Tight ends the Seahawks could target in the 2020 NFL Draft

Seahawks could find gem in Cheyenne O’Grady, Redshirt Senior, Arkansas

Cheyenne O’Grady is a true competitor and plays with a nasty streak. He has phenomenal hands and rarely drops the ball due to his excellent hand eye coordination. He is very aggressive in the receiving game, labeled fittingly as a “true alpha.” He runs hard after the catch, often trucking defenders for extra yardage, much in the shape of George Kittle with the 49ers.

O’Grady gives very solid effort in the blocking game. While he is not a natural athlete, he knows how to counter his weaknesses and how to use his strengths to win. He has a high football IQ and excels in finding holes in defensive coverage. He has the makings to be a perfect safety net for Seattle and Russell Wilson.

His nasty streak comes at a price however, he has had some off-field issues in the past. This includes the Arkansas Razorbacks and O’Grady mutually agreeing to part ways due to “unspecified reasons” mid-season. He has been suspended multiple times by the team.

Outside of the off-the-field issues, O’Grady’s main concerns relate to some fundamentals with blocking. While he displays consistent effort, he often is not squared up against the defensive player, causing potential penalty issues at the next level. Fortunately, this is coachable. The off the field issues that caused the player and team to separate will need to be thoroughly vetted.

Despite O’Grady’s off-the-field issues, he is one of my favorite prospects in the draft. The nasty streak is something that can’t be taught. He wants to be great and you can see it consistently displayed on the field. He gives you 100%, on every play. He also has the instincts that simply can’t be taught, despite the athletic deficiencies. He has the ability to be a future Pro Bowler in the NFL.  He is listed as the 116th best prospect overall by Benjamin Solak with The Draft Network. If the Hawks can hone in his off-the-field issues, he has one of the highest ceilings in the draft.

O’Grady reminds me of George Kittle in this draft class. While Kittle is undoubtedly a better blocker, both are all out effort players, who give 100% on every snap. Both players have incredibly soft hands and can make plays uphill. Both players are very difficult to bring to the ground, thanks to great balance and a low center of gravity through contact. Neither player is considered the most athletic, yet,both succeed because of the will they have to be great.

Player comparison: George Kittle

Draft projection: 4th round