New England Patriots Possible Target in the 2015 NFL Draft – Tyler Kroft, TE Rutgers
 Tight end Tyler Kroft could be a good Day 3 addition in the 2015 NFL Draft as a flex tight end. (USA Today, Image) |
As the 2015 NFL Draft draws closer we’ll profile some of the players that may be on the Patriots radar. Some of these players have already been linked to New England as possible targets others, we feel would be a great fit.
Check out our earlier 2015 NFL Draft profiles on PatsFans.com:
DE/OLB Nate Orchard from Utah
WR Tyrell Williams from Western Oregon
DT Jordan Phillips from Oklahoma
DT Carl Davis from Iowa
RB David Johnson from Northern Iowa
CB Steven Nelson from Oregon State
OLB Zack Hodges from Harvard
CB Ronald Darby from FSU
WR Devin Funchess from Michigan
OG A.J. Cann from South Carolina
RB Mike Davis from South Carolina
ILB Benadrick McKinney from Mississippi State
OLB Hau’oli Kikaha from Washington
T Jeremiah Poutasi from Utah
OLB Kyle Emanuel from North Dakota State
RB Jay Ajayi from Boise State
WR Jamison Crowder from Duke
CB Kevin Johnson from Wake Forest
DT Eddie Goldman from Florida State
LB Shaq Thompson from Washington
OG Tre Jackson from Florida State
CB Marcus Peters from Washington
CB Eric Rowe from Utah
RB Jeremy Langford from Michigan State
WR Phillip Dorsett from Miami
OLB Max Valles from Virginia
The Patriots don’t have a pressing need at tight end and got a tremendous season from Rob Gronkowski who returned from a myriad of injuries to stay healthy all season long and thru the playoffs. Gronkowski gave the Patriots the extra dimension that they’d been missing the past several seasons once the post season began.
Also on the roster, Michael Hoomanawanui was the big bodied blocking tight end that can catch the occasional pass and Tim Wright, filled the role as the move tight end and had decent production, mostly in the middle of the season. Wright had only 26 catches for 259 yards but hauled in six touchdowns. Pairing with Gronkowski’s production of 82 catches for 1124 yards and 12 touchdowns the Patriots got good numbers from the tight end position in 2014.
In free agency the team added Scott Chandler from the Buffalo Bills and he gives Tom Brady another big target that can stretch the seams and provide some mismatches on linebackers in coverage. Chandler has 100 catches the past two seasons and should workout just fine in New England.
But it never hurts to have a little competition at a position especially if the team isn’t completely sold on Wright as the move tight end. In the mid-to-later rounds in the draft there are a couple of prospects who could be of interest.
Tyler Kroft from Rutgers (had to include at least one Rutgers player) is an over-sized wide receiver that would be perfect in the flex/move tight end role. He gave up a final year of eligibility to enter the 2015 NFL Draft.
Kroft had good numbers in 2013 with 43 receptions for 573 yards and four touchdowns earning first team All-American AAC honors. But his numbers of 2014 took a steep nosedive, hauling in only 24 passes for 269 yards and no touchdowns due perhaps to poor quarterback play.
Kroft has the size (6’6,240), to be a mismatch on shorter linebackers and safeties and is athletic enough with very good straight line speed to stretch the seams. He is a natural wide receiver (high school), with very good hands. Kroft has the ability to find the openings in coverage, is quick off the line and can make the tough catches in traffic.
He’s a limited though willing blocker and must get a bit stronger to be effective at the NFL level. Kroft was injured at the NFL Combine but ran a 4.67 at the Rutgers Pro Day with a 10 foot Broad Jump and a 7.18 in the Three-Cone Drill.
Pros:
- Natural athlete, good straight line speed, can stretch the seam
- Good hands and balance, makes tough catches look easy
- Excellent work ethic, versatile, can line up in-line, flexed-out or in the backfield
Cons:
- Not a great blocker lacks the strength to sustain blocks
- Potential is there, but not enough big plays
- Some durability concerns, had nagging injuries in his final season
Where can the Patriots can get him?: The Patriots always seem to target at least one player from Rutgers and Kroft could be the guy this season. Kroft should be available in the late 4th - 5th round if New England is interested and would be an interesting pickup.
Using him as the flex tight end, the Patriots could move him outside and look for mismatches against linebackers who would lack the athleticism to stay with him or safeties that he’d have the height advantage on.
In the short-to-medium passing game that the Patriots employ with Tom Brady, Kroft would immediately become a nice target in the Red Zone. Much like Wright did in mid-season last year, with Gronkowski and Julian Edelman garnering so much attention, Kroft in the slot would be another nice big target for Brady. He won’t get prolific numbers initially but could have some nice production down the road. He and Wright (another Rutgers alum), would have some good competition in camp as the flex or move tight end.
In his Draft Guide Dane Brugler says Kroft is “an over-grown version of Riley Cooper.” He added that Kroft, “has the skill-set and mind-set of a big framed wide receiver, projecting as an “F” tight end in the NFL with starting potential.”
Here is a highlight film of Kroft at Rutgers vs Arkansas via DraftBreakdown:
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