Like the tight end class, this year's crop of edge rushers is outstanding, both in terms of high-end talent and depth. But LaPorta might offer the best value of the group. Look, I'm intrigued by the safety (Notre Dame's Michael Mayer), size (Georgia's Darnell Washington) and scoring ability ( Utah's Dalton Kincaid) offered by other top-rated tight ends in this class. And the soft, reliable hands he offers - as well as the quickness and savvy as a route-runner - guarantee that he will quickly become his quarterback's best friend, as LaPorta proved to be at Iowa, leading the Hawkeyes in receptions and receiving yards the past two seasons. Slightly smaller than some of this year's other top-rated tight ends at 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds, LaPorta doesn't pass the eye test with the flying colors that the aforementioned Avila might but he's solidly built, demonstrating greater contact balance and desire after the catch than many of the bigger prospects available this year at the position. But only recently has LaPorta begun to get his due. This year's tight end class has generated a great deal of buzz, and for good reason – in nearly 25 years of evaluating college prospects, it is truly one of the best classes I've seen.
NFL teams are typically hesitant to use first-round picks on interior linemen, but Avila warrants that consideration and certainly should be off the board by the end of the second round. The all-star game setting should have answered any questions scouts might have on Avila, but frankly, he didn't need to compete there after solid showings against Jalen Carter and Georgia in the national championship, as well as Mazi Smith and Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl.
And Avila was the epitome of grit and toughness during his time at TCU, playing in all 47 games the Horned Frogs competed in the past four years, as well as accepting his invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he was arguably the most dominant interior offensive lineman in Mobile. He's as well-schooled and battle-tested as any blocker in this class, logging starts at center (17), left guard (15), right tackle (two) and right guard (1) with his entire high school career spent at left tackle.
He also possesses disproportionately long arms (33") for this blocky build, which makes the 28 repetitions he posted in the bench press that much more impressive. At 6-foot-3 and 332 pounds, Avila has the square-ish frame that makes it naturally difficult for defensive linemen to get around him. These players are listed alphabetically, but it is appropriate that Avila heads off the list as the burly blocker truly is one of my favorite prospects in this class, regardless of position.
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