20 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns.
“Everything just wasn’t able to come together the way it did last year,” said Pinkney, who experienced a smoother ride at the Senior Bowl. He and Brycen Hopkins (Purdue) were named top practice players among tight ends as voted on by the position group.
Florida Atlantic’s Harrison Bryant, named the Mackey Award winner as the best tight end in college football, helped his draft status in Mobile per league sources, and could enter the first TE drafted discussion. The Redskins took notice of Portland State’s Charley Taumoepeau, a projected Day 3 target.
Kmet and LSU’s Thaddeus Moss, the son of NFL legend Randy, were the top two in the class, not in Mobile. No doubt Washington checks in with them at next month’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis. That’s because there’s a severe position need not just for depth but dynamism, the kind on display in Sunday’s big game.
(Top photo of Adam Trautman: Vasha Hunt / USA Today)
