The Minnesota Vikings are putting a lot of eggs into one basket with Irv Smith Jr. at tight end, especially considering that Smith’s biggest problem has been availability. He’s been in and out of action through the first three years of his career, including missing the entire 2021 season.
Minnesota would be wise to take a tight end in the draft, especially after losing Tyler Conklin to the New York Jets in free agency. Charlie Kolar from Iowa State would be one option in the middle rounds.
In general, though, this tight-end class is clouded with uncertainty.
Jeremy Ruckert was still in a walking boot during Ohio State’s pro day this week, and Jalen Wydermyer left many scratching their heads after posting some bizarre numbers at Texas A&M’s pro day. It’s left some feeling uneasy about the position. But Kolar is a good stock to invest in.
When it comes to hands, Kolar’s are among the best in class. He’s as reliable as it gets out of all the tight ends this year. He consistently makes contested catches in traffic. If reliability is the name of the game, Kolar is near the top of the charts. It’s arguably his best attribute as someone who will likely slide to the middle rounds for other reasons.
Charlie Kolar won’t blow scouts away with his speed, and he isn’t the best route runner of this tight-end class. But he does so many things really well that he projects to be a solid pro in the NFL for a long time.
According to The Draft Network, Kolar’s hands and his skills are top-tier.
Kolar has an excellent pair of mitts. His soft hands are as reliable as they come in college football. He comfortably plucks the football out of the air with full extension. In traffic, Kolar consistently reels in his targets. His strong hands make him a quarterback’s best friend and safety blanket. Since 2019, he has a drop rate of 3%.
Kolar is exceptional at tracking the football in flight. He operates with calmness and confidence in his ability to make a play on the ball. Despite lacking athleticism and leaping ability, Kolar uses timing and his huge catch radius to reel in contested catches. Purdy had the utmost confidence in Kolar against defenders in contested-catch situations.
Kolar’s ability to be relied upon to haul in anything thrown his way cancels out his lack of explosiveness and slender frame for the position, which could drive his stock down. It’s exactly what the Vikings could use.
Nobody is suggesting that the Vikings should use a first- or second-round pick on Kolar. That’s not where he’s projected to go, and it would be shocking to see him taken that high. Many are clamoring for Minnesota to draft a cornerback or a lineman in the first round. That’s fine, have at it. But this offense needs to keep adding weapons.
Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Dalvin Cook are as good as it gets and all that Kirk Cousins could ever ask for. However, the Vikings can’t ignore tight end. For those out there banking on Irv Smith Jr. to stay healthy in 2022 and produce at TE1 levels, proceed with caution. Kolar offers a change of pace and a more than reliable safety valve should Smith Jr. not live up to the somewhat muted hype.
Conklin plays a big role in all of this as well. His exit to the Jets leaves a void for Minnesota. They can’t possibly expect Smith Jr. to do it all in 2022. It wouldn’t be fair to him or the offense.
Kolar wouldn’t need to come in and produce 60 catches for 500 yards and find the end zone a few times. That would be tremendous, but he offers another option in a position group that has a fairly limited track record.
Had Conklin come back to Minnesota, there’s likely a far different conversation going on internally. But now that he’s departed, the Vikings have to take a serious look at the tight end position entering 2022. Maybe Irv Smith Jr. will step up to the plate, stay healthy, and put up some big-boy numbers. Given his history, it’s just hard to expect that. To help lessen the expectations for Smith while simultaneously providing another boost to the offense, the Vikings should take a hard look at Charlie Kolar in the middle rounds. He can come in right away and be a reliable, sure-handed target for Cousins in spot duty in his rookie season.
