The Detroit Lions should draft Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson

Anyone who has been around the NFL draft for a few years has heard the phrase “there is no perfect prospect” thousands of times.

What if I told you that anyone who says that is wrong? What if there was a prospect who could bring literally anything you could ask for out of someone who played his position?

Enter Iowa Hawkeyes tight end T.J. Hockenson.

It’s impossible to overstate what this guy can bring to a team. There has never been a football player that embodies the saying “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” better than Hockenson. He is an excellent receiver that combines strong, hard, releases at the line of scrimmage with silky-smooth route running that reminds you of the best of wide receivers over the years.

He is strong and ferocious at the point of attack, using every inch of his 6’5 frame to snag passes when they are thrown anywhere within his reach. Contrast that with his soft hands, that act as safety cushions for the ball to rest in as he brings in almost every pass without fail.

After the catch he has surprising burst and long speed that leaves defenders eating dust as he scorches them for huge gains. He has the footwork and flexibility to dance his away around defenders, and if that does not work he has the strength to just bulldoze through them.

That does not even include what he does in the trenches. Hockenson is a fierce, violent, blocker who attacks defenders and drives them into submission. He is relentless and never gives up on a play. Every snap with this guy on the field feels like the final stand of a great war. He has more than just raw power, though, as his near-excellent blocking technique and high football IQ allow him to take on even the biggest of challenges up front.

The craziest part is that he can only get better from here. Hockenson is an elite athlete who killed the NFL Combine in March. He showed incredible burst and speed for someone of his size and he proved to be surprisingly nimble. Hockenson’s ceiling as a prospect is in the Stratosphere.

Detroit is in need of a starting tight end and a potential all-time great might fall to them at the eighth pick in the draft. He would breathe life into a stagnant offense and provide Matthew Stafford with another incredible weapon to take advantage of the quarterbacks special talent.

If T.J. Hockenson is on the board when the Lions are on the clock then they have no excuse not to select him.