Luke Schoonmaker is an excellent pass-catching tight end who has earned his keep in this year’s draft. The Michigan tight end appeared on many evaluators’ radar in 2022, where he caught 34 balls at an 11.4 yards average per catch, with three touchdowns, establishing himself as the “safety blanket” for his quarterback. Schoonmaker’s draft stock rose even more, wowing the scouts at the NFL combine with a 4.63-second 40-yard sprint, a 1.59-second 10-yard split, an impressive 10′ 7″ broad jump, and a 6.81-second 3-cone drill time.
Schoonmaker has what it takes to be a formidable pass-catching tight end in the NFL, highlighted with soft hands, deep threat ability, and incredible speed– all items that will create issues for linebackers while in pass coverage. Additionally, at 6′ 5″ and just over 250-lbs, he contains an athletic frame with room to put on more muscle mass, which will help improve on his underwhelming run blocking ability. Schoonmaker also runs precise routes with elite footwork and agility, giving him the ability to create separation against defensive backs.
Schoonmaker has room for improvement when it comes to run-blocking, which is one of the biggest issues that could hold him back into being a full-time tight end in the league. He must also improve on running the full route tree, as he shows a degree of stiffness as a route runner. Ball skills must also be improved, specifically when it comes to fighting for the ball in tight throws.
All in all, these issues are those that could be solved with dedication in strength and conditioning and a full understanding of an offense. Head coach Josh McDaniels has a history of molding early to mid-round tight ends over the years, optimizing their potential at a rapid rate. Look for the McDaniels and the Raiders to repeat history, with the possibility of picking Schoonmaker in the 4th round with hopes of molding him into an elite playmaker. His upside supports the idea, as Schoonmaker contains elite athleticism and agility, a large frame with room for bulk, and a tremendous upside to be a steal at #109-overall.
