3 tight ends the Steelers may target after the NFL Combine

The Steelers have a specific type of player they look for at the tight end position. Here’s why these three tight ends will be on their radar after the NFL Combine.

Like all other NFL organizations, the Steelers have specific things they look for when selecting a player in the NFL Draft. Early in the draft, Pittsburgh typically covets youth and Power 5 school production. In later picks, some of those trends change.

The Steelers also like players to meet certain thresholds. When it comes to the tight end position, Pittsburgh’s average drafted tight end. Since 2007, the average tight end the Steelers have drafted has been 6’5” and 259 pounds with 33 1/2” arms and 9 7/8” hands.

While this doesn’t automatically mean they won’t draft smaller tight ends, it’s a trend they have had for over a decade. Because of this, there are certain players they will tend to look for this April.

The NFL Combine gives us some insight into how players compare to one another. And after the tight ends performed, it’s becoming even clearer who the Steelers may look to target this April. Here are three tight ends that will almost assuredly be on Pittsburgh’s radar:

Cole Kmet

Cole Kmet has a big, prototype body for the position and he fits the bill of a Steelers tight end. Kmet measured in at nearly 6’6” and 262 pounds with 33” arms and 10 1/2” hands. But he impressed beyond merely size metrics.

Kmet ran a 4.70 in the 40-yard dash and boasted terrific explosion numbers with a 37” vertical and a 123” broad jump. He possesses the size and athleticism to be a receiving threat down the field at the next level, and the Steelers are sure to fall in love with his upside.

Albert Okwuegbunam

If there is one player who shocked the nation on Thursday night, it was Missouri tight end, Albert Okwuegbunam. Despite measuring in at 6’5 1/2” and 258 pounds, Okwuegbunam shocked the crowd the a 4.49-second 40-yard dash.

The Steelers covet a large frame and speed down the seam at the tight end position. Vance McDonald offered that for them. Prior to trading for McDonald, they experimented with signing Ladarius Green in 2016, but he couldn’t stay on the field. Okwuegbunam is a raw but athletic player who could give them that same type of threat in the passing game.

Adam Trautman

Adam Trautman isn’t a big-school player, but at 6’5” and 255 pounds, he fits the bill of what they are looking for in size. Trautman had a modest showing in the 40-yard dash (4.80), but he displayed terrific numbers in the 3-cone drill (6.78) and 20-yard shuttle (4.27).

Trautman is a big tight end who could use some work as a blocker but he moves really well for a player his size. He turned some heads at the Combine, and he could be on the Steelers radar on day two of the draft.

Pittsburgh isn’t guaranteed to draft a tight end this year, but it’s a position that is certainly on most experts’ radar. If they are to go with a tight end, these are the three players they are most likely to target based on drafting trends and their performances at the NFL Combine.