New York Jets 2018 NFL Draft Prospects: Tight Ends
By TJ Wengert
Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin
Next up is the man who many have ranked as the best tight end in the draft class, Troy Fumagalli. The six-foot-six, 248 pound rising senior, to me personally, looks to be the first tight end taken off the board in the 2018 NFL Draft.
While not as good a pass catcher and route runner as Adam Breneman, Fumagalli is pretty solid himself. Last season, he caught 47 passes for 580 yards and two touchdowns. Not crazy stats that pop off the page, but solid numbers.
Fumagalli’s biggest game was in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, where he caught six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. His performance made him offensive MVP of the game.
His highlights show that he isn’t the most athletic guy, but Fumagalli knows how to find ways to get open and he absorbs any contact during a catch.
Another skill on Fumagalli’s side is how good of a run blocker he is. He is definitely the best blocking tight end in the draft, which can be appealing to a team that needs help in both the pass and run game. For a team that faces a lot of talented edge rushers (like the AFC West), it would also be handy to have a guy that can chip and release.
When you combine his sure hands and his blocking ability, you see a mini Jason Witten, which is what makes Fumagalli a first round pick.
Going back for his senior year, as long as Fumagalli avoids injuries and continues to work to become more athletic, then he’s a first round tight end without a doubt.