With Sam LaPorta as the starter and last offseason's investment in Brock Wright after they matched the offer sheet the San Francisco 49ers signed him to, tight end does not look like an urgent need for the Detroit Lions. But it's fair to say depth at any position is always on the radar, and Wright could be vulnerable to losing snaps as the TE2. LaPorta and Wright both have broadly struggled in run blocking the last couple seasons.
To that end, the Lions have been spending time around some tight end prospects at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this week. According to the combine meeting tracker from John Maakaron of SI.com, the Lions have had or will have formal combine meetings with four tight ends: Thomas Fidone (Nebraska), Jackson Hawes (Georgia Tech), CJ Dippre (Alabama) and Robbie Ouzts (Alabama).
As Mike Payton of AtoZ Sport chronicled from on the ground in Indianapolis, all four of those guys talked about bringing violence and hitting people during their podium sessions on Thursday. As a former tight end who had to win in certain margins to keep his career going as long as it lasted, Lions head coach Dan Campbell's ears surely perked up if/when he heard words like that. It's fair to assume each guy said something similar during their meetings with the Lions.
Tight end prospect offers quote that'll put him at the top of Dan Campbell's wish list
During his podium session Hawes talked directly about his mentality as a blocker, which by every assessment is his greatest strength and the thing that will get him drafted.
“I’m looking to punish people… I’m looking to put my facemask under someone’s chin", Hawes said.
That quote screams "Dan Campbell guy."
Hawes (6-foot-4 and 252 pounds) played at Yale from 2019-2023 (minus the COVID-19 year in 2020) before transferring to Georgia Tech. He had just 16 receptions for 195 yards last season in the Yellow Jackets' lower volume passing attack, but the 16.3 yards per catch average is eye-opening.
Payton reported Hawes is having his meeting with the Lions on Thursday night. Now that his "looking to put my facemask under someone's chin" quote is out there, maybe he should have a new phrase to bring to the meeting that will include Campbell. Then again, there's really no need to reinvent the wheel.
