STRENGTHS
Hayden is a “complete” Tight End and if you want a “complete” offense than you have to have a complete Tight End for that offense. His effort and techniques when blocking in line or in space are consistent and the fact that he shows excellent hands to catch the ball, solid run after the catch skills along with the size, strength, and solid speed that a player needs to posses to be a “complete” Tight End makes Hayden one of the most complete players in this draft. Hayden’s is a mature player on the field using the techniques to block and run routes that most players are still learning at this stage of their careers. He shows leadership skills through his play on the field and is a quarterback’s best friend because of his ability to move the chains and make the impact catch at the most important time of a game.

CONCERNS
What you see is what you get with selecting Hayden. He moves well but and has good speed but he is not quick off the line into his routes and that means he is more of a “move the chains’, gaining yards after the catch, quick routes style of receiver. He can catch the ball down the field and catch the ball in contested situations and that makes him an excellent option in the red zone. Hayden runs faster than he will time, when being chased and that makes him threat to score any time your team get’s over the 50 yard line.

BOTTOM LINE
Because Hayden is a “what you see, is what you get”, type of player with limited upside most will down grade him but for me Hayden is like signing a player in free agency, you know what you’re going to get because there is film that shows you exactly what type of player he is. He is a complete Tight End who blocks and will make your running game as lethal as your passing game. He is an impact player because of his consistency and although he is not the new pass catching, speed Tight End that is the new style teams seem to want, Hayden could impact your offense like Jason Witten or Rob Gronkowski because he is a complete player. He’s as good a blocker as Jason and although he is not as fast as Gronkowski down the field he has the same style of run after the catch abilities that will remind you off Rob. I’m an old guy…I like this style of Tight End because without Hayden on the field your offense is more one dimensional and I don’t like offense’s that are one dimensional. I like a “Complete” offense that has an excellent running game and an excellent passing game and believe me teams that do not have both usually do not win the big games.

Drew Boylhart   MAR.2018