2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

by Cory J. Bonini on March 6, 2013 @ 17:44:54 PDT

Follow @CoryKFFL

Following two productive seasons at Notre Dame, tight end Tyler Eifert decided that he was ready for the 2013 NFL Draft.

The junior Golden Domer caught a 63-803-5 line in 2011; Eifert followed it up with a respectable 50-catch, 685-yard, four-touchdown effort in 2012.

One-dimensional?

Strengths

Quality size-speed combination (6-foot-6, 250 pounds; 4.68-second 40 time)
Respectable leaping ability (35 1/2-inch vertical jump)
Excellent ball skills
Impressive body control - fits the mold of a giant wide receiver
Versatile - plays all over the field, including the slot
Quick off the line
Awareness downfield - knows when to come back to the quarterback and how to exploit soft spots in the zone
Team captain - hard worker, well-respected leader
Routinely makes difficult catches in tight spaces
Big upside

Weaknesses

Limited all-around impact - will be resigned to passing situations, at least early on, in the NFL
Poor blocker, despite being more aggressive and willing - needs to improve technique and anchor ability
Could be sharper in and out of his breaks - a bit of a work-in-progress still as a route runner
Doesn't have the frame to add much, if any, meaningful weight

Expected draft placement

Eifert has legitimate "star playmaker" written all over him, just as long as his future NFL team utilizes him properly. Limiting Eifert's blocking situations and playing him in pass-first situations will get the most out of his talents.

He should go in the first round, and the Chicago Bears (No. 20) come to mind as the most likely suitor. He could go to the Green Bay Packers (No. 26), depending on what happens with Jermichael Finley, and the Atlanta Falcons (No. 30) should also have Eifert on their radar.

About Cory J. Bonini

Cory is KFFL's General Manager. In late 2002, he joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, Bonini has been featured in print, on radio and on scores of websites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors. Follow @CoryKFFL