Mel Kiper ranks Top 10 tight ends ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper released his latest big board for the 2023 NFL Draft this week, as well as position-by-position rankings of the top prospects across the country.

Although there is only one tight end included in Kiper’s first 25 picks, there are plenty of pass-catching, block-throwing options deserving of early-round draft consideration.

In the 2022 NFL Draft, teams across the league drafted a decade-high of 19 tight ends.

Mel Kiper’s Top Tight Ends

1. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
2. Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
3. Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
4. Dalton Kincaid, Utah
5. Sam LaPorta, Iowa
6. Darnell Washington, Georgia
7. Davis Allen, Clemson
8. Cameron Latu, Alabama
9. Will Mallory, Miami
10. Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan

Just missed: Payne Durham, Purdue; Cade Stover, Ohio State

Unsurprisingly, Mel Kiper’s No. 1 tight end after the regular season is Notre Dame standout Michael Mayer. Although he did not win the Mackey Award, Mayer is considered the best blocking tight end in the country. He had 67 catches for 809 yards and nine touchdowns this season. In three seasons at Notre Dame, he accumulated 180 catches for 2,099 yards and 18 TDs.

“NFL teams want tight ends who can stretch the deep middle of the field — and block well enough to line up next to offensive tackles,” Kiper writes. “That’s Mayer, who can be a force in the red zone. Linebackers simply can’t cover him (and safeties struggle with his size). He has a wide catch radius and could produce as a pass-catcher in the NFL. He’s a complete player.”

A couple of lesser-known tight ends trail the Notre Dame star on the draft board. Tucker Kraft only played in five games this season due to a foot injury but made a name for himself in 2021 by catching 65 passes for 780 yards and six touchdowns.

Although not as productive as some of his peers, Oregon native Luke Musgrave is one of the most athletic tight ends heading toward the draft. He boasts a 4.51 40-yard-dash time, which he recorded during the offseason.

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft takes place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event location this year is the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

The 2023 NFL scouting combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.