Chicago Bears Draft: Evaluating tight end prospects
By Ryan Heckman
Round 5 Options
Caleb Wilson, UCLA
One of the guys who has risen a little bit over the last month or two is Caleb Wilson out of UCLA. Some had him going as late as the seventh round at one point, but he’s worked his way up recently. He had a phenomenal season in 2018, catching 60 passes for 965 yards and four scores. He needs a bit of work, physically still, and is more of a one-trick pony. He catches passes, but needs work as a blocker.
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Drew Sample, Washington
What the Bears lacked last year as a blocking tight end in Sims they could find in Drew Sample out of Washington. He wasn’t heavily involved in the passing game and is a solid blocker, but at 6-foot-5 and having decent speed, he wouldn’t be completely obsolete in that aspect. Sample is a tough kid and many outlets have him labeled as the “lunch pail” type, which any fan or coach loves, regardless of position.
Last season, Sample caught 25 passes for 252 yards and a score. But, he’s been a key blocker in the run game for Myles Gaskin, who has rushed for over 5,000 yards in his college career.
Isaac Nauta, Georgia
A bit undersized but a suave pass-catching tight end, Isaac Nauta is an intriguing prospect. He isn’t the fastest in terms of straightaway speed (4.91 40-yard dash time) but he’s quick with his feet and knows how to get open. Nauta is just 6-foot-3 which many view as a weakness, and a big reason why he isn’t slotted as a higher pick.