Matt Waldman’s RSP Boiler Room bridges the realistic and fantasy potential of Oklahoma Tight End Mark Andrews.

What makes a tight end a productive receiver? The simple answer is a general one: He has enough height, strength, burst, and agility to separate from defenders into open space and the hand-eye coordination to catch the football.

The accurate answer is multilayered and depends on a number of factors:

• Will the offense use him as equal parts blocker and receiver?
• What are the expected range of blocks and personnel assignments that the offense expects him to handle?
• What is the expected range of routes does his position run?
• Who are the types of defenders he’ll be expected to beat as the primary receiver based on what the offense defines as a personnel mismatch?

That’s a sample of the considerations that teams weigh when assessing a player. In fact, wide receivers have the greatest variety of draft grades among teams every year because of these considerations for scheme fit. I haven’t asked yet, but I would wager this is also the case for receiving tight ends among teams that are seeking a hybrid or a “move” tight end.

Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews fits within the realm of what I’d define as a “move” tight end. The short video below highlights two plays that illustrate several components of his game that make him a worthwhile prospect for NFL teams seeking a player who can get open within 15-20 yards of the line of scrimmage and earn more in the open field.

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