Tyler Kroft NFL Draft 2015: Scouting Report, Grade for Bengals Rookie

STRENGTHS

A versatile athlete who played tight end (two years) and wide receiver (one year) at Rutgers, Tyler Kroft is a tough matchup for defenses. Kroft is quicker than he is fast and gets going with good buildup speed. He has the body to add more muscle and is still a green player at tight end. Kroft can line up in the slot, in the backfield or in-line to attack the defense. A very strong blocker, he is both willing and tough at the point of attack and will nag defenders through the play; he looks to dominate the block. Kroft is the type of athlete teams want running the seam, and his height makes him a threat in the end zone on jump balls or fade routes.

WEAKNESSES

Kroft alleges that he was injured by combine doctors and wasn’t able to participate in any drills in Indianapolis because of it. This is the same ankle he sprained during the team’s bowl game. With a 4.75-second 40-yard dash post-injury, Kroft’s workout speed isn’t enough to convince that he’ll stick at wide receiver. He’s a tweener with tight-end speed and a wide-receiver body. The issue there is that, without power or speed, he struggles to free himself from pressure at the line of scrimmage. Kroft’s hands in the open field are inconsistent, especially when he’s asked to pull balls in thrown away from his body.

PRO COMPARISON: Owen Daniels, Denver Broncos

An average athlete with good quickness and size, Kroft has the tools to be a long-term starter. Athletically and style-wise, he’s an Owen Daniels clone.

2014 STATISTICS

Receptions      Receiving Yards      Touchdowns
24                             269                              0

FINAL GRADE: 5.35/9.00 (Quality Backup)