One of the more difficult exercises when preparing for the NFL Draft is comparing prospects in one class to players that are already in the league. Often times it’s impossible to nail down a current player that possesses all of the traits that a particular prospect does.
Still, it’s not an entirely fruitless process. Making these sorts of comparisons can help to provide a better sense of what sort of schemes each prospect will fit into best – one of the most crucial aspects to scouting.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the running backs and tight ends in this class. Which players already in the league play with a similar style?
RB Zac Stacy – Doug Martin
Zac Stacy has neither an awful nickname nor the pre-draft hype that Doug Martin did this time last year, but it’s otherwise difficult to not compare the two players. Both players are strong, compact runners. Stacy lacks elite top end speed and chose more often to run through defenders instead of out running them.
Martin didn’t have great speed either, and in fact both of the players ran 4.55 forties. Physically the two players are nearly identical and in a relatively weak running back class it’s surprising that Stacy has been so undervalued up to this point. There’s a great chance that Stacy could eventually be one of the best values in this class.
TE Tyler Eifert – Jason Witten
Tyler Eifert has been heralded on more than one occasion as the best skill position player in this draft, and it’s easy to see why. One might even go so far as compare Eifert to someone like Larry Fitzgerald – like the standout wide receiver, Eifert wins nearly every jump ball he battles for.
It’s tough to pin down a comparison to another tight end in Eifert’s case. He’s got some similar traits to Jermichael Finley, but while neither are exceptional run blockers Eifert (who is also more athletic) also puts forth much more effort than does Finley. Perhaps the best comparison is to Jason Witten – long one of the best receiving threats in the league at his position. There’s no doubt that Eifert has the potential to be the same sort of vertical threat that Witten has brought to the Cowboys.
RB Eddie Lacy – Frank Gore
While he isn’t as talented as Frank Gore, it’s almost impossible to not compare Eddie Lacy to the 49ers running back. Both players are thick bodies that will not be slowed down by arm tackles. Their powerful running styles are quite similar and both are more than capable of handling large workloads.
Lacy still has a good bit of developing to do if he truly wants to truly compare well to Gore. Gore is a player that for most of his career has been a three down player, capable of contributing on passing downs whether it’s blocking or as a receiver. Lacy hasn’t shied away from being that sort of a player, but he needs to continue to develop before he can be regarded as being a good 3rd down option.
TE Gavin Escobar – Jared Cook
For teams that missed out on the Jared Cook free agency sweepstakes, Gavin Escobar may be an option they’ll choose to look to in the draft. And while the two players are similar prospects in many regards, there are some striking differences between the two. Cook is an athletic player that creates mismatches based on his physical ability alone, but he’s not a strong route runner nor has he yet appeared to be a natural pass catcher.
Escobar too is a tight end that is likely to be only a threat as a receiver, but unlike Cook he’s not quite the athletic freak. In fact, Escobar’s 4.79 forty time was among the slowest tight ends in Indianapolis. However, Escobar is a natural receiver and his route running is far above where Cook was when he entered the league. The end result is essentially the same – both players are exclusively receiving tight ends.
RB Montee Ball – Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis
Few players have seen their draft stock tumble more dramatic than has Montee Ball over the past year. Once considered to be one of the top running backs in this class, a lack of athleticism as well as some concerns around his ability to stay healthy. And while all those are valid concerns, Ball wouldn’t be the first to overcome that perception and go on to have an effective NFL career.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis is a player that can come to mind looking to compare someone to Ball. Both players aren’t necessarily as physically gifted as many other running backs, but both are efficient runners that will almost always get the yards that are available to them. That’s not a skill set that the NFL typically values during the draft, but it certainly pays dividends on game day.
TE Travis Kelce – Rob Gronkowski
At 6’6, 260 lbs, Travis Kelce could draw comparisons to Rob Gronkowski before even putting any film on. Watching Kelce’s style of play won’t do much to change that comparison, either. Both Kelce and Gronkowski are the types of tight ends that have the speed and talent to make plays as receivers, but also have the size and strength to be devastating blockers.
While Kelce may not have quite the same level of talent as Gronkowski, he may actually have the elite tight end bested in one category. Gronkowski is known to be a bit volatile off the field, and Kelce may actually be a much larger off the field concern. He’s been referred to as a “trainwreck”, and that led to a year long suspension. Will those character issues derail his potentially strong career?
RB Gio Bernard – Chris Johnson
Much like Chris Johnson's role at East Carolina University, Gio Bernard was far from limited to just making plays as a running back while at North Carolina. Both Johnson and Bernard also were threats on special teams as returners, and were also more than capable receivers as well.
Like most comparisons, this one isn't perfect – Bernard doesn't boast nearly the same speed that Johnson did as a rookie (few do), but they're still quite similar players. Bernard's best trait is his ability to turn any touch into a huge play, and that's something that Johnson made a career out of.
TE Jordan Reed – Aaron Hernandez
When you pop in the tape on Jordan Reed, Aaron Hernandez is instantly the current NFL player that comes to mind. The reality is that shouldn’t be too surprising, and Hernandez has taken Reed under his wing and given the younger Gator plenty of tutoring on playing tight end.
Both players are gifted pass catchers but struggle somewhat to make an impact in the running game. Reed especially needs to work in an NFL weight room, as he currently lacks the functional strength that the NFL requires out of its every down tight ends. There’s no question he’s got the same sort of potential that Hernandez brought into the league.
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