Raiders NFL Draft Prospect: TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah

The Las Vegas Raiders are in a position to select one of the best tight end prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Raiders have Darren Waller as the only tight end under contract, so it will be crucial for the team to sign a free agent or draft a prospect during the offseason.

"I know Darren fought through a lot of injuries and those types of things last year," Raiders Coach Josh McDaniels said at the NFL Combine last week. "But I have a great deal of confidence in Darren Waller.”

Fortunately, the Raiders are in a position to bring in help via the draft.

Tight End Dalton Kincaid, Utah Utes

Kincaid is considered the best pure pass-catching tight end in this year’s draft.

“Kincaid lacks elite agility, burst, play strength, and speed, but his reliable hands, ball skills, savvy route running, improving blocking, and nonexistent fear of contact make him an attractive high-floor player who should hear his name called on the second day of the draft,” Draft Bible said of Kincaid.

The Utah product had the second-lowest drop rate of any tight end in this draft (2.8 percent).

“Kincaid uses his excellent ball skills, tracking, and basketball background to turn 50-50 contested catches into 70-30 situations in his favor. He has some of the best hands among all draft-eligible players in the 2023 class,” Draft Bible added.

Last season, Kincaid played all 12 games with nine starts, and led the team with 70 receptions, 890 receiving yards, and eighth receiving touchdowns.

After suffering a small fracture in his back in the final game of the 2022 season, Kincaid was sidelined for the 2023 Rose Bowl game and it prevented him from participating in drills at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

Doctors have said he will be ready to participate during his Pro Day.

“Kincaid is a natural hands catcher who rises above the rim to meet the ball when a defender is in his air space," Draft Bible said. "He displays excellent body control. Utah uses Kincaid as a slot playmaker more than an in-line option, but he’s experienced in both roles.”

In one of the best tight end classes in years, the Raiders are well in a position to draft the Utah tight end on Day Two of the draft and provide depth at a position that has lacked consistency over the last two seasons.

The NFL Draft will occur at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., from Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29. ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will broadcast all seven rounds.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. Starting at 12 p.m. EDT on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EDT on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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