Vanderbilt’s Jared Pinkney will look to improve his game in order to establish himself as a top Tight End in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Listed at 6-4, 260 pounds, Jared Pinkney has the frame of a strong athletic tight end. When reviewing Pinkney’s tape, he is most exciting once the ball is in his hands. Vanderbilt currently uses Pinkney as a large athletic body downfield and even as the primary receiver in screen plays. Clearly, from play calls alone, one can gather how athletic Pinkney is because screen plays require some of the most athletic bodies on the field. However, using your tight end as the primary receiver in a screen immediately takes away a big body for blocking. However, for Vanderbilt, losing Pinkney as a blocker is not a concern since his ability to block is inconsistent and undeveloped.
This first play I would like to break down is from the game versus Georgia in 2019. Pinkney is not going to be a force as a blocker at this point in his career, he will need to put in a lot of work to improve his technique. Although Pinkney is much larger than the defensive back, instead of engaging in the block, Pinkney attempts to lay a hit on Georgia defensive back, J.R. Reed, a quick sidestep and the block is avoided. Pinkney then gives up on the play.
In the run game, this seems to be a common theme for Pinkney. Furthermore, in pass protection, he tends to over extend himself when blocking by leaning too far forward making him prone to losing leverage. Pinkney also does not display an ability to recover when he loses his balance and leverage.
To solidify himself as a top prospect, I would like to see major improvements in his efficacy as a blocker. By truly engaging defensive players in the run game, standing tall in pass protection, being more physical with his hands at pad level, not grabbing defenders when he loses leverage, and finishing plays will be essential in his development as a prospect this season.
Although Pinkney is a large body, he seems to shy away from contact during the catch and does not attack the ball, but rather allows the ball to come to him. If he attacks the ball, this is a reception inside the five yard line. Although Pinkney draws the pass interference call, defensive backs in the NFL would typically attack the ball if the receiver is not, for an easy pass deflection.
Pinkney does not always use his size and strength against defensive players in order to catch the ball at the high point, however he instead opts to catch the ball in his chest and scouts should be frustrated. I would like to see development as a pass catcher in terms of his physicality in order to be moresuccessful in the NFL.
However, after the catch, Pinkney can be physical and drag defenders for and naturally falls forward for extra yards, this ability is rarely seen in big games as he is shut down by stronger defenses. Athletically, he is an exciting prospect, but I question how well he can transition into the NFL given his lack of urgency when blocking and when attempting to make a catch. In a thin tight end class in terms of talent, I am sure that Pinkney will be drafted. If my team was in need of a tight end however, I would wait until later in the draft to select Pinkney. He could be a solid developmental player who has high upside due to his athletic ability and size.
