7 tight ends the Vikings could select in the 2022 NFL Draft
By Luke Parrish
Grant Calcaterra (SMU)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 247 pounds
2021 Stats:
- 38 catches
- 465 yards
- 4 touchdowns
If there is one player in this draft that I am going to pound that table for in the seventh round, it is Grant Calcaterra. When on the field, Calcaterra is one of the best tight ends to grace a college football field in recent memories. He starred at Oklahoma before a series of concussions forced his retirement before he ultimately returned in 2021.
The history of concussions is certainly scary for teams looking into selecting him, as well as for Calcaterra himself. Retiring from football due to injury before ever reaching the NFL is not the dream that anyone hopes for, but it was the reality for Calcaterra.
That is going to cause him to slip well beyond where his talent should take him in the upcoming NFL Draft and could very well leave him undrafted at the end of the weekend. If that is the case, there is no reason not to sign him as an undrafted free agent with virtually no risk involved.
As an NFL prospect, Calcaterra is essentially a big receiver that has excellent speed for a tight end. He will make his money as a pass-catching tight end that is not utilized much as a blocker but can still be a viable piece of an offense.
There is virtually no risk attached to signing Calcaterra as an undrafted free agent, which is an excellent way to add value this spring. If he can stay healthy, he is going to have a solid NFL career with plenty of upside in the passing game.