Who's going to be the first tight end off of the board in the 2018 NFL Draft? If you ask ESPN Draft Analyst Todd McShay, the answer isn't Wisconsin's Troy Fumagalli or Penn State's Mike Gesicki — it's South Dakota State's Dallas Goedert.
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McShay recently released his top 10 prospects at each position (Insider access required), which included his rankings for tight end. The results weren't even close.
McShay ranks Gesicki third with a grade of 65, Fumagalli second with a 70 rating, and atop the list is Goedert with a 79 grade.
Here's what McShay had to say about the SDSU stud:
Goedert is coming off a breakout season (1,293 yards, 11 touchdowns) in which he showed his versatility. He has the athletic ability to give linebackers issues, and his size (listed at 6-foot-4, 258 pounds) is trouble for corners. He needs to follow the previous season with another good one and then do all he can during the postseason process.
McShay rightfully points out that Goedert is a matchup nightmare. Good luck if you're a 5-foot-11 corner trying to defend a fade in the end zone. I'd like to see the linebacker who can effectively cover him in space.
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Goedert is a strong season away from potentially hearing his name called in the first round of the NFL draft — three tight ends were selected in the first round in 2017 between picks 19 and 29.
Early indications are Goedert could be next. With quarterback Taryn Christion returning and NFL-bound receiver Jake Wieneke back too, the Jackrabbits will be fun to watch this fall.
