Former Rice tight end Vance McDonald is an interesting prospect. He’s one of the best pass catchers and blockers on the outside in this year’s class. But his lack of experience lining up on the offensive line will likely worry some teams and is ultimately the reason he’s not ranked higher.
| Ht | Wt | Class | Ranking | Projection |
| 6'4" | 267 | Senior | 59 | Second-Third Round |
Strengths
Size: McDonald has the size (6’4” and 267 pounds) and length (34” arms and 10” hands) of a prototypical NFL tight end. McDonald uses his long arms and big hands to his advantage when blocking and to grab the ball in places no one else can reach.
Finesse: Despite his size, McDonald is incredibly quick, agile and light on his feet. Due to the fact that Rice constantly lined him up in the slot, McDonald has the moves and footwork of a smaller slot receiver. He is a great route runner who makes clean, quick cuts and racks up a ton of yards after the catch (YAC) in true slot-receiver fashion.
Versatility: McDonald is a great receiver and run blocker. He blocks extremely well in space and continues to move up field, blocking throughout the play. Due to his size, McDonald is the best lead blocker a running back could ask for when breaking to the outside or catching a pass in the flat.
Weaknesses
Inconsistent Hands: McDonald has good hands and catching technique. He never uses his body to catch the ball, instead he extends his arms and uses his hands to bring it in. The problem arises when he has to catch a pass that’s off-the-mark while he’s in stride, or when the ball arrives too soon when he’s coming out of a cut. When McDonald doesn’t have time to watch the ball in or get good position on it, he has a tendency to bobble and/or drop it completely. This is a problem similar to what we see with Jermichael Finley and can be very frustrating for offenses, quarterbacks, coaches and fans alike.
Lack of “True Tight End” Experience: Because Rice used McDonald WAY more in the slot than lined up on the line like a true tight end, there’s worry that he may struggle on the line at the next level. I don’t think you’ll need to worry about his route running or pass catching, but there’s a big difference between blocking defensive backs smaller than you and big, strong edge pass rushers. It will likely take some time for McDonald to develop blocking skills on the line.
Bottom Line
McDonald is a big, strong and physical tight end with the quickness and fineness of a slot receiver. He will bring top-notch receiving and outside-blocking ability to the table from day one. But whatever team that drafts him will need to start working on his hands and ability to block on the offensive line immediately, if they hope to use him as a typical tight end at the next level.